WORK EXPERIENCE

Byrum & Fisk | Remote

Communications Strategist, Sept. 2022 – Jan. 2026

  • Developed and executed campaigns resulting in the passage of two public transport ballot measures, an education property tax ballot measure, and two bicycle path ballot measures.

  • Doubled Michigan’s PreK for All enrollment through an integrated marketing campaign.

  • Part of the communications team that fought for Michigan's landmark 2022 Healthy Climate Plan.

  • Worked on policy advocacy campaigns to pass and implement clean energy, prescription drug reform, and patient safety legislation, assisted by research, data, and trend analysis.

  • Placed stories and op-eds in leading Michigan media outlets, including The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, MLive, and Bridge Michigan.

  • Secured multi-million dollar accounts with new clients by developing and pitching effective proposals.

  • Managed project teams and aligned diverse stakeholders while developing and executing strategic plans and internal and external communications.

  • Responded quickly and effectively in crisis communications events to beat back information and deliver clear, factual information.

  • Select Clients: Invest Detroit, Detroit Zoo, Flint Cultural Center, John Ball Zoo, Transit Matters, Energy Foundation, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Wayne RESA, Spring Lake Township, Defend Democracy Project, The Impact Project, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP).

Olu & Company | Remote

Account Executive, Dec. 2021 – May 2022

  • Created and executed media strategies across print, online, and broadcast channels, placing stories in publications and outlets such as Architectural Digest, Artforum, Artnet News, ARTnews, CNN, Hyperallergic, i-D, The New York Times, Surface, Wallpaper*, The Washington Post, and Women’s Wear Daily.

  • Negotiated account contracts and led conversations about new business opportunities.

  • Supervised team of 8 full-time employees and contract workers.

  • Conducted strategic planning with organizations to draft mission and vision statements and built robust press kits with press releases, biographies, and organization boilerplates.

  • Select Clients: Design Core Detroit, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, Transform 1012 N. Main Street, Hank Willis Thomas, Monique Meloche Gallery, Barrett Barrera Projects, Art World Conference, Marquise Stillwell/Openbox, Masako Miki, Incarceration Nations Network, Yamba Malawi, CULT Aimee Friberg Exhibitions.

Account Manager, Dec. 2020 – Nov. 2021

Freelance Account Associate, May 2020 – Nov. 2020

  • Created and executed B2B marketing strategies for traveling exhibitions, leading to 17 introductions.

  • Advised artists on career strategy, managing submissions to open calls, and grant applications.

National Hellenic Museum | Chicago, IL

Exhibitions Manager, Oct. 2017 – April 2020

  • Built new relationships with grantors, stakeholders, and organizations, including the Museum of Science and Industry, Terra Foundation for American Art, and Chicago Humanities Festival.

  • Curated three special exhibitions within my first year, when historically there was one every three years.

    • “George Kokines: Layers Revealed” | September 2018 – March 2020

    • “Lives Afloat: The Greek Refugee Crisis” | June 2018 – March 2020

    • “Change: The Story of Coins” | March 2018 – ongoing

  • Won a grant from the Chicago Cultural Alliance and developed exhibition fundraising plans.

  • Created marketing campaigns to drive engagement, resulting in record exhibition opening attendance.

  • Head of department responsible for content/exhibition development, production, and related programming.

Fashion Study Collection at Columbia College Chicago | Chicago, IL

Curator, Sept. 2012 – June 2017

  • Tripled customer appointments in three years through cross-departmental and external partnerships, including Milwaukee Art Museum, Design Museum of Chicago, and six educational institutions.

  • Collaborated with Creative Team on collateral and branding, which won an American Inhouse Design Award.

  • Improved access to artifacts by launching PastPerfect Online (online catalog) and creating and managing social media accounts.

  • Curated two exhibitions and more than 30 experiential-learning displays and events.

  • Made all curatorial and collection management decisions in line with the college's strategic priorities.

North Dakota State University | Fargo, ND

Historic Costume Collection Manager, Aug. 2010 – Aug. 2012

  • Oversaw care, storage, documentation, use, and exhibition of 3,000 artifacts.

  • Promoted collection by curating exhibitions, creating digital content, and designing marketing materials.

Instructor, Jan. 2011 – Aug. 2012

  • Taught Dress and World Cultures, an online general education course about fashion, textiles, and dress practices.

  • Educated approximately 40 students from departments across the college each term for 3 terms.

EDUCATION

  • MA, Arts Administration and Policy | School of the Art Institute of Chicago

  • BS, Apparel and Textile Design; Museum Studies Minor | Michigan State University

JURIED PRESENTATIONS

  • American Everyday Conference, Feb. 2020, Author, “Wearing Racism: Racist Imagery in Everyday 20th Century Dress Objects”

  • American Alliance of Museums National Conference, May 2018, Panelist, “Education Collections: Connect with Me, and I Care”

  • Costume Society of America National Symposium, May 2015, Author, “A Flapper’s Dilemma: Altering a 1920s Beaded Dress”

  • Costume Society of America Midwest Symposium, Oct. 2011, Co-author, “A Woman of Considerable Influence: Kate Selby Wilder, A North Dakota Suffragist”

  • Costume Society of America Midwest Symposium, Oct. 2009, Author, “Minimal à la Mode: 1960s Art Influence on Fashion”

INVITED SPEAKER

  • The Wing Chicago, Oct. 2019, Presenter, “The History of Underwear: Unpacking Society’s Ideas of the Body, Modesty, and Sex”

  • Chicago Humanities Festival, May 2016, Panelist, “Chicago Style: The Collections”

  • The Arts Club of Chicago, March 2015, Co-presenter, “Chicago Restyled: More Mag Mile Fashion from Chicago History Museum and Columbia College”