Greater Richmond Region
Vanessa is currently an assistant director of digital marketing and communications at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, and has worked for notable organizations in Virginia and Ohio: the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, Sacred Heart University, Virginia Commonwealth University, AvePoint, the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Radio One and Cavalier Telephone & TV. Vanessa also worked as an adjunct public relations professor for Sacred Heart University’s (SHU) Strategic Communication and Public Relations - Online Master’s program. Prior to teaching at SHU, Vanessa taught public relations as a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University from 2015-2019. Before her move into public relations and teaching, Vanessa worked as a radio personality and producer in Richmond, VA; Virginia Beach, VA; and Cincinnati, OH. She briefly worked as a TV news producer for an ABC affiliate in Richmond, VA.
- Managed marketing + communications staff; $225,000 budget - Created communications strategies for agency initiatives and risk reduction awareness - Developed talking points, speeches, and briefing notes for the Governor’s Office and the Office of the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security - Coordinated annual Virginia Fallen Firefighters & EMS Memorial Service; averages 300+ guests and officials - Responded to FOIA requests; conducted FOIA request tracking
- Course taught: PR in a Digital Age, an 8-week, graduate course in the SCPR-Online Master’s Program. Explores techniques and strategies to launch an independent PR agency — from concept to budget management considerations.
- Courses taught: Organizational Communication (graduate) Sports + Entertainment Public Relations (undergraduate); Public Relations Campaigns (undergraduate) - Launched the Sports + Entertainment Public Relations course in 2015