Maria D. James, M.S. Email & Phone Number

Washington, Dc, Us

Bowie, Maryland, United States

In my new role as a Senior Communications Specialist with Exigent Services, I will contribute to impactful initiatives supporting the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO). DSPO was established in 2011 and is part of the Department of Defense's Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. The Secretary of Defense designated a Defense Health Board Task Force to examine efforts to prevent military suicide. In this capacity, I will leverage my expertise to:-Develop and execute communication strategies for critical events and initiatives.-Create promotional materials and manage logistics to foster meaningful engagement and participation.-Facilitate activities, streamline information flow, and produce comprehensive reports to capture event insights and outcomes.

Waldorf, Maryland, United States

As a teacher at Huntington Learning Center, I provide personalized academic support to students of varying skill levels, helping them improve their understanding of core subjects like reading, writing, and mathematics. Through tailored lesson plans and one-on-one instruction, I focus on building students’ confidence, enhancing their critical thinking skills, and achieving measurable academic progress.

In this role, I led external communications and media relations strategies, driving significant media placements, enhancing the company’s thought leadership, and managing various high-impact initiatives to position Magellan as a leader in behavioral health. • Promoted from Junior Communications Specialist and Outreach Communications Specialist from Magellan Federal.• Nominated as the 2023 Employee Inclusion Leader of the Year.• Increased media placements by 41 percent over two years by leading an external communications and media relations strategy and media training for subject matter experts, improving response times.• Developed and implemented media request guidelines, proactively seeking and securing relevant media opportunities to enhance Magellan’s thought leadership in behavioral health.• Created the company’s industry-award submission policy, streamlined the nomination process, and led the adoption of a new company-wide procedure.• Managed the thought leadership program by ensuring (or maintaining) fresh blog content, drafted talking points, led media training for senior executives, and coordinated media opportunities.• Media Pitching & Content Creation: Instrumental in media pitching efforts, participated in source calls with subject matter experts, and successfully published 61 articles in Magellan Health Insights. Welcomed 15 new authors to the Voices section, exceeding our initial goal of 50 articles.• Top Coverage & Industry Presence: Secured significant media coverage in top behavioral health and healthcare trade outlets, as well as some national consumer outlets. Key coverage topics included consumer self-care tips, autism, BIPOC mental health awareness, mental health resources, healthcare industry predictions, and substance use disorder.• Expert Insights & Media Inquiries: Facilitated increasing media inquiries for insights and commentary on breaking news, and trending topics to showcase Magellan’s extensive expertise and credibility.

I had the privilege of working with the professors at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, where I shared my expertise in health communications. Together, we developed a curriculum that focuses on integrating medicine, equity, and technology. This experience was a fantastic opportunity to contribute to shaping the future of health education and advancing these critical fields.

Arlington, Va

At Magellan Federal, I had the unique opportunity to collaborate closely with the Army Resilience Directorate (ARD) to support their critical mission of fostering a culture of readiness, resilience, and respect within the U.S. Army.Holding a security clearance, I created and managed marketing materials and strategic communications for key ARD initiatives, including programs focused on sexual assault and harassment prevention, suicide prevention, and the Ready and Resilient campaign. Through compelling content and targeted messaging, I helped drive awareness, engagement, and behavioral change among diverse audiences, from soldiers and families to military leaders. I was promoted to Outreach Communications Specialist where I supported staff with the development of marketing and communications materials to be used during conferences.

Hyattsville, Maryland

As managing editor, I led editorial and operational initiatives, significantly enhancing the newspaper's impact and community engagement. My role involved securing funding for new projects, managing award-winning editorial content, and overseeing comprehensive election coverage.• Spearheaded efforts to apply for industry awards, achieving recognition for four consecutive years by the National Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.• Overhauled the student writer and seasonal internship program, enhancing management efficiency for students from the University of Maryland and other local universities.• Secured $30,000 from the City of College Park to launch a new monthly sister publication, College Park Here & Now.• Directed comprehensive coverage of local city council elections, including the production of a special election edition of the newspaper and coordination of two community forums.• Chosen to moderate community forums hosted by city, county, and state government, facilitating key discussions and engagement with local stakeholders.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Washington, Dc

As the first Marketing & Outreach Coordinator for the SOME Center for Employment Training, I pioneered the marketing strategy and managed a team, while overseeing admissions and enrollment to boost participation and community engagement. I was promoted to manager in 2018. • Increased student enrollment by 60 percent.• Led a team and managed the budget effectively. • Established outreach strategies by forming new partnerships, creating a grassroots community outreach team and hosting the Marion Barry Summer Youth Program. Also, launched a volunteer phone bank to engage prospective students.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

As an Assistant Account Executive at Ogilvy Public Relations, I managed corporate and community partnerships, developed materials for large-scale health campaigns, and contributed to the successful execution of award-winning projects. My work involved media relations, campaign management, and collaborating with senior leadership on business proposals.- Managed corporate and community partnerships for the Merck – Healthy Beginnings for Babies program, overseeing materials development and grant fund allocation.- Pitched local media, resulting in the program’s first published media story in the Philadelphia Tribune.- Developed a system using Google Drive to coordinate the production and timely distribution of 120,000 campaign materials to community partners in Baltimore, Chicago, and Philadelphia.- Researched and submitted entries for industry awards, contributing to the Healthy Beginnings for Babies program winning the PRSA Bronze Anvil Award, PRSA Thoth Award, and PRNews Platinum PR Award.- Supported national education campaigns for the CDC on colorectal and gynecologic cancer, including PSA development, community partnership coordination, and organizing focus groups with healthcare providers.- Produced weekly status reports for clients and presented regularly to colleagues and clients on public relations topics.- Assisted senior management in developing and editing new business proposals.- Trained new team members on producing quarterly PSA tracking reports to ensure consistency in report generation.- Contributed to the planning and development of OgilvyConnect, Ogilvy Washington’s corporate citizenship program, which won a PRSA Thoth Award and the 2012 Helios Apollo Opa.- Regular contributor to the Social Marketing Exchange blog.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

- Monitored and analyzed daily media coverage, including social and traditional media, to create tailored reports for top Fortune 500 companies.- Evaluated media content for sentiment (positive, negative, neutral) and extracted insights on business practices, competitor activities, product performance, customer feedback, and relevant comments from industry and political leaders.- Tracked and analyzed media content for various ad-hoc client requests.- Provided research-backed material to support public relations initiatives and strategies.- Participated as a mentee in the Edelman Mentor Program

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

My first job out of college was in the fast-paced world of a newsroom, where I quickly learned the ropes and demonstrated my dedication and passion for journalism. Through hard work and a commitment to quality, I earned the opportunity to expand my role to include staff writer responsibilities. I honed my skills in writing, editing, and layout design while becoming a key point of contact between the editorial team and the community.• Wrote daily news briefs, community news, and announcements to keep readers informed of local events and updates.• Created engaging news, feature, and editorial articles on a variety of topics, meeting tight deadlines while maintaining high standards of quality.• Managed the layout and design of the Entertainment and Comics pages, ensuring a visually appealing presentation that enhanced reader engagement.• Served as the editorial department’s point of contact for the community, building strong relationships with local organizations, leaders, and residents.

M.S. In Mass Communications, Strategic Public Relations

Activities and Societies: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Golden Key International Honour Society

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Mass Communications

Activities and Societies: Marching and Pep Band, Panther News Editor for The VUU Informer

Diploma

Activities and Societies: Editor for the school newspaper "The Current"Graduated with Honors and the Governor's Seal