Two students have been formally chosen to lead the JMC Network and Morris & Mitchell agency for the 2013-2014 school year.

Marissa Jones and John Martin have been selected to serve as the editor-in-chief for the Optimist and the group account director for the student-run advertising and public relations agency, Morris & Mitchell, respectively.

“It’s a big honor to be chosen for editor and I’m excited to work to always improve the Optimist,” said Jones, sophomore multimedia major from Abilene. Jones served as managing editor last semester.

JMC Network advisers and university administrators chose Jones for the position of editor, despite her leave of absence to study abroad in Oxford this semester. Mark Smith, the current editor-in-chief, will facilitate communication with staff and applicants until Jones returns.

“She is a quick learner and has a strong natural ability to write well,” said Smith, senior convergence journalism major from Powhatan, Va. “She is going to do a great job leading all aspects of the JMC Network.”

Jones said she is looking forward to building her staff for the fall.

“I’m excited about the potential our new staff has to maintain the Optimist’s quality and build upon it,” Jones said.

Joshua Garcia, sophomore convergence journalism major from Lexington, N.C. and current managing editor, said Jones will be a fun boss.

“Marissa was always a better managing editor than me so I think it was natural for her to make the step to editor-in-chief,” Garcia said.

Martin, junior advertising and public relations major from Pflugerville, was selected as group account director for Morris & Mitchell. The group account director oversees and manages other account managers who work with each of the Ad/PR agencies clients.

The current group account director, Arielle Moncure, said she is excited about the future of Morris & Mitchell.

“John has done a fantastic job in his role as project manager on the Pura Vida account and all of his expertise is especially suited for the job of group account director,” said Moncure, senior advertising and public relations major from Leawood, Kan.

Martin said he is more than on board.

“I wasn’t expecting to be in this new position but I am ready to go and very honored,” Martin said.

Martin said he hopes to delegate more important things to every member of the agency this next year.

“Last year it seemed there was some hierarchy that made people feel left out and a lot of talent was hidden,” Martin said. ” I want to give people more things to make them feel like a part of the agency.”