At heart, I’m a writer. For many years, I worked as a ghostwriter with people who were experts at the top of their fields. As a marketing and communication strategist at James Madison University, I apply my extensive background in collaboration to engagement and fundraising objectives. Collaborative communication is the core of everything I do, and an audience-first approach means I consistently develop content that resonates with target audiences. My project management skills are top-notch. Colleagues at JMU have referred to my contributions in this area as “revolutionary” for my department. For sure, I enjoy guiding teams to achieve project and organizational goals, hit deadlines, maximize both efficiency and effectiveness, and experience fulfillment in their work. Higher education is my happy place. I began my "second act" career at JMU about eight years ago and was honestly surprised to find that I love academia, mainly because this is a sector committed to learning, knowledge production, innovation and research, and addressing (sometimes solving!) some of the world's most troubling problems. Relationships with colleagues and alumni, including major donors and people employed at every level of the institution, are not only central to success but also the best part.