Curriculum Vitae

EXPERIENCE

What Works Cities | New York, NY | May 2016 – present
Senior Communications Manager (06/2017 – present), Communications Associate (05/2016 – 06/2017)
What Works Cities (WWC), a Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative, helps local governments use data and facts to solve their most pressing challenges and improves residents’ lives. In 2016, WWC was named by Forbes as “one of the ten most promising philanthropic bets” of the year and by Engaging Local Government Leaders as the “most important company operating in the local government arena.”

  • Lead the initiative’s communications strategy, amplifying WWC’s brand, thought leadership, and impact
  • Execute public announcements, including writing press releases, developing social media content, and coordinating media outreach
  • Push the best ideas, stories, and accomplishments of WWC to partners, cities, researchers, and media outlets
  • Develop outward-facing materials and publications that demonstrate the work of the initiative and cities in compelling, engaging ways
  • Onboard participating cities and work with them throughout their engagements to identify opportunities to amplify achievements, including through owned and earned media, social media, and speaking engagements
  • Secure speaking opportunities for WWC at relevant conferences and other events
  • Prep WWC spokespeople and leaders in participating cities for speaking opportunities and media interviews
  • Manage the initiative’s social media presence, website, and monthly “Spotlight” newsletter
  • Build demand and set a national standard of excellence for cities communicating publicly about their data-driven local governments
  • Grow cities’ capacity for sharing success stories by developing a curriculum and providing coaching on communications best practices
  • Manage a communications contractor and external consultants, including a PR firm team, graphic designers, video producers, etc.

UNICEF USA | New York, NY | October 2015 – March 2016
Program Officer, Global Citizenship Fellowship
The Global Citizenship Fellowship is a highly competitive, full-time program that prepares young professionals for leadership in public service.

  • Managed a remote team of five Fellows (based in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Miami, and Nashville) charged with carrying out grassroots community engagement in their respective cities
  • Mentored a sixth Fellow (based in New York City) responsible for the production of communications assets about the Fellowship
  • Developed and delivered workshops for the Fellowship’s professional development curriculum
  • Co-led planning of a weeklong training for all Fellows
  • Collaborated with the Director to recruit qualified candidates for the 2017 Fellowship class, comprising eighteen Fellows in twelve cities across the country
  • Cultivated the Fellowship’s alumni network

UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) | New York, NY | October 2011 – October 2015
Features Writer

  • Wrote features for the web and social media to mobilize support for campaigns, fundraising efforts, and awareness-raising initiatives
  • Launched and produced content for Photography and social change​ publication within UNICEF’s Medium channel
  • Covered thrice-annual meetings of UNICEF’s Executive Board (which comprises Member States to the United Nations), translating complex policy and program material into engaging features
  • Edited content for unicef.org, serving as chief editor on a backup basis
  • Wrote posts for UNICEF Connect, the organization’s blog
  • Managed UNICEF’s YouTube channel, contributing to the team winning a Webby award

ANQ: A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes, and Reviews | Columbus, GA | February 2009 – April 2010
Editorial Assistant

  • Managed projects throughout production—including screening manuscripts, reviewing copy, and coordinating peer-review processes—for print journal published by Taylor & Francis Group

Columbus State University Writing Center | Columbus, GA | August 2007 – December 2010
Writing Consultant

  • Facilitated writing workshops and one-to-one, group, and online tutoring sessions for writers of all skill levels across various disciplines
  • Mentored tutors-in-training

  • Obtained master-level tutor certification, the highest possible, from the College Reading and Learning Association

VOLUNTEER WORK

Activist Alliance, National Organization for Women-New York City | 01/2015 – 12/2015
The Activist Alliance is a competitive, yearlong volunteer program.

EDUCATION
Columbus State University, University System of Georgia | Columbus, GA | 2005 – 2009

  • Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, summa cum laude
  • Winner of the Faculty Cup, the highest student honor
  • Named Alum of the Year for the Humanities in 2013

University of Oxford; Oxford, England | Fall 2008

  • Completed a visiting student course of study in English literature

INDEPENDENT COURSEWORK