Established in 2008, the College of Behavioral & Community Sciences is breaking new ground by combining knowledge gained through the behavioral sciences with knowledge gained from the community. Our emphasis on behavioral science reflects a focus on individuals, emphasizing behavioral research that examines the problems and challenges people encounter, as well as their need for clinical and supportive services. Our emphasis on community science reflects our commitment to understanding the larger contextual factors that have an impact on the well-being and safety of individuals and their families, such as the effectiveness of systems and policies that impact and support the well-being of individuals. We accomplish this by engaging community and neighborhood stakeholders in a partnered, participatory manner and by collaborating with local, state, and national organizations in both the public and private sectors.The College of Behavioral & Community Sciences serves approximately 2,600 students with eightundergraduate, nine master's, and seven doctoral programs housed in six academicdepartments/schools. The College is the home of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, one of the largest behavioral health research and training institutes in the country as well as 17 specialized Research Centers and Institutes. Our aim is nothing less than to be among the most influential resources for behavioral and community sciences in the region, nation, and world.

During the pandemic, I coordinated the department’s COVID-19 messaging, providing regular updates on the virus and its impact on the state’s veterans programs and services, including Wisconsin’s three veterans’ (nursing) homes. I developed and implemented comprehensive communications and outreach plans and served as speechwriter for the department, developing speeches and commentary on veterans’ issues for the WDVA secretary, Wisconsin's governor, U.S. senators, and other state officials. My role also included writing a variety of news releases, feature articles, reports, external and internal newsletters, and website and social media content.WDVA provides programs and services to Wisconsin's veteran community — veterans, their families and their survivors — in recognition of their service and sacrifice to our state and nation.​​​​​ Programs included in the depart​​ment's mission include state veterans homes, memorial cemeteries, the Veterans Administration Regional Claims Office, Military Funeral Honors Program, Veterans Assistance Program, and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. These programs are designed to provide health, educational assistance, economic assistance, and other services to specified veterans of the armed forces of the United States.

My role involved developing marketing content for TIMS Software, an integrated business management solution for HME providers. TIMS Software manages the complete revenue cycle — from initial patient intake, workflow, claims processing, document management, and delivery to asset control, financial records, and business analytics.CU's 20,000 users across North America and Canada rely on our teams to provide solutions that help them achieve business goals. To meet the needs of a large customer base, nearly 200 CU dedicated employees build long-standing business relationships as they work side-by-side with each and every customer.

I led digital communication at the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), including managing, monitoring, and evolving a social media and website content strategy aimed at building visibility and engagement with accredited CME providers, healthcare professionals, the media, and the public. I also managed electronic mailings and assisted with media relations, website content, branding, and other communications efforts.A nonprofit corporation based in Chicago, the ACCME is responsible for accrediting institutions that offer CME to physicians and other healthcare professionals. The ACCME’s mission is to identify, develop, and promote rigorous national standards for quality CME that improves physician performance and medical care for patients and their communities.The ACCME oversees nearly 1,900 accredited organizations across the country and internationally, which offer more than 148,000 continuing medical education activities each year, including more than 26 million interactions with physicians and other healthcare professionals.

At the University of North Carolina (UNC) Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC), I promoted the efforts of more than 40 researchers and project staff. This included communicating HSRC's research findings to varied target audiences, including media, state, and national-level decision makers, engineers and roadway planners, and local project managers. I also wrote and edited HSRC communication materials, including the Center’s annual reports, e-newsletters, brochures, news releases, and website.In addition to promotion of the Center, I developed marketing and communication plans, strategic plans, product summaries, fact sheets and presentations for projects sponsored by state and national organizations including clients such as the United States Department of Transportation, North Carolina Department of Transportation, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I regularly coordinated and moderated online meetings and webinars on a variety of platforms for state and national clients, and built and distributed large-scale surveys to assist with research project needs.Finally, I managed HSRC’s scholarship program, including selection committee coordination, award disbursement, applicant recruitment, and publicity, increasing the applicant pool by 1,100 percent over the course of two years.

As managing editor of the Florida Dental Association (FDA), I led production of the association’s bimonthly, 80-page, print and digital scientific journal, which was recognized with several Florida Public Relations Association honors and three Florida Magazine Association awards. In addition to writing and editing journal content, I also sold (and later supervised the sale of) advertising space, maintaining 50 percent content-to-advertising ratio. I also worked to develop non-dues income strategies and conducted regular negotiations with printing vendors to secure competitive pricing.Later, I launched and managed the association’s first large-scale social media campaign, creating a comprehensive social media communication plan, and increasing Twitter followers and Facebook “likes” by 400 percent in each of the campaigns’ second and third years.I produced monthly member e-newsletters (bringing the electronic open rate to more than double the industry standard) and wrote website content (including a redesign in November 2011). To support the launch of the association's new public access-to-care micro-site, I managed an award-winning outreach campaign called Dentistry: Gateway to Good Health (which was initially launched by my predecessor), focusing on community partnerships and earned media.I also served as staff liaison to the association’s Council on Communication and other communication-related task groups and committees, and earned Professional Association Leadership certification from the Florida Society of Association Executives.The Florida Dental Association (FDA) is a constituent society of the American Dental Association.

During my time at WCTV, I filled a variety of roles: education reporter, general assignment reporter, and newscast producer. As an education and general assignment reporter, I researched, pitched, and produced daily news packages for award-winning newscasts, conducting live and recorded interviews. As a producer, I worked with a team of reporters, anchors, and weathercasters in the planning and execution of live newscasts.

I helped launch a bureau in a new territory for the market's highest-rated television station. Along with one other reporter, I covered the entire region's news -- developing, recording, writing, and editing daily news packages.

During my time as an intern at the Governor's Press Office, I gained communication experience conducting topical research to inform communication strategies, assisted in writing media advisories, and fielded media calls.