Resume
Employment
Virginia Tech
Communications manager | 2023-present
Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering
- Plan and execute a comprehensive communications program that amplifies the research of faculty, postdoctoral fellows, students, alumni and associated aspects of giving/stewardship/advancement
- Media relations, including pitching stories through Media Relations and helping faculty prepare for interviews.
- Plan, supervise, and execute major social media campaigns that support Giving Day and other college and department priorities.
- Promote department to alumni and peer institutions with emailed newsletters to support recruitment, fundraising, and rankings goals.
- Redesign the department website to bring it into compliance with university accessibility, branding, and user-focused design standards.
- Hiring and supervising two digital communications interns.
Communications manager | 2021-2023
Departments of mining and minerals engineering, materials science and engineering, and chemical engineering, College of Engineering
- Plan, report, write, and produce multimedia projects for Virginia Tech daily news and departmental websites.
- Pitch stories to reporters and arrange interviews for them.
- Plan, supervise, and execute major social media campaigns on 12 channels that support Giving Day and other college and department priorities.
- Promote department to alumni with digital newsletters sent during strategic times of the year to support advancement priorities.
- Redesign the department websites in Ensemble/Adobe Experience Manager for compliance with university accessibility, branding, and user-focused design standards.
Editor | March-June 2018
The Franklin News Post
- Managing two news reporters
- Overseeing a stable of six freelance writers
- Assigning stories
- Writing institutional editorials
- Editing letters to the editor
- Designing and publishing a digital version of the news
- Reporting stories
- Photojournalism
Studio manager | 2022-24
YMCA at Virginia Tech Pottery Studio
- Recruit and oversee four ceramics instructors
- Market and sell pottery classes
- Organize and execute free and paid workshops
- Recruit and retain 50+ studio members
- Apply for and use grant funding
- Collect monthly dues
- Respond to customer inquiries
- Maintain studio web pages
- Track studio clay and supply inventory and sales
- Maintain kilns and glazes
- Fire ceramic work
Adjunct visual media instructor | 2020-21
Virginia Tech School of Communication
Teaching sophomore-level course in:
- Page design
- Photography and videography
- Web design
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Audition
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Portfolio
Multimedia journalist | 2000-21
The Roanoke Times/roanoke.com
Roles included:
- Assistant online editor
- General assignment reporter
- Higher education reporter
- Faith and spirituality reporter and columnist
- Local government reporter
Certifications
- Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies through the International Association of Accessibility Professionals
- Certified Virginia Master Naturalist
- Certified in Disaster and Wilderness First Aid through MedicSOLO
- Certified in CPR and basic life support through the American Heart Association
- Certified in opioid overdose response through Revive
Education
- 1996: Master of English, Virginia Tech
- 1993: Bachelor of English, Virginia Tech, with a minor in history and a concentration in women's studies.