Current title: Director of Communications

Dawn Smith

*** *. ********* **. #****, Chicago, IL 606**-***-*** 5082

**********@*****.***

March 24, 2014

Attn: Human Resources

My name is Dawn Smith, and I am writing in regards to the available Social Media Editorial Manager position. My

career includes over seventeen years of practice in public relations, behavioral science and education in the corporate,

healthcare, education and non profit sectors. As a result of a management restructuring within my current employer, I am

seeking to transition to a position that will best utilize my communications and social media expertise, public relations skills

and experience, writing and creative services knowledge, and a genuine interest in the pharmaceutical and healthcare arena.

My current position includes managing the internal communications for over 250 clinicians and researchers, across

four campuses and 11 colleges within the University of Illinois system, as well as maintaining external communications with

federal cancer related organizations. In addition to publishing a bi weekly newsletter, marketing materials and event

documents, I manage all social media on Twitter and Facebook and national media interactions, including contacts with the

National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institutes, the American Cancer Society, the American Association of

Cancer Institutes and national news affiliates. Separately, I volunteer with Imerman Angels 1 on 1 Cancer Support, a

local, grassroots non profit that functions both nationally and internationally to provide support for cancer fighters, survivors

and caregivers. My volunteer work includes photography, public relations and fundraising efforts.

My previous employment has included a combination of education and public relations experience. This has

included agency, in house and freelance marketing and public relations efforts for numerous educational, corporate and non

profit organizations, including Oakton Community College, Sony Pictures Consumer Products, Paramount Home

Video, the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, and the Brett Armin Sarcoma Foundation.

These experiences have resulted in the publication of marketing materials and media kits, press placement in network and

local affiliates, and client management. Finally, I have worked with Coursera online education, as both a student and a

spokesperson, in their Introduction to Pharmacology and Public Health classes.

The combination of my positions, careers and education has provided me with excellence in written, oral and

presentational communications. As the media landscape has developed, I have continued to evolve my own skills with social

media, blogging and website development. I can offer you strong leadership, effective writing and editing for press,

utilization of technological developments and social media, and a solid understanding of branding and relationship building

within the corporate healthcare environments.

Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to speaking with you.

Sincerely,

Dawn Smith

Dawn Smith

330 N. Jefferson St. #1102, Chicago, IL 606**-***-*** 5082

**********@*****.***

Functional Summary:

Unique combination of public relations and education experience • Published writing and photography •

National media placements • Social media expertise • Excellence in customer and client service

Applicable Experience:

2012 – present University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL

Director of Communications

• Manage internal and external communications between 11 colleges and across four campuses of the

University of Illinois

• Collaborate with collegiate news bureau, media relations department, national media, federal

institutions and non profit organizations to ensure wide media coverage for cancer relevant and

research news

• Develop potential exhibition opportunities with local museums and secondary educational institutions

• Produce and execute institutional events

• Seek out and develop funding and grant opportunities

• Write, publish and distribute all marketing materials

• Facilitate all social media, including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

• Maintain entire department website and project management of new site development

• Coordinate and promote speaking engagements, seminars and lectures

2005 2012 Oakton Community College, Des Plaines, IL

Departmental Marketing, Advisor and Adjunct Professor

Produce and execute all marketing and public relations efforts for campus wide

•

events, new student orientation and 10 12 annual workshops and presentations

Development of media applications for classroom and curriculum usage

•

Promote over 150 degree and certificate programs via presentation and individual

•

advising and training

Teach three academic classes per year, focusing on behavioral science and

•

integration of media

Copywriting and editing for Academic catalog, orientation materials and

•

departmental website

2010 Grant Recipient from Oakton Education Foundation

•

2004 2005 Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, MA

Departmental Marketing, Academic Counselor and Adjunct Instructor

Worked with the American Cancer Society, the National Multiple Sclerosis

•

Society, the American Diabetes Foundation and others to create student based promotional activities

Developed multicultural curriculum and assisted with academic standing and

•

policy development

Counseled students with academic needs

•

Taught one class in study skills/academic success

•

2002 2005 Boston Sports Club/Town Sports International, Allston, MA

Manager/Staff Trainer

2000 2001 Sony Pictures Entertainment/Corestaff, Culver City, CA

Exhibitor Relations/Public Relations Executive Assistant

Bragman Nyman Cafarelli LLC, Beverly Hills, CA

1998 2000

Jr. Publicist

The Los Angeles Times, Chicago Office, Chicago, IL National

1996 1997

Advertising Sales and Marketing Assistant

Freelance Writing and Publicity Assignments:

2012 – 2013 Coursera

• Provided several interviews to national media regarding online educational platform as tool for

professional success. Media included NBC National News, CNN, The Chronicle of Higher Education

and Readers’ Digest Canada.

2007 2008 Brett Armin Sarcoma Foundation, Deerfield, IL

2001 – 2002 Fashion Targets Breast Cancer/Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL

• Developed effective promotional guidelines for traditional and online/social media applications

• Wrote and distributed all organizational press literature and marketing materials, with multiple

placements in a variety of media

• Created advertising materials and distributed to local and online outlets

Other Professional Experience:

2010 present Imerman Angels 1 on 1 Cancer Support

Event Fundraiser; Professionals Board Communications Chairperson

• Volunteer position for cancer support non profit; Organization provides free, individualized support

for cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers

Organize public relations, event planning, marketing and all manners of outreach and awareness

2009 present Dawn Smith Photography, Chicago, IL

Owner/Photographer

• Corporate and event photography for Panera Bread, The Chicago Fire Major League Soccer,

Olive Oils of Spain and a variety of independent caterers and portrait clients

• Gallery showings in the Koehnline Museum of Art in Des Plaines, IL; SIP in Chicago, IL; and

Art Attack in Boston, MA.

• Broadcast on the Chicago affiliates of the CBS News and NBC News, and print and online

editions of The Chicago Tribune and The Beacon News

Online photoblog and portfolio available at www.thephotosmithdawn.wordpress.com

•

2002 2004 Newton North High School, Newtonville, MA

School Counselor

• Provided academic guidance, college planning, vocational selection, psychological support and

educational assistance in a large, culturally diverse school

• Extracurricular activity leadership as a vocal coach for the school’s musical, Les Misérables.

Education:

2012 Johns Hopkins University/Coursera MOOC (online)

Continuing education, non credit, graduate level course completed and certificate earned.

2012 University of Pennsylvania/Coursera MOOC (online)

Continuing education, non credit, graduate level course completed and certificate earned.

2002 2003 Boston University – Boston, MA

Masters of Education

1997 – 1998 Writers Boot Camp Chicago, IL and Los Angeles, CA

Introductory and Advanced Writing Courses

1992 1995 Indiana University – Bloomington, IN

Bachelor of Arts – Telecommunications/Broadcast Communications

Contact this candidate