Multi-platform communications leader specializing in digital, marketing and social media strategy, content creation, online fundraising and more. Significant experience creating and managing digital communications strategies for non-profits. Contact for teaching opportunities, consulting, writing, multimedia and Web content projects.
Experience
Senior Director of Marketing and Communications
University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, February 2021 – Present
Director of Marketing and Communications
August 2018 – February 2021
-Generated thousands of new email leads and successfully converted hundreds of new donors through Facebook advertising, email segmentation, and creative digital content and social media campaigns
–Launched seminary’s Formation podcast that reached 10,000 downloads in less than six months
–Oversaw livestreams, virtual events and in-person events to attract and retain younger demographics
-Raised more than $50,000 in online donations for Giving Tuesday 2020 through creation and execution of Blessings Begin Here campaign
–Planned, produced and promoted virtual May Crowning 2020 livestream event to raise more than $80,000
–Planned, wrote, produced and promoted virtual Celebration of Mundelein 2020 livestream event to raise more than $380,000, second-highest total in 27-year history of the event
–Wrote and pitched press releases increasing positive media placements in local and national outlets
Senior Manager of Strategic Communications
Catholic Extension, April 2017 – August 2018
Manager of Digital Communications
July 2014 – April 2017
-Oversaw digital communications and online fundraising efforts including website, social media and email communications
-Conceived, planned and executed digital campaigns to spread awareness of organization’s mission and attract new donors and email list subscribers
-Managed and collaborated with direct report to update website and social media platforms with compelling and relevant content
-Produced multimedia content for digital channels, digital solicitations and large-scale fundraising events
-Managed website redesign that improved usability and cross-platform responsiveness and increased traffic
-Improved SEO of website content to significantly increase positioning in organic search results
-Created and oversaw online giving and email communications strategies to improve fundraising and stewardship and attract new donors
-Implemented new email and online giving tool to support annual giving program by delivering segmented content to various donor audiences
-Managed external agency to run Google Grants, Digital display, and Facebook ad campaigns
-Helped implement parish partners program to increase local awareness and fundraising efforts at Catholic parishes in Chicago
-Represented Catholic Extension on national media outlets including Relevant Radio and EWTN and other local news outlets to promote digital campaigns
Web Content Producer
Northwestern University, October 2008 – July 2014
-Created and executed NU’s first-ever institutional social media and digital content strategy
-Created and grew NU’s official social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr and other platforms; conceived and executed social campaigns
-Created university-wide listserv for social media managers to unify social media management across the university and better coordinate efforts; organized and led quarterly university-wide social media summits
-Produced first-ever multimedia news and features for NU home page and news site, including more than 100 stories on campus life, news and events
-Managed content on top-level university home page and news site
-Assisted with selection and implementation of a new university-wide content management system
-Consulted on the redesign of NU home page and news site
-Produced half-hour documentary on history of NU architecture that aired on the Big Ten Network
Adjunct Instructor
Northwestern University, January 2010 – January 2017
-Taught lab sections of introductory freshman Reporting and Writing course and Multimedia Storytelling course at Medill School of Journalism
-Provided instruction and graded journalistic assignments across platforms including print, audio, photography, video, and WordPress
-Developed class presentations, facilitated class discussion and promoted ideals of journalistic professionalism and ethics
-Faculty Honor Roll 2011-2012 and 2012-2013, and 2013-2014 recognized by student vote among all NU full-time and adjunct faculty for excellence in the classroom
-2014 Medill Students’ Choice Award, chosen by undergraduate students from all Medill faculty for having positive impact on students and their journalism careers
Teaching Technologies Specialist
Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University, September 2006 – October 2008
-Instrumental in carrying out “Medill 2020” revamp of the curriculum to ground all journalism students in multimedia storytelling techniques
-Instructed undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty members in using various multimedia software for storytelling
-Created and continually updated documentation for numerous software programs including Photoshop, Premiere, Audacity, InDesign, and WordPress
-Provided user support for above software programs and general computing issues
-Helped oversee implementation, documentation, instruction and user support for school’s new content management system
-Co-taught two graduate-level courses on blogging, interactive storytelling, Web design and website management
News Editor
Sheil Catholic Center, Northwestern University,
September 2003 – December 2009
-Oversaw every step of production of quarterly newsletter for Northwestern’s Catholic student center
-Assigned, wrote and edited stories; oversaw staff of student volunteer reporters
-Designed annual report, created brochures and other publicity material advancing center’s mission and goals
Freelance reporter
Daily Herald, Paddock Publications,
June 2004 – September 2008
-Wrote local features and covered suburban meetings and events for third-largest daily newspaper in Chicago
Editorial Intern
Daily Herald, April 2004 – June 2004
-Wrote stories for news and community sections, including three front-page stories
-Covered various council and board meetings, compiled police blotter and wrote features on community news and events
-Spent three weeks on night copy desk editing stories, writing headlines, and paginating editorial and real estate pages with Quark XPress
Education
Master of Science in Journalism
New media concentration
Northwestern University, 2005 – 2006
-Winner of Medill’s Harrington Award for academic success and professional promise