Hi there, I’m Jenn.
I love to write, edit, strategize, and tell stories. For the past 10 years, I’ve worked in strategic nonprofit communications, learning how to engage specific audiences through content marketing; write for the web using SEO tactics; and produce major projects such as annual reports, white papers and research releases.
I’ve hired and managed a diverse national communications team for nearly five years. Together we’ve elevated diverse voices, asset-based framing, and educational equity.
My perspective and passion for this work are grounded in 15 years as a newspaper reporter where timeliness and accuracy are paramount; editorial skills are sharpened by aggressive deadlines; and centering human stories alongside data and numbers is valued and prioritized.
Experience
Senior Communications Director, City Year National Headquarters, Boston, MA, February 2017-present
Manager. Lead creative national communications team dedicated to advancing organic storytelling, diverse voices, audience engagement strategies, and thought leadership.
Editor. Editor-in-chief of national blog; manage Asana calendar; in collaboration with Digital Marketing, tripled blog pageviews 2021 to 20212, from 80,000 to 240,000; 76% increase in blog call-to-action engagement in 2022.
Thought leadership strategist. Helped launch organization’s first thought leadership strategy; lead on translating research and connecting findings to broader conversations; oversee conference calendar; build external relationships with peer organizations and education writers.
Impact storyteller. Drive data-rich storytelling to convey organization’s holistic approach, value proposition and influence, using surveys, research and data tools; integrate impact narrative into major projects including Annual Report, op-eds, and fundraising materials.
Asset-based writer. Refine and advance organization’s messaging striving for inclusive language, diverse voices, and asset-based framing; update organizational narrative and major collateral such as press kit, information kit, web copy, two pagers.
Acting Vice President of Communications, October 2021-June 2022
Served as acting vice president of national Marketing & Communications Dept. for nine months during time of transition.
Kept major initiatives on track; led on writing, editing and communications strategy for multiple projects including co-project managing Annual Report; supported major national initiative launched at the White House in July 2022: The National Partnership for Student Success.
Communications Director/Writer, January 2016-February 2017
Wrote, edited and produced creative projects for targeted audiences including: policymakers, educators, investors, philanthropies, elected officials and the media.
Senior Writer, Opportunity Nation, Boston MA, February 2013-January 2016
Chief storyteller at entrepreneurial, bipartisan national nonprofit dedicated to expanding upward mobility for young Americans, run with the urgency of a political campaign.
Key role in strategizing and executing public roll out of major releases and events that received widespread media coverage such as the annual Opportunity Index and the National Opportunity Summit.
Led messaging and content of policy platforms including workforce development, juvenile justice, civic engagement and youth unemployment.
Doubled volume and page views of national blog in first 12 months.
Freelance Writer, June 2012-January 2016
Wrote stories about innovation in education for national audiences. Stories appeared in U.S. News & World Report; PBS Newshour, The Hechinger Report, Deseret News, Duke University’s Faith and Leadership magazine, and other publications.
Adjunct Faculty, Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI Fall 2014; Fall 2015
Taught reporting and feature writing to digital journalism majors. Focus on narrative storytelling and beat reporting.
Staff Writer, The Providence Journal, Providence, RI July 2022-February 2013
Award-winning reporter covering national K-12 education reform; issues of affordability and access in higher education; and the intersection of education and the economy in a struggling state.
Part of team coverage of the Station Nightclub Fire, which was a finalist for the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service
Staff Writer, The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, MA July 2000-June 2002
Covered intense growth of New Hampshire boarder towns; health and feature writing. Won several regional awards.
Promoted to Massachusetts Statehouse reporter covering Mitt Romney’s gubernatorial campaign.
Staff Writer, Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH April 1999-June 2000
Keene City Reporter for daily newspaper; 2000 presidential primary coverage for candidates Al Gore, John McCain and Steve Forbes.
Honors and Awards
With the Providence Journal:
2012 First Place Beat Reporting, New England Associated Press News Executives Award
2011 First Place Enterprise for Central Falls Series, NEAPNEA (shared award)
2011 RI for Community & Justice Metcalf Award for Diversity in the Media (shared award)
2010 Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Award in Feature Writing (shared award)
2007 Second Place, Breaking/Hard News, Education Writers Association
Multiple Rhode Island Press Association awards 2004, 2010, 2011
With the Eagle-Tribune:
2002 First Place, New England Press Association, Investigative News Story, “New Hampshire At the Crossroads, ” lead writer of series
2002 First Place, Investigative News Story, New Hampshire Press Association, “New Hampshire At the Crossroads,” lead writer of series
2002 First Place, Feature Story, New Hampshire Press Association (shared award on three-part Vietnam Vet series)
Education
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, MS in Journalism, May 1997
San Francisco State University, MA in Latin American History. May 1995
University of Massachusetts at Amherst, BA in History; BA in Spanish; Minor & Certificate in Latin American Studies. Cum Laude. 1991
Study abroad junior year Universidad de Sevilla, Spain 1988-1989
Summer study program, Colegio de Espana, Universidad de Salamanca, 1990