RESUME

SKILLS HIGHLIGHTS

• Visionary leader, strategic planner
• Experienced facilitator, program leader
• Results-oriented project leader
• Mentor, career coach, recruiter
• Board and governance experience
• Academic advisory board service
• Writer, editor, public speaker
• Program and seminar developer
• Diversity solutions planner, trainer
• Effective manager of fiscal, human resources

• Consulting grant writer

 

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Top news executive for organizations ranging in size from USA TODAY to mid-sized community newspapers; led news staff through transition from primarily print to digital and multimedia with modern-day strategies, training and tools.
• Service on operating committee of directors to plan and implement strategic vision and initiatives; developed plan for audience targets, communicated and trained staff for successful implementation
• Founding executive director of a program to identify, teach non-traditional students journalism skills for newspaper careers; formed industry partnerships, developed training programs in journalism education and for industry meetings.
• Board service on a statewide non-profit to enhance the life conditions of senior citizens
• Fiscal responsibility for budgets, expenses, purchasing, hiring and pay ranges.
• Co-author and co-editor: “The Edge of Change: Women in the 21st Century Press,” 2009, University of Illinois Press.
• Loyal employee for 27 years at three daily newspapers owned by Gannett, one of the nation’s largest media companies (.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

Department chair, 2013-2016

Associate professor,

Department of Journalism and Mass Communications, Savannah State University, Savannah, GA

Led a department of about 500 students and 14 faculty and staff members to prepare students for a 21st Century role as professional communicators. Immersed in service to the greater campus and the coastal Georgia community. Chaired the university's Women's Leadership Conference

Executive Editor, Montgomery Advertiser, 2004-2013
Top editor at mid-sized daily newspaper, responsible for all news content for print, digital platforms. Led staff for daily, weekly publication, and Maxwell-Gunter Dispatch.

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Executive Director, Freedom Forum Diversity Institute, Vanderbilt University, 2000-2004
Founding leader of a national program to teach adult students, all people of color, for professional newspaper careers. Developed staff, curriculum, industry programs and conducted follow-up with program graduates and editors across the nation.

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Managing Editor, The Greenville (SC) News, 1986-2000
No. 2 editor in 110,000-cirulation daily newspaper; supervised staff of more than 100 journalists, served on operating committee. Responsible for performance development, planning, content development and community outreach. Led project to redesign the newsroom for ergonomics and efficient use of technology.

 

Senior Editor, managing editor, deputy managing editor, USA TODAY, 1986-1996
Served in various capacities as one of the top editors at the nation’s largest-circulation daily newspaper. Led daily news meetings for planning each day’s edition; responsible for coordinating cover stories and breaking news for all sections of the newspaper. Had oversight for staff development (430 newsroom employees); developed and managed newspaper and corporate budgets totaling more than $40 million. (Promoted three times over 10-year period.)

 

Also, served in editing roles at the following newspapers:

• The Washington Post

• The Atlanta Journal

• Miami Herald

• Providence (RI) Evening Bulletin

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ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

• White House Conference on Women and Girls,  Washington, DC., 2013. Selected among a dozen women to share experience for policy planning on this topic

• Co-host, “Behind the Headlines,” WSFK-AM, Fisk University, Nashville, TN

•  Poynter Institute Leadership Academy, visiting faculty

• American Press Institute, diversity trainer

• Belmont University’s New Century Journalism program, Nashville, TN. Served on search committee for department director; personally identified the successful candidate.

• Winthrop University, guest lecturer on newsroom diversity.

• "Conversations About Race." Lecturer and discussion leader for the  Freedom Forum Chips Quinn Scholars Program.

• Urban Journalism Workshop, Howard University, Washington, DC. o-coordinator for 10 years.

• Summer Program for Minority Journalists, Columbia University, New York , NY. Faculty member and editor of "Deadline," the weekly laboratory newspaper.

• University of Maryland School of Journalism, adjunct instructor in copy editing

 

EDUCATION
• Spelman College, BA, English
• Management Training Center, (described as a mini-MBA program for newspaper professionals) Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management, certificate.
• Leadership Savannah (GA), Leadership Montgomery (AL), Leadership Greenville (SC)

• Scripps Howard Academic Leadership Academy, Manship School of Mass Communications, Louisiana State University

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LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE
• Executive Council member, AARP Georgia

• ​Board of directors, the Alabama Press Association and the Alabama Associated Press Media Editors

• Vice president, HMBC Development Foundation, a Community Development Corporation serving the  Centennial Hill   area of Montgomery, AL
• Pulitzer Prize, four-time juror; also served as a judge for Best of Gannett, Best of Cox and the Hearst Journalism Awards
• Spelman College Board of Trustees, 19 years. Committee leadership: Student Affairs, Board Affairs, Community Service. Established endowed scholarship for students pursuing journalism careers
• Service on journalism advisory boards for the following universities -- Alabama State University, Auburn University, Savannah State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism at the University of Ohio.
• Co-founder and chair, National Association of Minority Multicultural Executives
• Board of directors, American Society of News Editors board of directors. Committee leadership: Diversity, Human Resources, Nominations, convention floor managers. Program chair for several topic plenary sessions.
• Accrediting Committee, Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications

  Accreditation site visits: Jackson State University, Hampton University, San Diego State University

• Board of directors, Capital City Club, Montgomery, AL
• Board of directors, Phillis Wheatley Association (community service organization), Greenville, SC.
• “Muted Voices: Frustration and Fear in the Newsroom.” Directed landmark national study, report and convention program for the National Association of Black Journalists.
• Awards judge for Alabama Bar Association and American Association of Fundraising Professionals' National Philanthropy Day

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