Margaret Nongo-Okojokwu

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute strategic communications plans supporting student recruitment, alumni engagement, faculty recognition, industry partnerships, and institutional priorities.
• Manage the Durham School's digital presence across social media platforms, increasing audience engagement by 50% and growing the school's online community to 1,500+ followers across platforms.
• Create and manage multi-channel content, including social media campaigns, newsletters, feature stories, videos, websites, email marketing, and promotional materials to strengthen brand awareness and stakeholder engagement.
• Lead storytelling initiatives that highlight student achievements, faculty research, alumni success, and industry collaborations, increasing visibility for nationally recognized programs, award-winning faculty, student organizations, and research accomplishments.
• Produce visually compelling marketing materials, graphics, presentations, and digital content using Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, and other design tools while maintaining brand consistency and accessibility standards.
• Plan and execute 20+ annual events, including career fairs, awards banquets, alumni programs, conferences, workshops, donor events, distinguished lectures, and recruitment initiatives serving students, faculty, alumni, and industry partners.
• Coordinate all aspects of event communications, logistics, registration systems, promotional campaigns, vendor relationships, and post-event assessments to ensure successful execution and positive participant experiences.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, students, alumni, industry partners, and university leadership to develop and promote strategic initiatives and special projects that advance the Durham School's mission and reputation.
• Launch and manage alumni engagement initiatives, including targeted communications, digital campaigns, and newsletter strategies designed to strengthen stakeholder relationships and increase alumni involvement.
• Develop and maintain editorial calendars and communication plans aligned with academic milestones, recruitment efforts, major events, and institutional priorities.
• Manage email marketing campaigns through Mailchimp and Constant Contact, utilizing audience segmentation, performance analytics, and engagement metrics to improve communication effectiveness.
• Build and maintain relationships with media, alumni, donors, community organizations, and industry leaders to expand visibility and strengthen external partnerships.
• Monitor communication performance metrics and audience analytics to inform strategic decision-making and optimize content effectiveness.
• Create communication resources, templates, and workflow systems that improve operational efficiency, support recurring events, and ensure consistency across communications efforts.
• Recruit, train, and supervise student workers supporting content creation, photography, videography, social media management, and event operations

Key Achievements

• Increased social media engagement by 50% through strategic content planning, storytelling, and audience-focused campaigns.
• Expanded digital audience reach to 1,500+ followers across multiple social media platforms.
• Successfully planned and executed 20+ high-profile annual events supporting recruitment, alumni engagement, industry partnerships, and student success.
• Launched new alumni engagement initiatives, including digital communications and newsletter campaigns, to strengthen stakeholder connections and increase community engagement.
• Developed and implemented strategic communications efforts that elevated the visibility of faculty, student, and research achievements, contributing to national recognition and award-winning program success.
• Established new communications resources and processes, including content planning tools and event support systems, to improve efficiency and long-term sustainability.

• Used variety of learning modalities and support materials to facilitate learning process and accentuate presentations.
• Evaluated and revised lesson plans and course content to achieve student-centered learning.
• Graded quizzes, tests, homework, and projects to provide students with timely academic progress information and feedback.
• Encouraged class discussions by building discussions into lessons, actively soliciting input, asking open-ended questions and using techniques to track student participation.
• Managed student performance using automated reporting system, leveraging data to identify student learning needs and create action plans to overcome learning deficiencies.
• Scored exams and graded student performance fairly.
• Engaged students with insightful and compelling classroom discussion of topics relevant to coursework to boost student learning and retention.
• Built relationships with students, mentoring on personal, professional and academic goals while providing coaching on effective study habits.
• Worked with colleagues and administrators to create robust education programs.
• Designed and distributed feedback forms to continually improve teaching skills and develop stronger connection with students.
• Appraised student understanding by applying course content and gauging comprehension.
• Designed and delivered class instruction to meet course competencies.
• Organized, prepared, and revised Communication course material and applied technological options for online and course-related software.
• Collaborated with department head to create dynamic, ongoing curriculum development, and instruction improvement program.
• Educated students enrolled in classes and taught students art of speech delivery and systemic, fact-based presentation delivery.
• Developed and delivered engaging course materials for diverse student populations.

• Devised results-driven strategies and roadmaps based on clients' needs.
• Developed social media calendar, which included scheduling email blasts, social media posts, marketing campaigns, and website updates.
• Strategized social media campaigns for clients, helping to meet goals and reach untapped potential customers.
• Translated marketing and social media needs into results-driven strategies.
• Analyzed and reported social media and online marketing campaign results.
• Evaluated monthly performance statistics and used data to inform future strategies.
• Tracked and capitalized on emerging industry trends to boost campaign performance.
• Interacted with programs department to identify positive or negative customer feedback regarding media content.
• Conducted Social Media Audit on clients' accounts to identify trends and determine topic relevance.

