SUSAN M. CIPOLLARO
Fairfield,CT
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Associate Director Media & Public Relations
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT
05.2024 - Current
- Direct media relations and communications strategy for Fairfield University with strong newsroom mindset, to promote brand awareness of Fairfield University’s reputation and impact
- Successfully pitch stories leading to increased media coverage and expanding national/global reach.
- Implemented strategic public relations initiatives that helped contribute to a 20% increase in applications for admission and academic selectivity.
- Write informative and compelling articles, features, and press releases that highlight University news, initiatives, achievements, research and events, to engage and inform diverse audiences.
- Translate complex concepts into clear and accessible news stories.
- Serve as the primary University point of contact for media inquiries, including crafting statements and ensuring timely and effective response.
- Elevate University's reputation and brand nationally and globally through leveraging subject expertise of faculty thought leaders.
- Collaborate on crisis communications and reputation management, working closely with the vice president of Marketing and Communications and senior leadership on messaging and response strategies.
- Serve as key member of University crisis management team as public information officer.
- University news editor for Fairfield University Magazine and serve as editor of FairfieldNews as needed. Evaluate stories, edit and proofread content to ensure accuracy and alignment with brand guidelines.
- Collaborate with advancement and development teams to align messaging and support fundraising and donor relations efforts.
- Cultivate collaborative relationships with key stakeholders University-wide including faculty, staff, students, alumni to generate news stories and curate faculty and student content.
- Monitor media coverage and prepare monthly, semester, and yearly coverage reports for leadership.
- Conduct media training for faculty, staff, and senior leadership to communicate key messages and enhance media relations capabilities.
- Organize press conferences and media briefings, ensuring effective communication of key messages and University initiatives.
- Manage interns by defining roles and responsibilities, assigning tasks, and providing feedback.
- Serve as Marketing and Communications liaison with the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU).
- Act as principal liaison between the University and a wide array of community and government partners, including elected local and state officials.
- Communicate strategic priorities, initiatives, and accomplishments of Fairfield University to drive awareness with target audiences.
- Plan and promote political debates including gubernatorial, congressional and senate.
- Draft legislative testimony in close collaboration with president’s office and senior leadership.
- Create and edit content for websites, blogs, and social media platforms, including the University’s thought leadership blog highlighting faculty subject experts, student research, guest lecturers, and mission.
- Contribute to managing social media promotion of blog content to boost visibility and drive traffic back to website.
- Provided strategic direction and oversight to project teams.
- Researched industry trends in order to stay ahead of competition.
- Organized staff meetings to review goals and objectives.
- Provided leadership, insight and mentoring to newly hired employees to supply knowledge of various company programs.
- Facilitated communication between departments to ensure alignment of goals.
Associate Director Media Relations & Content Marketing
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT
11.2015 - 05.2024
- Direct media relations and strategy for Fairfield University with strong newsroom mindset
- Successfully pitch stories leading to increased media coverage and expanding national/global reach
- Implemented strategic public relations initiatives that helped contribute to a 20% increase in applications for admission and academic selectivity
- Write informative and compelling articles, features, and press releases that highlight University news, initiatives, achievements, research and events, to engage and inform diverse audiences
- Translate complex concepts into clear and accessible news stories
- Serve as the primary University point of contact for media inquiries, including crafting statements and ensuring timely and effective response
- Elevate University's reputation and brand nationally and globally through leveraging subject expertise of faculty thought leaders
- Collaborate on crisis communications and reputation management, working closely with the vice president of Marketing and Communications and senior leadership on messaging and response strategies
- Serve as key member of University crisis management team as public information officer
- Develop communication strategies to promote brand awareness of Fairfield University’s reputation and impact
- University news editor for Fairfield University Magazine and serve as editor of FairfieldNews as needed
- Evaluate stories, edit and proofread content to ensure accuracy and alignment with brand guidelines
- Collaborate with advancement and development teams to align messaging and support fundraising and donor relations efforts
- Cultivate collaborative relationships with key stakeholders University-wide including faculty, staff, students, alumni to generate news stories and curate faculty and student content
- Monitor media coverage and prepare monthly, semester, and yearly coverage reports for leadership
- Conduct media training for faculty, staff, and senior leadership to communicate key messages and enhance media relations capabilities
- Organize press conferences and media briefings, ensuring effective communication of key messages and University initiatives
- Manage interns by defining roles and responsibilities, assigning tasks, and providing feedback
- Serve as Marketing and Communications liaison with the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU)
- Act as principal liaison between the University and a wide array of community and government partners, including elected local and state officials
- Communicate strategic priorities, initiatives, and accomplishments of Fairfield University to drive awareness with target audiences
- Plan and promote political debates including gubernatorial, congressional and senate
- Draft legislative testimony in close collaboration with president’s office and senior leadership
- Create and edit content for websites, blogs, and social media platforms, including the University’s thought leadership blog highlighting faculty subject experts, student research, guest lecturers, and mission
- Contribute to managing social media promotion of blog content to boost visibility and drive traffic back to website.
