Jeff Compton-Nelson Email & Phone Number

Durham, North Carolina, United States

As Duke Chapel's first Associate Director of Development, I work with the Chapel's leadership and National Advisory Board to set and reach its fundraising goals.

Durham, North Carolina, United States

As the first to hold a newly created role at one of the world's most prominent schools of its kind, I am a connector, storyteller, and translator, coaching others as they write (and rewrite) stories about themselves and translate complex ideas and experiences to new audiences. I approach this work at a systems level: proposing and implementing new communications technologies that connect stakeholders with decision-makers; counseling senior leaders on content strategy and best practices to increase audience engagement; building visual assets that demonstrate the company's value proposition for new and prospective clients; and drafting multiple thought pieces and proposals rooted in data and market research that have been approved by department leadership for accelerated adoption.My favorite affirmations have included "I can't believe we've never had someone doing this before!" "This is the best relationship our office has had with your school in the past four years." "This idea is great. Let's do it."

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Senior leaders already knew about my ability to write clearly, strategically, and humanly, and so when COVID-19 struck and my Division was thrust into the limelight and in crisis, executives asked me to enter a newly formed deputy communicator position for our $111M, 800+ staff division.Working across platforms and contexts, I transformed the tone and image of my chief department over six months. I wrote crisis communications for audiences of 14,000+ that mitigated liability and influenced consumer behavior; drafted executive messaging (ghostwriting for multiple VPs) that improved client attitudes toward the company; and internal communications that simplified complex processes and reached a global audience of 50,000+. I regularly and successfully facilitated a multi-level editorial review process for major internal communications with 12+ executives and facilitated media inquiries that improved our department's reputation and decreased its PR crises by 100%. I also spearheaded and codified the Division's first crisis communications protocols.After seeing my work, executive leadership invited me to consult on a Board-level campaign and then invited me to join the project's executive steering committee, alongside national consulting and PR firms, for launch.

Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area

The Just Space Initiative engaged the campus and community in conversations around spaces, places, and equity and inclusion. I led Just Space from project/program end-to-end: conception and initiation, strategic and financial planning, managing cross-functional teams, program execution, performance/monitoring/reporting, and project close.We built our brand and marketing strategy across platforms, invited special guests and speakers who could translate their research and experience to publicly accessible language, and created "sticky" phrases that I heard repeated for years.Over four years, we saw a 400% increase in staffing and audience growth and met each and every outcome we set out to accomplish. Those who engaged Just Space learned and were changed. I credit this to the excellence and insightfulness of my team and production.Each year we ran Just Space, my Division recognized in our end-of-year recogitions. In 2021, executives nominated me and Just Space for Duke's Presidential Awards, the university's highest honor for staff and faculty.

Durham, Nc

For over six years, I orchestrated crisis management and crisis communications with a team of staff for a 5,500+ community, liaising with company executives, emergency services, and key stakeholders to ensure safe, effective, and human-centered responses to crises ranging from DEI/bias incidents, global tragedies, PR crises, and wellness issues.In this role, I gathered and analyzed qualitative and quantitative data to propose communications strategies to executive leadership based on consumer needs, market trends, and strategic priorities. I advised stakeholders on marketing strategies.I led our department's DEI committee, writing/facilitating 20+ hours of trainings impacting 6,000+ people and successfully spearheading a proposal to shift financial allocations to align with organization’s strategic priorities and principles.

Greater San Diego Area

This role focused on narrating, in written and spoken formats, the story of our unit and the organization's strategic goals. I led a team who successfully organized a major annual event (1,000+ attendees), inviting and coordinating 10 conference speakers, 10 staff, and 12 volunteers. I engaged in various public speaking engagements for international audiences: ~100 presentations and 1,200+ participants. I received top marks in every performance review.

Master Of Divinity (M.Div.), Certificate In Gender And Sexuality Studies

• Graduated summa cum laude with a certificate in gender and sexuality studies • Awarded Langford Duke full-tuition scholarship • Client.

Ba, Psychology & Theology/Philosophy

• Graduated summa cum laude with a degree in clinical psychology and philosophy/theology • Awarded presidential endorsement for Rhodes.