Professional Profile
Creative and accomplished communications professional with more than seven years of experience in higher education and seven years of experience in nonprofit communications. Forward-thinking communications strategist with strong skills across all communication channels, including new and emerging media.
Core Strengths
|
• creative direction
• social media strategy • writing and editing • web strategy • email marketing |
• communications plan development
• print design • web design • training/presentations • print production |
• public speaking
• branding • project management • audio/video editing |
Work History
Graphic Design Manager | Wake Forest University
2016-present
Serve as the art director and lead designer responsible for creating eye-catching, engaging, and effective print and digital marketing materials for the School of Business. Job responsibilities included:
Key Accomplishments
Director of Communications for Alumni Relations | Virginia Tech
2010-2015
Senior staff member within Virginia Tech’s Office of Alumni Relations responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive communications strategy designed to showcase the university’s alumni, alumni programs, initiatives
and achievements. Responsibilities include:
Key Accomplishments
Graphic Designer | Lawrence University
2008-2010
Graphic designer responsible for creating eye-catching, engaging, and effective print and digital marketing materials in the university’s central communications office. Job responsibilities included:
Key Accomplishments
IT Administrator and Communications Specialist | MN Municipal Utilities Association
2001-2008
Flexible staff member responsible for an array of duties across communications and technology. Job responsibilities included:
2016-present
Serve as the art director and lead designer responsible for creating eye-catching, engaging, and effective print and digital marketing materials for the School of Business. Job responsibilities included:
- Design a wide variety of print materials, including posters, brochures, postcards, print and digital advertising, and identity marks.
- Communicate effectively and work collaboratively to create final pieces that meet or exceed expectations.
- Consult with academic centers to assist them with producing materials consistent with WFUSB branding, messaging and strategic objectives.
- Ensure all designed materials follow WFUSB branding. Identify and pursue potential branding refinement/rebranding opportunities.
- Conceive of, develop and implement both digital and printed deliverables targeted to WFUSB alumni that drive deeper alumni engagement.
- Ensure design deliverables and other communications solutions are best in class examples of graphic design while being budget-conscious and fiscally responsible.
Key Accomplishments
- Saved the School of Business approx. $30,000 by bringing the design of the annual School of Business Magazine in-house.
- Updated print and digital advertising, key program collateral, and School of Business website visual language to adhere to existing brand standards while providing a fresher, more luxury-branded look and feel.
Director of Communications for Alumni Relations | Virginia Tech
2010-2015
Senior staff member within Virginia Tech’s Office of Alumni Relations responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive communications strategy designed to showcase the university’s alumni, alumni programs, initiatives
and achievements. Responsibilities include:
- Develop and execute multichannel marketing communications plans for Alumni Association events and milestones, including strategies for media relations, print, Web, social media and email marketing. Represent the Alumni Association on strategic communications planning for the university.
- Advise the Vice President for Alumni Relations, association staff and university colleagues on communications strategy.
- Assist alumni representatives for colleges and constituency groups with refining their marketing goals, and identify tactics and strategies to meet those goals.
- Provide oversight and content strategy for the Alumni Association’s social media accounts. Monitor social media and respond to inquiries. Develop social media tactics designed to increase engagement with alumni.
- Manage the Alumni Association’s website (http://alumni.vt.edu). Review traffic patterns and search results to improve its effectiveness.
- Serve as the art director and lead designer for the Alumni Association, ensuring that all materials align with the association’s and the university’s brand guidelines.
- Supervise a communications team, including a communications specialist, a print manager, two student interns and a technology support specialist.
- Serve as the editor of the alumni section of the Virginia Tech Magazine. Draft articles, edit submitted content, source photography and collaborate with University Relations staff.
- Oversee email marketing communications to alumni, including message creation, proofing submitted content and distribution. Track metrics to gauge effectiveness of email marketing.
- Teach a recurring branding class on email marketing for communicators across campus. Serve as a key point person for email marketing on campus.
- Write, edit and submit press releases for Alumni Association events, initiatives and achievements.
Key Accomplishments
- Established goals and processes for departmental management of projects with an eye toward ensuring effectiveness while providing exceptional customer service to clients within the association.
- Worked with senior leadership to revamp the Virginia Tech Alumni Association’s visual identity, including refining the association’s logo and creating a consistent design and messaging style across all marketing materials.
- Defined navigation architecture and migrated the association’s Web presence into Virginia Tech’s CMS.
- Designed a full-size bus wrap to promote the Virginia Tech Alumni Association’s Class Ring Program.
- Researched best practices in email marketing, presented findings to multiple audiences, and leveraged new email marketing tool to improve email communications to alumni.
- Hosted and presented at Communications Summit with Alumni Relations, University Relations and Development.
- Co-developed and served an instructor for class on email marketing and branding at Virginia Tech.
- Presented at and led sessions for chapter volunteers at annual Chapter Officer Forums.
- Planned sessions and speakers and presented at Virginia Tech’s annual photography weekend for alumni.
- Worked with Virginia Tech’s colleges to transition email communications to alumni to branded enewsletters.
Graphic Designer | Lawrence University
2008-2010
Graphic designer responsible for creating eye-catching, engaging, and effective print and digital marketing materials in the university’s central communications office. Job responsibilities included:
- Serve as the lead designer for theater and arts marketing materials.
- Design a wide variety of print materials, including posters, brochures, postcards and logos.
- Provide direction to student workers.
- Assume the duties of the art director in her absence.
- Communicate effectively and work collaboratively to create final pieces that meet or exceed expectations.
Key Accomplishments
- Developed a visual identity and supplementary materials for the Lawrence University Athletics Department.
- Developed a poster series targeting students transitioning to college life as part of the Campus Life Initiative.
IT Administrator and Communications Specialist | MN Municipal Utilities Association
2001-2008
Flexible staff member responsible for an array of duties across communications and technology. Job responsibilities included:
- Design print and electronic materials including brochures, electronic newsletters, flyers and presentations.
- Manage the association’s website.
- Edit and write content for marketing materials and newsletters.
- Edit audio and video files for use in presentations.
- Provide technical training to staff with diverse skill sets and managing an annual information technology budget.
Presentations
- Email and Print Communications for Chapters, 2011 Webinar
- Your College’s Branding and Alumni Email Marketing, 2012 Virginia Tech Communications Summit
- Email and Print Communications for Chapters, 2012 Virginia Tech Chapter Officers Forum
- Communicating with Alumni, 2013 Virginia Tech Chapter Officers Forum
- Start to Finish: Lighting, Shooting, and Processing Portraits, 2013 Virginia Tech Alumni Photography Weekend
- Telling our Story: Communications Best Practices, 2014 Virginia Tech Chapter Officers Forum
- Branding 202: Designing for Electronic Communications, 2012-2014 Virginia Tech Brand Ambassador Program
Activities
- 2011 – 2012, member, Email Marketing RFP
- 2013 – 2015, member, University CMS Committee
- 2013 – 2014, graduate, Virginia Tech Management Academy
Software / Technical Expertise
- Advanced experience with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Lightroom)
- Advanced experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access)
- Intermediate to advanced knowledge of web-based content management systems, email marketing platforms, project management software and social media management tools.
- Basic knowledge of Adobe Dreamweaver, HTML and CSS.
Education
Bachelor’s degree, liberal studies, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh