Experience

Highwire

• United States
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging

  • Nov 2020 - Present

  San Francisco, Bay Area



Peralta Community College District: Laney College

• Adjunct Professor, Ethnic Studies (Emphasis: African American Studies)

  • 2011 - Present

  Oakland, CA As an adjunct Ethnic Studies professor, my expertise in critical race theory, intersectionality, and gender studies is ever-evolving. The insights that I glean from serving diverse student populations (millennials, LGTBTQs, elders, futurists, homeless, formerly incarcerated, among others) allows me to stay grounded in the work of creating space for marginalized voices. • Facilitate high impact and transformative courses designed to introduce students to the concepts of race… Show more As an adjunct Ethnic Studies professor, my expertise in critical race theory, intersectionality, and gender studies is ever-evolving. The insights that I glean from serving diverse student populations (millennials, LGTBTQs, elders, futurists, homeless, formerly incarcerated, among others) allows me to stay grounded in the work of creating space for marginalized voices. • Facilitate high impact and transformative courses designed to introduce students to the concepts of race, intersectionality, ethnicity, gender, and social justice. • Cultivate alliances with student cohorts to support their academic trajectories into 4-year institutions. • Create a positive learning environment to engender authenticity, empowerment, and healing. • Unpack how racial and ethnic formation and inequality intersect with issues of gender, sexuality, class and age; connect students to experiential learning experiences to crystallize theoretical constructs in a real-world context. Show less



Donor Network West, Donate Life nonprofit dedicated to saving and healing lives

• Exhibit Director and Curator, Giving Me LIfe (#GML) Multimedia Exhibition

  • 2017 - Dec 2020

  San Ramon, CA Creative visionary of the groundbreaking Giving Me Life: A Visual Journey of African American Organ and Tissue Transplant Recipients multimedia exhibition, which debuted at the historic African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO) in June 2018 for a 12-week run. - Through a series of intimate black and white portraits, Bay Area social documentary photographer, Katie Sugarman, presents a spectrum of nine African American organ and tissue transplant recipients who have overcome… Show more Creative visionary of the groundbreaking Giving Me Life: A Visual Journey of African American Organ and Tissue Transplant Recipients multimedia exhibition, which debuted at the historic African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO) in June 2018 for a 12-week run. - Through a series of intimate black and white portraits, Bay Area social documentary photographer, Katie Sugarman, presents a spectrum of nine African American organ and tissue transplant recipients who have overcome incredible obstacles in their respective journeys toward health, wellness, and living their best lives. - The #GML exhibit also explores transplantation trends, and reveals compelling community perspectives from African Americans who champion the cause of organ and tissue donation. - The vision for the Giving Me Life exhibit was borne out of an awareness that Donor Network West had an opportunity to shine a light on the inspiring testimonials of African Americans who are benefitting from the Gift of Life made possible through organ and tissue donation. SOCIAL JUSTICE + SOCIAL IMPACT FRAMING: - With a finger on the pulse of the community, we boldly identified an intersection between our lifesaving work and the universal affirmation that indeed, #Black Lives Matter, for it is through the generosity of organ and tissue donors that countless Black lives are being saved and healed - We set an intention that this exhibit would serve as a much-needed catalyst for authentic dialogue and increased donor designations within the African American community. Thanks to a generous grant from The California Endowment, the #GML campaign will continue through a series of videos aimed at changing the narrative around the Gift of Life. Interested in bringing the #GML exhibit to your community space? Please message me! Show less



Donor Network West

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Senior Community Development Liaison, East Bay Region

  • Dec 2009 - Nov 2020

  San Ramon, California, United States



SutherlandGold

• United States
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Account Supervisor

  • 2007 - 2009

  San Francisco, CA Drove marketing-based public relations campaigns for B2C and emerging growth Web 2.0 companies focused in advertising, hyper-local journalism, mobile services, real estate, and social search. Clients Included: Trulia, iSkoot (acquired by Qualcomm), Center'd, MyWaves, Pudding Media, AdBrite • Developed and implemented high-impact strategic campaigns and tactical plans designed to elevate awareness of client initiatives and product announcements. • Secured and managed… Show more Drove marketing-based public relations campaigns for B2C and emerging growth Web 2.0 companies focused in advertising, hyper-local journalism, mobile services, real estate, and social search. Clients Included: Trulia, iSkoot (acquired by Qualcomm), Center'd, MyWaves, Pudding Media, AdBrite • Developed and implemented high-impact strategic campaigns and tactical plans designed to elevate awareness of client initiatives and product announcements. • Secured and managed C-level executive communications opportunities, including op-ed and bylined articles and high-profile speaking engagements at industry gatherings. • Established and nurtured relationships with a broad network of media and industry analyst contacts, and managed incoming client queries. • Launched new products and offerings using proactive media campaigns, satellite radio tours and press briefings. • Led team brainstorms and offered strategic counsel to clients around value-added research benchmarks, including Harris Polls and USA Today snapshots. Show less



Schwartz MSL

• Account Supervisor

  • 2003 - 2007

  San Francisco, CA 94105 Led strategic and tactical public relations programs for business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) technology and healthcare clients. Clients Included: ClearOne Communications, Cyberonics, Digital Impact (Acxiom Digital), Gilbert Guide, Goodmail Systems, Newgistics, Planitax, Panasas, ResMed, Respironics, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, RingCentral StrongMail Systems, Thompson Micromedex, Versant Advantage. and Virtutech • Developed and implemented high-impact strategic… Show more Led strategic and tactical public relations programs for business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) technology and healthcare clients. Clients Included: ClearOne Communications, Cyberonics, Digital Impact (Acxiom Digital), Gilbert Guide, Goodmail Systems, Newgistics, Planitax, Panasas, ResMed, Respironics, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, RingCentral StrongMail Systems, Thompson Micromedex, Versant Advantage. and Virtutech • Developed and implemented high-impact strategic campaigns and tactical plans designed to elevate awareness of client initiatives and product announcements • Supported product launches by securing high-profile reporter briefings packaged up as bi-coastal media tours • Secured C-level executive communications opportunities, including op-ed and bylined articles and high-profile speaking engagements at industry gatherings • Established and nurtured relationships with broad network of media and industry analyst contacts, and managed incoming client queries • Generated top-tier client coverage in national, business, and consumer press outlets, including the Associated Press, PARADE and USA Today to help clients gain visibility and generate sales leads • Managed and supported career development process of junior staff to ensure job satisfaction, retention and professional development Show less



Peralta Community College District: College of Alameda

• Public Information Officer

  • 2001 - 2003

  Alameda, California 94501 Successfully developed and launched various external and internal communications initiatives designed to reach and influence key stakeholders and constituents. As primary media spokesperson for the campus, responsibilities included responding to incoming media queries and proactively coordinating external media relations activities designed to enhance the institution’s image. • Developed, wrote, edited, designed and produced various press materials including employee newsletters, news… Show more Successfully developed and launched various external and internal communications initiatives designed to reach and influence key stakeholders and constituents. As primary media spokesperson for the campus, responsibilities included responding to incoming media queries and proactively coordinating external media relations activities designed to enhance the institution’s image. • Developed, wrote, edited, designed and produced various press materials including employee newsletters, news releases, student success stories, faculty profiles, district fact sheets and special publications • Established and nurtured relationships with local and regional media, resulting in coverage in the Oakland Tribune, Alameda Journal and Alameda Sun Show less