Work.
Oct. 2017 to Present
Iowa High School Athletic Association:
Communications Director
The Organization
The Iowa High School Athletic Association is responsible for coordinating, promoting, regulating, and sanctioning student services and boys’ athletics for Iowa high schools and junior high schools. It was founded in 1904, is based out of Boone, Iowa, functions as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and is not a governmental agency. The IHSAA sponsors 11 sports and hosts postseason competition and state tournament events in all of them. Iowa is the only state in the country with school activity organizations separated by gender.
My Work
As the lone full-time communications and information staffer in an office of ~15 employees, the job is hands-on every day. I have to helped craft policy, develop our current digital strategy, and revive a successful internship program as the youngest current director and first employee of color in the organization’s history.
Management duties include: Media rights, media relations, public relations, website management, social media, sports information, sports rankings, archives, Halls of Fame, publication creation and design, digital projects, video streaming, public speaking, customer service, and more.
Aug. 2011 to Oct. 2017
Des Moines Register:
Sports Journalist
The Organization
The Des Moines Register is a daily newspaper and media outlet based out of downtown Des Moines, Iowa. It was founded in 1849, is currently owned by Gannett, and remains Iowa’s largest newspaper by circulation. The Register grew to acclaim as a truly statewide news service with national credentials as Iowa’s biggest and most influential paper - “The News Iowa Depends Upon.”
My Work
Starting out as a news assistant made the rise up to fully-fledged sports journalist pretty sweet. I went from answering phones and typing up agate to being a key contributor in our award-winning sports coverage. I published over 1,000 stories in my run at The Register, with fondest memories coming from my youth sports series, NCAA Wrestling Championships, writing out profiles, covering high school state tournaments, and the occasional restaurant review.
Duties at The Register included: University of Iowa football and wrestling, recruiting, wrestling, all high school sports, youth sports, soccer, and any reporting, writing, editing, data collection, video, or audio related to those beats.
Resume
Experience
Iowa High School Athletic Association
Oct. 2017 to Present
Position: Communications Director
Des Moines Register
Aug. 2011 to Oct. 2017
Positions: News Assistant, Sports Mobile Journalist, Sports Reporter
Iowa State Daily
Aug. 2008 to May 2011
Positions: Sports Reporter, Assistant Sports Editor
Other Work Experience
Carroll Daily Times Herald, Iowa Public Television, ISUtv, KURE, Fox College Sports, Comfort Air Engineering, Sonic Drive-In, Whitey’s Ice Cream
Education
University of Iowa
Aug. 2019 to May 2021
M.A.: Strategic Communication
Iowa State University
Aug. 2007 to May 2011
B.S.: Journalism and Mass Communication
Awards
Iowa Newspaper Association
First place, sports feature, 2015
Iowa Associated Press Media Editors
First place, sports enterprise, 2014 & 2013; Second place, sports enterprise, 2014
Associated College Press
Newspaper Pacemaker, staff, 2011
Volunteer
Greenlee School of Journalism & Communication Advisory Council - Iowa State University
Oct. 2021 to Present
Member
YSS
Dec. 2017 to May 2022
Student Mentor, Boone Middle School
Please Pass The Love
Oct. 2020 to June 2022
Board Member, Marketing Committee Chair