Employment History

Education & Training
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Strategic Communications Manager
 January 2026 - Present | Chapel Hill, N.C.
  • All work cited below, and additionally:
    • Strategizing national level news pitches, specifically focused on AI, lifestyle and busines
    • ​National pitching to promote UNC-Chapel Hill’s inaugural AI for Public Good Conference
    • Working across communications teams to ensure collaboration and goal achievement is aligned between earned media, owned media and social media
Media Relations Manager
March 2022 - January 2026 | Chapel Hill, N.C.
  • Developing strategic communications plans for issues management and crisis communications situations and serving as a public information officer (PIO) in the case of an emergent or urgent situation
    • Managed media relations and communications for an issue around lead found in drinking water, resulting in more than 50 media inquiries and keeping the situation out of the national news
    • Served as PIO during a campus shooting in August 2023. This work included campus communications through the University's emergency notification system; the creation of FAQs; and collaboration with various departments across campus as well as UNC Police and the FBI
    • Served as PIO during pro-Palestine demonstrations in Spring and Fall 2024
  • Working across multiple teams and units to develop tactics for earned media, social media, owned content, announcements and press releases
  • Fostering relationships with local, regional and national reporters to increase trust and positive news coverage
  • Leading media trainings for faculty and staff to prepare them for media interviews
  • Fielding media inquiries from local, state and national media

4media Group inc.
Public Relations Coordinator
September 2020 - March 2022 | Bentonville, Ark.
  • Strategized and executed public relations and media relations activities, such as media pitches and press releases, 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

Hair & Compounds
Social Media Marketing and Content Developer
October 2019 - August 2020 | Van Nuys, Calif.
  • Developed content for strategic marketing plans across multiple channels
  • 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

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

Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC
Newspaper Reporter (Education & City News)
March 2013 - May 2016 | Springdale, Ark.
  • 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

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Graduate Certificate in Digital Communications | To be finished in Summer 2026

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