• Worked with principal investigators to coordinate qualitative soybean research project.
• Worked both independently and collaboratively in fast-paced laboratory environment.
• Recorded soybean experimental samples in laboratory notebook to analyze and interpret experimental findings.
• Gathered, arranged and corrected research data to create representative graphs and charts highlighting results for presentations.
• Participated in team-building activities to enhance working relationships.

• Increased brand awareness through creation of innovative print and digital productions for major publications.
• Fostered positive relationships with key business journalists in national and trade publications.
• Determined optimal combination of media outlets for promotional campaigns and allocated resources according to consumer data analysis.
• Discussed marketing goals with clients to identify needs and articulate details to marketing team.
• Negotiated rates with media sales companies.
• Bought advertising space in newspapers and magazines.
• Conferred with department heads or staff to discuss contracts, advertising media selection or products to be advertised.
• Inspected layouts and advertising copy and edited scripts, audio and videotapes and other promotional material to adhere to specifications.
• Maintained information and client satisfaction for high-profile accounts worth up to $20,000 per annum.
• Utilized e-mail, social media, radio and TV to highlight products and services.
• Worked with marketing department to create targeted advertising strategies for key customer demographics.
• Increased longevity of accounts by providing individualized customer service and developing relationships with account holders.
• Attended customer meetings, trade shows and conferences as company representative.
• Liaised between account holders and representatives to resolve issues and maintain satisfaction of over five business customers. (accounts)
• Wrote engaging and successful press releases to control information and public opinion.
• Reviewed marketing materials and documents for brand accuracy and trending design.
• Managed performance across campaigns and translated campaign metrics into actionable insights, implications and optimizations.
• Determined alignment with media goals and objectives and conducted negotiations to maximize efficiencies.
• Authored fresh and engaging press releases and prepared complete press kits.
• Managed editorial calendars and rescheduled PR events and meetings.
• Oversaw team of communications and media relations professionals with focus on achieving PR results.
• Oversaw social media presence and aligned posts to include branding and trending ideas.
• Developed and promoted corporate brand, images and identity to media and public.
• Built and strengthened industry partnerships to improve product placements, amplify coverage and maximize effectiveness of marketing strategies.
• Spearheaded market research to identify branding opportunities, cement strategies and sustain loyal customer base.
• Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.

• Determining readiness of written pieces, made changes, and approved final versions for publication.
• Devised attention-grabbing headlines and summaries to increase clicks and engagement.
• Assigned stories, led content development meetings, and reviewed completed stories to guide execution of concepts and tone.
• Reviewed reports and recommended changes to improve copy flow.
• Built productive relationships with writers, designers, and other professionals.
• Created marketing communications by pitching to advertisers and sponsors
• Convinced advertisers to trust a new and growing brand
• Organized internal and editorial meetings to determine the magazine's focus every month
• Arranged, reviewed, proofread, and edited materials for publication.
• Focused closely on attention to detail in manuscripts
• Worked with graphic artists, post-production team members, and other specialists to produce captivating and successful content.
• Prepared 2-page budgets, set layouts, and selected photos for stories to boost readership.
• Checked reference sources, like Dictionaries, encyclopedias, and electronic databases, to verify dates, facts, and statistics.
• Chose and prepared photos for use with feature pieces with Canva, Google Photos, and Adobe Photoshop.
• Reviewed articles for grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, accuracy, and compliance with quality standards.
• Monitored breaking news for information on incidents, events, and topics of interest to quickly assign coverage to staff.
• Collaborated with the graphics department to develop and implement visual elements such as page layout and design.
• Coordinated with writers to maintain a consistent voice while removing editorial problems.
• Interviewed sources and developed relationships with informants to obtain vital information for stories.
• Supported design team by helping develop layouts and collaborating with production professionals to create publications.
• Guided and motivated staff to achieve demanding targets under tight deadlines.
• Prepared, rewrote, and edited pieces to improve readability and impact.

• Worked as part of the field team for the U.S Department of States-sponsored Mandela Washington Fellowship Program for Young African Leaders in the summer of 2022.
• Supported logistics efforts for 25 Mandela Fellows from about 20 African countries, towards arrival and departure from Nebraska after six weeks of leadership program.
• Assisted staff and administrative team in coordinating Fellows' affairs and needs to help them navigate through program while at UNL.
• Performed other clerical and administrative duties as assigned by the Director.

