Resume

The University of Chicago (CI3) | Communications Director
August 2015 - Present

Enhances brand awareness, research dissemination, and organizational positioning for three laboratories. Develops, manages and executes strategic communications and external affairs plans.
Leads all organizational content including blog posts, press releases, annual reports, web content, and quarterly newsletters - to engage target audiences. Writes and disseminates press releases and other marketing materials.
Oversees organization’s local, national, and international media relations campaign. Cultivates media and vendor relationships.
Collaborates with university-wide, senior-level communications staff to ensure organizational brand alignment with UChicago and UChicago Medicine.

TEDxGrandBoulevard | Lead Organizer and Curator
June 2019 – March 2020

Identified, recruited, and managed a diverse team of professionals to support the successful execution and growth of the inaugural TEDx Grand Boulevard event

Developed and managed a detailed work plan and schedule that included established goals, anticipated requirements, deadlines, and budget monitoring and analysis
Oversaw all logistics - event management, speaker curation, marketing, promotion, corporate partnerships, budgeting - through the planning and direction of all functions of TEDx Grand Boulevard
Collaborated and communicated with community organizations to establish a diverse lineup of speakers and representation
Enforced strong leadership skills to ensure efficient implementation of strategic work plans
Continuously updated and monitored work plan to ensure objectives are accomplished and deadlines are on schedule
Led the production management and planning for the day of the event

YWCA Metropolitan Chicago | Manager, Brand Experience and Communications
March 2013 - August 2015

Developed organization’s communication plans and marketing collateral including the organization’s annual report and quarterly donor newsletter. Oversaw media relations and corporate partnership for events and programs.
Designed and launched YWCA’s Business and Entrepreneurship program. Implemented an annual “shark-tank” event. Oversaw all stages of the event life cycle, organization events/programs including: Annual Leader Luncheon Celebration, The Persimmon Brunch and the New Look of Leadership Fashion Show.
Prepared keynote addresses, presentations, thought-pieces, and event decks for C-level executives and other staff.
Managed strategic social media campaign using social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law | Public Affairs Specialist
June 2008 - January 2010

Managed organization’s community engagement and public affairs initiatives. Acted as a liaison between the health center and community, government, and civic institutions including: aldermanic offices; schools; hospitals; social service agencies; and state/federal health agencies.
Led marketing and community affairs initiatives including campaign creation, proposal development, partnership cultivation and memorandum of understanding/agreement execution management.
Supervised/managed an eight-member outreach team with an $800k budget, and developed and implemented several new monitoring
and evaluation programs that saw a 60% increase new patient recruitment in the first year.

Led organization’s event management including Annual Healing Hands Celebration, Back to School Health Fairs, and several
new facility groundbreaking ceremonies that each included production management and planning for the day-of the event

Master of Business Administration (MBA) Marketing

American InterContinental University Schaumburg, Illinois

Completed: August 2013

Master of Science (MS) Journalism with specialization in Public Relations

Roosevelt University Chicago, Illinois

Completed: January 2003

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Communications, Minor: African American & African Studies

The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio

Completed: June 2000