Education
- General Studies, Pellissippi State Technical Community College (2001 – 2004)
- Bachelor of Science, Communications, Public Relations; Minor, Business Administration, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (2004 – 2008)
Employment
Public Relations & Communications Coordinator, Helen Ross McNabb Center
What’s the most important PR practice you use in your work?
Effective communication. In my role I interact with numerous internal and external audiences. I’ve worked hard to communicate effectively; making an effort to think ahead to any pertinent information they may need to know. In that same regard, cautiously considering how best to respond in difficult situations.
What advice would you give a new professional?
I graduated with my degree in communication during the recession of 2008, and finding a job–much less a PR job–in Knoxville proved to be difficult. I learned, however, that you can still work on public relations and communication skills even if you’re not in the job you want to be. Continue to seek the opportunities you desire and find ways to hone skills needed to get there.
Anything you’d like to share about mental health & wellness from your professional experience?
It’s important to make time for yourself consistently. As a busy working mom, I’m not always the best at following this advice, but the recent life changes with COVID have helped me to understand I need time to decompress and ensure I’m healthy for myself and my family. It’s important to do the things that work best for you. My daily habits include quiet time for prayer and journaling and daily workouts. Six months ago, working out daily sounded unattainable and were the last thing I wanted to do with my spare time, but lately, it’s become the time I get to myself. I feel empowered and recharged after I’ve completed a workout, and I now find myself looking forward to this exercise.