• Oversaw classes of about 1,200 students in six semesters at College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
• Applied fair grading practices consistently to evaluate students' work and assign letter or number values.
• Worked with professors in evaluating student progress, needs and gains.
• Taught three classes of 235 students, with guest lectures focused on specific parts of coursework.
• Assisted faculty with copying papers, collecting assignments, and preparing materials for upcoming classes.
• Checked assignments, proctored tests, and provided grades according to university standards.
• Documented attendance and completed assignments to maintain full class and student records.
• Coordinated homework and assignments for absent students.
• Provided relevant and timely feedback on student assignments.
• Recorded grades for coursework and tests in an online reporting system.
• Checked course materials, lessons, and assignments for discrepancies and helped faculty resolve problems.
• Identified negative trends such as groups of students missing key concepts and worked with professors to resolve concerns.
• Tracked student attendance and calculated impact on grades for those missing excessive days.
• Relieved scheduling burden from professors and expanded teaching abilities by leading an undergraduate class..
• Copied, organized, and distributed course materials.
• Worked with Faculty to learn about current standards and best practices.
• Created opportunities for students to network directly with leaders in the field.

• Part of UNL team for Mandela Washington Fellowship Program in the Summer of 2020.
• Oversaw groups of over 100 Mandela Washington Fellows from four different cohorts in UNL MWF Alumni Network in the summer of 2020.
• Assisted staff and administrative team in coordinating Fellows' affairs and needs to help them navigate the program while at UNL.
• Coordinated UNL Mandela Washington Fellows Alumni network and jointly organized virtual reunion events for all Mandela Fellows from UNL across four cohorts.
• Interviewed Fellows and created content for the UNL Mandela Washington Fellows Alumni Network newsletter.
• Carried out every other administrative task as assigned by the Director.

• Managed team of about 20 staff members in various roles to produce content for a monthly magazine.
• Built and sustained the OER (Orient Energy Review) brand from scratch to an enviable and notable height in the Nigerian energy sector.
• Determined readiness of written pieces, made changes, and approved final versions for publication.
• Organized internal /editorial meetings to determine magazine focus every month
• Coordinated and assigned beats/ story segments to writers/ reporters
• Arrange, review, proofread, edit materials for publication and send to the graphics department.
• Collaborated with writers and graphic designers to develop content schedules and plan workflows.
• Assigned topics and story concepts to writers for coverage.
• Posted and promoted articles on social media platforms to engage target audience.
• Prepared, rewrote and edited pieces to improve readability and impact.
• Reviewed articles for grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, accuracy and compliance with quality standards.
• Collaborated with graphics department to develop and implement visual elements.
• Pitched content strategies and managed asset acquisition.
• Selected and edited photos for use in diverse projects.
• Communicated directly with writers to collaboratively assess work and guide editorial improvements.
• Managed team of writers and junior editors to deliver accurate and engaging content.
• Guided and motivated staff to achieve demanding targets under tight deadlines.
• Monitored breaking news for information on incidents, events and topics of interest to quickly assign coverage to staff.
• Supported publication by helping develop layouts and collaborating with production teams.
• Assigned stories, led content development meetings, and reviewed completed stories to guide the execution of concepts and tone.
• Devised attention-grabbing headlines and summaries to increase clicks and engagement.
• Proofread, edited, and evaluated final copy to verify content aligned with established guidelines.
• Delegated and tracked each staff member's assignments and deadlines using a collaborative work platform.
• Conducted editorial meetings with staff members to collaborate and review proposed publication suggestions.
• Provided concise and constructive editorial feedback to writers to improve article and story writing.
• Worked with graphic artists, post-production team members, and other specialists to produce captivating and successful content.
• Hired, trained, and provided daily direction for five employees.
• Coordinated editorial content and topics with the editor-in-chief.

• Served as a spokesperson for the Alumni Association of about 400+ members
• Managed media interviews and TV appearances for members
• Wrote and issued press releases on behalf of the Association on national issues like flooding and herdsmen killings in the country.
• Collaborated with a team to organize the maiden Young Leaders Assembly Forum in Nigeria
• Served on the team that worked with the U.S. embassy in Nigeria to produce the Association’s official guiding documents and three-year strategic plan.
• Organized logistics and materials for each meeting, arranged spaces, and took detailed notes for later dissemination to key stakeholders.
• Answered and managed incoming and outgoing calls while recording accurate messages for distribution to office staff.
• Supported the association's leaders by managing budgets, scheduling appointments, and organizing itineraries.
• Built and maintained excellent relationships with media stakeholders through timely response to inquiries and going above and beyond to accommodate unusual requests.
• Interacted with vendors, contractors, and professional services personnel to receive orders, direct activities, and communicate instructions.