WORK EXPERIENCE

Byrum & Fisk | Remote

Communications Strategist, Sept. 2022 – Jan. 2026

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

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

• Developed and executed advocacy and educational campaigns that resulted in the passage of two public transportation ballot measures.

• Developed and oversaw small to multi-million-dollar project budgets.

• 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.

• Oversaw a portfolio of accounts as the account lead or supporting team member and developed and executed dynamic earned, owned, paid, and digital media, creative content, and social media strategies.

• Wrote core messages, press releases, letters to the editor, executive statements, social media posts, website copy, and more.

• Responded quickly and effectively in crisis communications events.

Creative Riff | Remote

Freelance Accounts Consultant, June 2022 – Aug. 2022

• Select Clients: ABC, Disney+, Fox, FX

• Assisted Account Directors on all experiential marketing projects relating to San Diego Comic Con 2022.

Olu & Company | Remote

Account Executive, Dec. 2021 – May 2022

• 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, Peter Coy, Incarceration Nations Network, Yamba Malawi, CULT Aimee Friberg Exhibitions, TERN Gallery.

• Negotiated 3 account contracts and led conversations about new business opportunities.

• 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.

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

• Built robust press kits with visual and written assets and wrote copy for press releases, artist statements, mission and vision statements, biographies, and organization boilerplates.

• Oversaw a portfolio of 5-10 accounts at a given time, working directly with the client to meet and exceed KPIs, manage deliverables, and set expectations.

Account Manager, Dec. 2020 – Nov. 2021

• Managed and strategized on creative projects such as podcast production for The Sweet Flypaper, Detroit City of Design Podcast, and Art is a Verb.

• Published A House in the Country and Other Plays by Peter Coy with Hamner Theater Press.

• Launched professional websites for Marquise Stillwell and Peter Coy, including managing design and content development processes.

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 stakeholders, vendors, and organizations, including Museum of Science and Industry, Terra Foundation for American Art, and Chicago Humanities Festival. 

• Curated 3 special exhibitions within my first year when historically there was 1 every 3 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 fundraising plans exhibitions.

• Created B2C campaigns to drive engagement; resulting in record exhibition opening attendance.

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

• Developed a 5-year strategic plan for the Exhibitions Department, creating institutional connectivity and change.

• Led creative strategy and oversaw production of experiential elements for Gala 2019.

Fashion Study Collection at Columbia College Chicago | Chicago, IL

Curator, Sept. 2012 – June 2017

• Tripled engagement in 3 years through cross-departmental and external partnerships, including Milwaukee Art Museum, Design Museum of Chicago, and 6 local colleges and universities.

• Collaborated with the 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 2 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.

Donald Young Gallery | Chicago, IL

Gallery Assistant, Oct. 2008 – Dec. 2009

• Managed files and image archive on 17 contemporary artists, including Rodney Graham, Josiah McElheny, and Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle.

• Executed direct mail campaigns for exhibition openings and other events.

The American Textile History Museum | Lowell, MA

Collection Technician, July 2007 – Aug. 2008

• Curated eco-textile exhibition, conducted original research for new permanent exhibition, and wrote artifact labels and image captions.

• Hired on a grant-funded project to move and upgrade storage for more than 5,000 artifacts.

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”