Emily Tavenner
Washington,DC
Summary
A creative and detail-oriented storyteller with experience in social media management, writing, editing, video and audio production, design, and strategy development and execution. Recognized for engaging B2G, B2B, and B2C audiences and building great relationships with people across teams and organizations.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Communications Director, Technology and Democracy
New America
12.2024 - Current
- Develop and execute communications processes and strategies that engage key audiences (Hill staff, funders, policy influencers)
- Build relationships and partner with teams across New America
- Steward social media campaigns from conception to execution
- Achieved influencer amplification for social media campaign without spend
- Propose new and creative editorial ideas and execute them after achieving buy-in from program leadership and staff
- Support programs in achieving visibility and impact goals
- Develop and refine core messages to ensure brand consistency for Technology and Democracy (T&D) programs
- Achieved 57% increase in page views for T&D programs in one year
- Identify and use news trends to uplift experts' voices and profiles
- Garnered earned media hits in high-tier publications (e.g., The Washington Post, Last Week Tonight, NBC, and The Guardian)
Senior Communications Manager
Information Technology And Innovation Foundation
08.2022 - 12.2023
- Led creation and implementation of social media strategy
- Translated complex and complicated tech policy concepts into engaging pieces of content for press and policy audiences (e.g., policymakers, Hill staff, policy influencers)
- Garnered earned media hits in national publications (e.g., The New York Times, The Washington Post, WSJ, AP, and Politico)
- Followed current events and promoted analysts' expertise on trending tech policy topics (e.g., generative AI)
- Produced videos on tech policy topics
- Edited analysts' blog posts for spelling, grammar, style, clarity, and effectiveness
Digital Content Manager
American University School of International Service
04.2019 - 08.2022
- Managed social media strategy
- Managed editorial team and calendar
- Served as primary online editor, ensuring SIS website met high standards of editorial quality, accuracy, relevance, readability, user experience, SEO, and accessibility
- Developed and updated school's content strategy
- Produced videos and podcast episodes on international affairs topics (including topics related to tech policy)
- Worked with and interviewed experts to produce impactful content
- Wrote, collected, and updated news stories on SIS website, keeping it current and packed with value for web visitors
- Created and presented social media reports and made changes to social media strategy based on reports' findings
- Increased number of followers on LinkedIn by 96%, on Twitter by 25%, and on Instagram by 86%
Communications Coordinator
American University School of International Service
10.2018 - 04.2019
- Compiled and sent SIS monthly newsletters
- Pitched and wrote articles
- Edited and fact-checked content
- Interviewed faculty, staff, students, and alumni
- Produced videos and podcast episodes
- Created and scheduled social media posts
- Published stories and updated home page through CommonSpot CMS
Marketing Communications Specialist
LearnZillion
04.2017 - 10.2018
- Increased LearnZillion's Twitter engagement rate
- Established editorial process that was strategized around sales goals
- Wrote press releases published on Cision PR Newswire
- Wrote and edited blog posts
- Managed social media
- Built and updated marketing web pages
- Established LearnZillion's video production process by researching, purchasing, and using equipment to create social media videos
- Crafted messaging around LearnZillion's positioning
Education
Master of Arts - Intercultural And International Communication
American University
Washington, DC05.2022
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism And Mass Communication
The George Washington University
Washington, DC2016
Skills
- Communications Strategy and Execution
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Cross-team Collaboration
- Social Media Management
- Written Content Creation and Editing
- HTML Code
- Video Production
- Analytical and Reporting Skills
Languages
Bilingual Russian/English
Elementary Spanish
Timeline
Communications Director, Technology and Democracy
New America
12.2024 - Current
Senior Communications Manager
Information Technology And Innovation Foundation
08.2022 - 12.2023
Digital Content Manager
American University School of International Service
04.2019 - 08.2022
Communications Coordinator
American University School of International Service
10.2018 - 04.2019
Marketing Communications Specialist
LearnZillion
04.2017 - 10.2018
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism And Mass Communication
The George Washington University
Master of Arts - Intercultural And International Communication
American University