About me
I have more than a decade of experience in strategic communications and storytelling. My experience in managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders has honed my organizational skills, enabling me to deliver effective communication products, from blogs, op-eds, video, comics, social media campaigns, and press releases that raise an organization’s profile, grow audiences, and boost engagement.
I began my communications career as a writer and editor for a business magazine before expanding into non-profit communications where I partnered with program staff to create messaging that grew audiences across multiple across platforms.
“Joanne’s newsletters and blogs were not just updates; they were stories filled with life, great pictures, and insightful narratives that kept our staff and stakeholders connected and informed, especially during the challenging time of the pandemic.”
After earning a degree international affairs and Russian at the University of Washington, I spent a few years working in Washington, D.C.’s international development scene before moving to Egypt to complete a multidisciplinary master’s degree at the American University in Cairo (AUC). There, I won research and travel grants to conduct an ethnographic study of the recent migration of Russians into Egypt, which I presented at the American Association of Anthropology’s annual conference. After this, I was hooked on seeing the connections between individuals’ stories and larger policy issues.
I went on to become a staff writer at a business magazine in Cairo, covering the energy sector, food security (and sovereignty), and local politics, among other topics. While I was there, the Arab Spring broke out and I saw up close what happens when democracy is so far in the rear-view mirror even million-person marches can’t bring it back.
I now dedicate my time and skills to supporting causes that ensure we all can continue to live in a free society.