Scott McLean, director of public relations for the Vancouver campus, is heading back up the hill in Burnaby to become acting director of Public Affairs and Media Relations (PAMR).

McLean takes over the role effective Dec. 1, replacing Don MacLachlan, who is retiring after 6½ years at the helm.

McLean joins PAMR on the heels of the well publicized launch of SFU Public Square, along with other high-profile initiatives at the Vancouver campus that include the SFU Vancouver Speaker Series, City Conversations and the inaugural SFU Vancouver Week of Welcome.

McLean earlier spent 5½ years as the media, PR and sports-information director of SFU Clan Athletics.

There, he handled the announcement of SFU’s entry into the NCAA as its only non-U.S. member. He pioneered Clan YouTube videos and the SFU Sports channel, touted as the most successful university channel in Canada. Under his direction website views for athletics also jumped 600 per cent.

“I’m incredibly fortunate to be stepping into this role,” says McLean. “Don has done an amazing job as director in shaping PAMR and building a highly skilled team.”

A Special Olympics volunteer coach and occasional standup comic, McLean completed SFU’s Executive MBA program in 2011 and also holds an MSc in sports administration from Canisius College in Buffalo NY.