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
|
• publications
• print design • web design • copywriting • communications plans |
• print production
• creative direction • social media strategy • writing and editing • web strategy |
• email marketing
• public speaking • branding • project management • audio/video editing |
Work History
Graphic Design Manager / Marketing and PR Strategist | 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 include:
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:
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:
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 include:
- Consult with academic centers to assist them with producing materials consistent with WFUSB branding, messaging and strategic objectives.
- Update print and digital advertising, key program collateral and School of Business website visual language to adhere to existing brand standards while providing a fresh, more luxury-branded feel.
- Conceive of, develop and implement both digital and printed marketing and communications materials targeted to WFUSB alumni that drive deeper alumni engagement.
- Conceive of, develop and implement both digital and printed recruitment materials designed to attract top candidates to the School's undergraduate and graduate programs.
- Serve as editor, project manager, creative director and designer of the School of Business's annual 80-page magazine. Coordinate freelance writers and copy editors; work with print vendors; propose content to senior leadership; edit/re-write submitted articles; and propose and execute designs.
- Produce content for the School's social media, including copy, graphics and other imagery.
- Write, edit and design both digital and printed internal communications materials.
- Communicate effectively and work collaboratively to create materials that meet or exceed expectations.
- Ensure all designed materials follow WFUSB branding. Identify and pursue potential branding refinement/rebranding opportunities
- Ensure materials and other communications solutions are best-in-class examples of graphic design while being budget-conscious and fiscally responsible.
- Provide strategic advice and counsel to senior-level executives on communications issues.
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 developing strategies for media relations, print, web, social media and email marketing.
- Represent the Alumni Association on strategic communications planning for the university.
- Supervise a communications team, including a communications specialist, a print manager, two student interns and a technology support specialist.
- 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. 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.
- 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.
- Establish goals and processes for departmental management of projects with an eye toward ensuring effectiveness while providing exceptional customer service to clients within the association.
- Work 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.
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.
- Develop a visual identity and supplementary materials for the Lawrence University Athletics Department.
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.
- Develop the visual representation of the association’s brand and create a uniform look for the association’s print and electronic materials.
- Implement a podcasting program to deliver conference content to attendees across the state.
- Create a custom database that saved the association an estimated $40,000 in software costs.
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 HTML and CSS.
Education
Bachelor’s degree, liberal studies, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh