Experience

resume

Expertise

Award-winning government communications professional with ten years of experience in integrated social marketing campaigns, digital and print tactics, and economic development support, jumping back in after a sabbatical in academia. I am passionate about building engaged and livable communities.

Communications & Marketing Manager | Evanston Public LIbrary

December 2021 – August 2024

As part of the senior leadership team, collaborate with executive director and library board to guide policy, shift public sentiment, and build organizational capacity in support of strategic goals

Manage a multichannel communications program, including media relations, intergovernmental relations, press releases, print publications, website, social media management and marketing, and branding with a $50,000 budget
Coordinate marketing plans and allocate resources for 20+ programming staff and 80+ monthly events
Develop response strategies to organizational threats on issues including LGBTQIA+ programming, services for unhoused populations, racial equity initiatives, and library budget approval, securing a 3.9% tax levy increase after three flat years
Hire, supervise, and mentor interns and contractors, and design public relations training opportunities for 110+ library staff
Shaped messaging and designed annual report and donor mailings that exceeded year-end fundraising targets by 16%

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR | Village of Oswego, Illinois

August 2017 – November 2021

Reporting to the Economic Development Director, developed and implemented communications plans and integrated marketing strategies to engage residents and advance the board’s strategic priorities

Created all external communications, including press releases, talking points, websites, email marketing, newsletters, social media, print and digital paid advertising, and award/grant applications
Conducted resident surveys and research and prepared analysis and recommendations for the board
Managed website redevelopment and simultaneous integration of an SMS/email platform, increasing subscribers by 32%
Doubled social media and email subscribers and maintained click-through rates more than double industry averages
Refocused the Cultural Arts Commission to establish the community’s first permanent public art collection
Built an integrated recruitment campaign increasing women and BIPOC police candidates by 49% and 38%, respectively

Community Relations Specialist | City of Aurora, Illinois

September 2013 – August 2017

Developed tactics to market municipal programs and services

Wrote, edited and designed municipal communications including newsletters, resident and event guides, press releases and mayoral statements
Built relationships with local media outlets, coordinated and coached staff for interviews, researched background information for media inquiries
Collaborated with downtown businesses to design and execute promotional events, including a Guinness World Record attempt
Planned and marketed special events including parades, holidays, and the farmers market, which doubled new patron attendance figures in two years

Sun-Times Media | Public Affairs Reporter

February 2010 - September 2013

Reported on municipal government and education, including research, writing and multimedia storytelling in video and photography on tight daily deadlines

Founded a social media strategy for breaking news
Collaborated on award-winning long-form investigative projects as part of the Sun-Times West investigative team

U.S. State Department | Fulbright English Teaching Assistant

August 2008 - May 2009

Hanoi Pedagogical University No. 2, Xuan Hoa, Vietnam

Promoted U.S. interests by developing and teaching university-level English language and American culture courses in formerly hostile regions

Education

M.F.A. in Creative Nonfiction | Washington University in St. Louis

Spring 2026 | Thesis: Redacted from Baranowski, a found-text memoir

M.A. in Liberal Studies | North Central College

May 2015 | Interdisciplinary degree program with coursework in ethics, critical thought, urban studies, and rhetoric

B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

December 2007 | Graduated cum laude with a major in Religion and minors in Latino/a Studies and History

Awards, Grants & honors

2026 PUSHCART PRIZE NOMINATION Short Reads. ‘Literally Any.’ May 2025.

2025 CALIBRE ESSAY PRIZE Australian Book Review. ‘Eucharist’ May 2025. AUD$5,000 for “an essay of breathtaking emotional power and moral force.”

FIRST PLACE, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY WRITING Northern Illinois Newspaper Association. Oct. 2011. For “sharp, in-depth reporting in the public interest.”

U.S. FULBRIGHT PROGRAM IN VIETNAM U.S. State Department. Aug. 2008. Travel and living stipend to promote U.S. interests through educational exchange in formerly hostile northern Vietnam

FIT FOR KIDS GRANT | Kane County Health Department | Dec. 2012-Sept. 2015 | $10,000 grant to found a garden network with faith-based and social justice nonprofits in the county’s poorest Census tract

Consulting & Pro bono work

Together Breakfast | Business Manager | April 2022-present | Facilitate strategy sessions, manage cash flow for a Nashville-based math rock band, leading to full crowdfunding of debut EP

Gilead Chicago | Elder Board | 2023-2024 | Served as a decision-maker and fundraiser and ran storytelling ministry for a religious organization on Chicago’s north side

Stories Matter Foundation | Associate Board | 2018-2024 | Event volunteer for Chicago’s premier writer’s studio

Good Morning Aurora | Feb. 2021 - March 2022 | Co-hosted a weekly podcast segment analyzing local politics in Illinois’ second-largest city, and developed a revenue plan that grew listenership and revenue by 27% and 325%, respectively

The Orchard Community | Oct. 2020 - July 2021 | Developed COVID compliance and community re-engagement marketing and communications plan for a religious institution, stabilizing weekly church attendance and donations

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights | May 2013 - Nov. 2015 | Developed messaging and organized marches, grassroots lobbying, and other actions in support of comprehensive immigration reform legislation

Professional Development

American Library Association | Advanced coursework: Outreach for Underserved Populations, May 2023

City-County Communications and Marketing Association | Professional development committee, 2019

Center for Governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University | Leadership development program, June 2019

StoryStudio Chicago | Manuscript development course with Pulitzer nominee Rebecca Makkai, 2018-2019

The Open University | Business Fundamentals: Project Management, July 2021

FEMA National Incident Management System | ICS-100, IS-700, June 2019

U.S. State Department Alumni Exchange Seminars | Presentation: ‘Building Resilient Communities in Diversity,’ July 2017

technical skills