Employment History

Education & Training
Media Relations Manager
UNC-Chapel Hill | March 2022 - Present
  • Developing strategic communications plans for issues management and crisis communications situations
    • ​​Managed media relations and communications for an issue around lead found in drinking water, resulting in more than 50 media inquiries, keeping the situation out of the national news, a proactive press conference with wide media attendance, multiple campus emails, website content, water testing signage and more
  • Trained to serve as a public information officer (PIO) in the University's emergency operations center (EOC) in the case of an emergent or urgent situation
    • Served as PIO in the University's EOC during a campus shooting in August 2023. This work included campus communications through the University's emergency notification system; the creation of FAQs; collaboration with various communicators and departments across campus as well as UNC Police and the FBI; and strategic responses to media inquiries from many reporters, both local and national.
    • Served as PIO in the University's EOC during pro-Palestine demonstrations in Spring 2024
  • Collaborating with leaders across campus to assess risks and opportunities and craft communications, like press releases, media inquiry responses, holding statements, quotes, talking points, media pitches, campus emails and PSAs
  • Fostering relationships with local, regional and national reporters to increase trust and positive news coverage
  • Leading the development of a campus safety content plan, including social media, media pitching and PSAs
  • Pitching University stories and experts to local, regional and national news media
  • Helping to guide, teach and orient new team members
  • Leading media trainings for students, faculty and staff to prepare them for media interviews

Public Relations Coordinator
4media group Inc. | September 2020 - March 2022
  • Strategized and executed public relations and media relations activities on behalf of local, regional and national clients
  • Led a team in the development of an integrated multimedia campaign plan
  • Earned a national media placement in Insider for a major client
  • Utilized multiple wire services along with curated media lists to disperse news releases
  • Applied tools, like Critical Mention, to track success and assemble media reports with accompanying data

Social Media Marketing and content developer
Hair & Compounds | October 2019 - August 2020
  • Developed content for strategic marketing plans across multiple channels, including social media and blog posts
  • Analyzed content metric data and percent change in content metrics to develop content strategies
  • Photographed products and edited photos for use in social media content
  • Communicated with customers through social media to offer high level customer service

System Marketing Specialist
Northwest Health | June 2016 - May 2018
  • Strategized the publishing of content for the company's Facebook page
  • Used interviews with doctors and editorials to feature the company in a positive light in local publications on a monthly basis
  • Represented the company at in-person events through a marketing booth

Newspaper Reporter
Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC | March 2013 - May 2016
  • Produced five articles a week, resulting in four state-wide awards through the Arkansas Press Association
  • Responsible for reporting on education and city news, including breaking news and investigative pieces
  • Worked with other reporters, photographers and the web team to maximize the reach of stories
  • Grew and fostered a network of sources
California State University - Long Beach
BA in Journalism | Graduated May 2012

Continuing Education - Coursera
Transmedia Storytelling: Narrative worlds, emerging technologies, and global audiences | November 2017
by UNSW Sydney (The University of New South Wales)

Leadership Chapel Hill-Carrboro
The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro | 2022

Crisis Management Affecting Institutions of Higher Education: A Collaborative Community Approach
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) | April 2022

Emergency Management Official Training
2023

Professional Organizations

Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)​
  • National membership
  • North Carolina chapter membership
  • Registered as a mentor in PRSA’s mentor program

Honors & Awards

  • Arkansas Press Association's Better Newspaper Editorial Contest - 1st place in coverage of education for larger dailies (2014)
  • Arkansas Press Association's Better Newspaper Editorial Contest - 2nd place in coverage of education for larger dailies (2015)
  • Arkansas Press Association's Better Newspaper Editorial Contest - 3rd place in coverage of health/medical for larger dailies (2015)
  • Arkansas Press Association's Better Newspaper Editorial Contest - 2nd place for in-depth series reporting for larger dailies (2016)

Volunteer Work

Communications Committee Chairperson, Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America |
​January - March 2022
  • Developed and distributed news releases and newsletters
  • Crafted the chapter's annual media strategy

Public Relations Director, Board of Directors, Ozark Figure Skating Club | June 2016 - May 2018
  • Developed and sent press releases to area media
  • Coordinated with local media for press coverage
  • Edited and maintained the club's website

Lemke Journalism Project | ​February - March, 2014, 2015, 2016
  • ​Coached high school students through an annual journalism program at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville