About me
I have more than a decade of experience in strategic communications and storytelling. I began my communications career as a writer and editor for a business magazine before expanding into non-profit communications. Now, I work with non-profits to develop key messaging and highlight their impact, expanding their reach across multiple platforms. My experience in managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders has honed my organizational skills, enabling me to deliver effective communication products, including blogs, social media campaigns, videos, comics, op-eds, and press releases that raise an organization’s profile, inspire new audiences, and boost engagement.
I grew up in the south Sound, and after earning a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and Russian at the University of Washington, I spent a few years working in Washington, D.C.’s international development scene. I then moved to Egypt to complete a multidisciplinary master’s degree at the American University in Cairo (AUC) where I discovered the power of connecting individual stories to global trends while conducting an ethnographic study of the Russians migrating into Egypt. I was awarded grants to support this research and was selected to present my findings at the American Association of Anthropology’s annual conference in 2009.
I went on to become a staff writer at a business magazine in Cairo, covering the energy sector, food security (and sovereignty), and local politics, among other topics. While I was there, the Arab Spring broke out and I saw up close what happens when democracy is so far in the rear-view mirror even million-person marches can’t bring it back.
I now dedicate my time and skills to supporting organizations that serve their communities and contribute to the belief that we all need to do our part in order to live in a free society.
“Joanne’s newsletters and blogs were not just updates; they were stories filled with life, great pictures, and insightful narratives that kept our staff and stakeholders connected and informed, especially during the challenging time of the pandemic.”