Associate Producer/Field Producer
CBS News - 60 Minutes
New York
09.2004 - 11.2015
- Produced wide range of news segments for 60 Minutes spanning human interest, education, profiles, politics, science, business stories and investigations, including Emmy Award-winning pieces
- Managed multiple projects and stories by prioritizing assignments in high-pressure environment
- Conducted interviews and evaluated reporting for narrative story structure
- Researched and analyzed public records and databases
- Wrote scripts, interview questions and story memos
- Collaborated with editors and correspondents on audio/visual and editorial aspects of stories
- Created digital content for social media and web teams
- Meticulously fact-checked stories for fairness, accuracy and balance
- Managed and directed multi-camera crew shoots and production staff, and created and managed substantial story budgets
- Produced wide range of news segments for 60 Minutes spanning human interest, education, profiles, politics, science, business stories and investigations, including Emmy Award-winning pieces
- Reported and researched complex stories extensively.
Coordinating Producer
CBS News - Evening News with Dan Rather
New York
11.1999 - 09.2004
- Hard News Center producer and liaison between control room and editors, writers and producers during live nightly national newscast
- Contributed to daily editorial and story line up meetings, working closely with executive and senior producers
- Recognized by National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for September 11th coverage
- Produced Newsbreak, a daily national news update.
Anchor Producer
CBS News - National Desk and Special Events
New York
02.1995 - 11.1997
- Developed stories and assisted correspondents/producers with reporting, interviews and screenings for CBS Evening News, CBS This Morning, Sunday Morning, Weekend News, 48 Hours, Special Events, Dan Rather Reporting and CBS Reports from network headquarters and on location, domestic and abroad
- Produced live coverage of national and international news events including presidential campaigns and elections, and interviews with world leaders
- Wrote questions for on-air contributors during live coverage
- Analyzed and reported national election night polling results for live coverage from anchor desk.
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), English -
St. Anselm College
Manchester, NHSkills
- Writing
- Editing
- News Judgement
- Reputation Management
- Crisis Communication
- Team Collaboration
- Multitasking
- Excellent Communication
- Problem Resolution
- Relationship Building
- Strategic Planning
- Organizational Skills
- Analytical Thinking
- Idea Development and Brainstorming
Boardservice
- Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality of Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT, Advisory Board Member, 2016, Present
- Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, Fairfield, CT, Executive Board Member, 2019, Present
- Fairfield College Preparatory School Bellarmine Guild, Fairfield, CT, Board Member, 2013, 2023
- Scholar Athletes Serving Others (SASO), Fairfield, CT, Board Member, 2019, 2023
Timeline
Senior Associate Director Media & Public Relations
Fairfield University
05.2024 - Current
Associate Director Media Relations & Content Marketing
Fairfield University
11.2015 - 05.2024
Associate Producer/Field Producer
CBS News - 60 Minutes
09.2004 - 11.2015
Coordinating Producer
CBS News - Evening News with Dan Rather
11.1999 - 09.2004
Anchor Producer
CBS News - National Desk and Special Events
02.1995 - 11.1997
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), English -
St. Anselm College
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