Greater Chicago Area
I help mission-driven institutions find their voice, build their brand, and move people to act. For more than 20 years I have led communications and marketing for universities, research organizations, and nonprofits, turning complex ideas into narratives that drive engagement, enrollment, support, and real-world impact. I set the strategy, roll up my sleeves to execute it, and lead teams that do their best work. What I do: → Set integrated communications and marketing strategy across owned, earned, and paid channels → Build and rebrand institutions navigating growth or transformation → Translate research and expertise into stories that reach students, donors, media, and the public → Lead and grow teams, and partner with executives to sharpen and amplify their voice → Connect data and storytelling, measuring what matters without losing the human element I have built digital platforms from scratch that scaled to millions of annual visitors, led enterprise website and brand transformations, and placed thought leadership in The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and New York Daily News. Currently leading digital communications strategy at NORC at the University of Chicago. Previously MacArthur Foundation, Education Post (founding team), and Erikson Institute.
Oversee digital communications for NORC at the University of Chicago, which for more than 85 years has served as an objective, nonpartisan research organization that delivers insights and analysis decision-makers trust. → Lead digital marcom strategy for a $400M, 2,000-person research organization → Led a multimillion-dollar website redesign and enterprise Adobe implementation → Integrated AI into content production and workflow → Oversee distributed network of 60+ content contributors → Built advertising and audience-growth strategy across owned, earned, and paid channels → Strengthened funder-facing proposals, contributing to more than $2M in new contracts → Developed crisis-communications protocols for sensitive research releases
Digital Communications for Nonprofits and Education • Website Design and Project Management • Social Media Strategy, Training and Coaching • Collaborative Writing & Editing • WordPress Implementation & Enhancement
Founding team member of a national communications and digital advocacy nonprofit. Built the organization's platform and brand from launch and led it through significant growth and transition, rising from digital lead to Chief Program Officer and Acting Executive Director. → Built and stewarded the brand, voice, and visual identity across a network of 20+ digital platforms reaching 10M visitors a year → Managed a $3M budget and led a cross-functional team of 15 communications and organizing professionals → Created and ran the media relations strategy, earning placements in major national outlets including The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times → Built an email marketing program that grew to more than 100,000 subscribers → Launched and led a communications training series for advocacy cohorts → Developed pitch materials and secured foundation funding to sustain operations → Led change management through periods of significant organizational transformation
Future Is Now is an education reform startup that organizes and supports teachers who take an active role in their schools and unions. As the communications director, I oversee national outreach and messaging around teacher-led change, including all writing and design products. Writing & Media Relations: → Op-ed in New York Daily News (Dec 2013) → Blogging/editing on teacher-led actions → Seek and respond to national and local media inquiries for CEO Steve Barr (nationally-recognized founder of Green Dot charter schools and co-founder of Rock the Vote) Digital communications: → Built website and blog (futureisnow.org) → Implemented digital organizing tool (NationBuilder) → Manage social media → Email campaigning → Monitor data and analytics from all channels for constant improvement → Graphic design and layout (print and digital) Communications support: → Educators in the Teacher Action Network are pursuing a variety of actions in their schools, districts, and unions. A critical part of my job is providing direct support to teachers in the Network when communications expertise will help them reach their goals.
Led digital communications, marketing, and brand for a leading independent graduate school in child development. → Rebuilt the Institute's website on a modern, responsive platform and implemented a new content management system → Led the brand and web overhaul for Erikson's renowned Early Math Collaborative → Ran digital advertising and recruitment marketing for the launch of a new Master of Social Work, in support of enrollment goals → Directed strategy and design across all Institute microsites → Built email campaigns and event materials that cultivated donors and drove giving → Implemented an analytics framework to measure and optimize content and campaigns