Stephanie Aaronson Email & Phone Number

Arlington, Va, Us

Fairfax, Virginia , Us

• Serve as lead communications and media strategist for George Mason University, Virginia’s largest and most diverse public research university, surpassing 40,000 students and ranking among the top 50 public universities nationwide. • Oversees editorial and production for internal and external communications, including crisis communications and digital strategy, gmu.edu, news, media relations, cable and streaming channels, presidential podcast, newsletters, alumni magazine, and social channels, generating over 800 news stories annually and surpassing both university and industry audience benchmarks across digital channels year over year.• Produces and curates high-quality original content for new and existing channels, including launching two new digital series, "Campus Quick Takes" and "Our Future Transformed."• Develops high impact marketing and communications campaigns around major initiatives, campus expansion and business developments, and research investments, securing significant media coverage.• Collaborates with leadership, faculty, and 250+ University marketing and communications professionals – including enrollment, advancement, alumni relations, athletics, performing arts, colleges, centers, and research institutes – on strategy, messaging, and campaign development to advance best practices and ensure alignment with university strategic direction.• Serves as communications lead in rebranding campaign team, growing brand awareness and affinity, and serves as deputy to chief brand officer.• Manages 25+ team of news and communications, speechwriters, video and audio production, web and social media professionals and students, and serves as university spokesperson.

Us

• Provides strategic direction, planning, and management for system-wide strategic initiatives,media, communications, and community engagement campaigns to advance the vital role public media plays in American life. • Leads strategic planning and management for education and workforce initiative, American Graduate, in 49 states to improve youth outcomes, especially in communities with high poverty rates. Results include a new model for community engagement with over 1700 partnerships nationwide, media coverage and influencer endorsements, local and national awards, and over $18 million raised in philanthropic support.• Led strategic planning and management for Veterans Coming Home, in 40 states to support veterans transitioning back to civilian life and bridge the military-civilian divide. Results include a new model for national and local co-production for a digital-first series, an increase in local awards and philanthropic support, and significant growth in partnerships and social media engagement. • Expanded award-winning program Next Door Neighbors to highlight the contributions and conflicts of immigrant populations.

Bethesda, Md, Us

• Served as co-chair of advisory committee to the NIH Director on issues of public importance, and assisted in enhancing understanding of and public participation in NIH activities. COPR members brought a wealth of knowledge and professional experience in the areas of health care, medicine, underserved communities, community-based research, and learning and literacy programs, along with a strong commitment to the advancement of public health and medical research.

Arlington, Virginia, Us

• Developed strategies, financial planning and measurement dashboards as part of senior leadership team to support organizational change and improve national service model for diverse populations.• Designed and led system-wide health initiative, “PBS Healthy Communities,” to address the nation’s obesity challenges, especially within youth and low income populations, in alignment with the White House “Let’s Move” campaign. • Designed and led company-wide initiative, “PBS Next Generation Children’s Media,” to advance public media’s role as the leader in innovative, educational children’s media, and engage an advisory board of more than 50 recognized leaders in education, children’s health and development, technology, research, and community resource development. • Led communications teams to increase viewership and use of broadcast, web, mobile, and education content through “influencer” partnerships, celebrity endorsements, billions of impressions in earned media and social media, and event marketing.• Strengthened grass roots communications practices for more than 360 locally-owned community-based organizations through customizable promotional resources, training, and counsel.• Elevated executive profiles, navigated crisis communications campaigns, and increased awards by fifty percent (garnering more Emmy awards than any other broadcast network six years in a row) to maintain PBS’ reputation as the country’s #1 trusted media brand.• Increased base of online advocates, including “mommy blogger” community, to triple brand exposure in targeted sites surpassing competitive networks.

Studio City, California, Us

• Managed East Coast corporate communications for top family media organization, increasing awareness of the brand and corporate leadership to help secure ad sales and affiliate sales commitments.

New York, New York, Us

• Directed East Coast public relations and talent campaigns to propel Lifetime Television to the top-rated cable network in primetime from 2001 to 2002. During that same period, the National Organization for Women recognized Lifetime for its “unmatched public affairs advocacy work.”• Managed publicity for network’s brand expansion in daytime talk shows, publishing and digital networks.

New York, Us

Communications Strategy and ImplementationWeb DevelopmentCommunity Initiatives

New York, Us

• Directed communications for national retail operations, Discovery Stores and The Nature Company, overhauling product publicity efforts and stretching flat budgets to increase promotional opportunities and media coverage; managed publicity for International home video sales and education service; managed publicity for the launch of new channels, including Science Channel, Health Channel, Military Channel, Home & Living, and Animal Planet, one of the fastest growing networks in cable history.

B.A., Communications

Certificate, Institute For Strategic Communications For Nonprofits

Certificate, Negotiation And Conflict Resolution

Education record

Education record

Education record