Work in Progressive Leadership

Over the years, I have worked in different areas of community organizing, communication, and campaign work. In 2007, I was a Young People For (YP4) Fellow, a program of People For the American Way Foundation (PFAWF). This program opened the road for me to become deeply involved in progressive work. I participated in the internship program in 2008 that allowed me to move to New York City to intern at the Clinton Foundation (CF), where I worked in the Correspondence Department. Since 2010, as a YP4 alumna, I have mentored over 15 fellows through their fellowship program, supporting them as they developed their Blueprint Projects, a mock-grant writing project, and Civic Engagement Program. I have also trained at at least five of the program's National Summits and a summer Regional Training as part of YP4’s core curriculum.

Through the Young Elected Officials Network, another program of PFAWF,  I was also part of the Front Line Leaders Academy. Through this 8-month program, I gained important skills about  campaign work, from writing field and fundraising plans, to working on all aspects of candidate preparation, and creating a successful communications campaign. I learned how to apply the communication strategies I learned in my academic work into campaigns and the political sphere, like pitching stories to media outlets, developing clear messaging, and working to maintain control over the image represented.

These experiences have embedded in progressive work, leadership development, mentoring, and facilitation. This work has been critical to my own development as a professor and communications professional. It has also provided me with invaluable experience as I work to support my students and mentees/femtees in their professional and personal growth.