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Creative Specialist • Art Director • Communication Strategist

• EXPERIENCED and strategic design leader, multimedia artist, educator, and visual storyteller with 20 years of experience who uses my skillset to build creative teams and transform content into conversations.
• ABLE and hardworking team lead who is agile and creative with solid coaching and advocacy instincts that drive enhanced success.
• TALENTED and skilled in executing multiple complex projects alongside high-impact partnerships and initiatives that support broader short and long-term brand strategies.
• PROVEN award-winning design professional with global awareness and proven successes leading in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

National Awards: 9

Regional Awards: 5

National Conference Presentations: 3

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QUICK REFERENCE LINKS
Career Summary • Areas of Expertise • Professional Experience
Education • Certifications • Technical Skills
Additional Attributes • Community Experience • Affiliations • Awards and Honors
Managed Social Media • Website Experience
National Conferences and Workshops • Grant Roles and Partnerships • Committee Experience

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Top Gallup Strengths: Strategic, Achiever, Relator, Arranger, Futuristic

CERTIFICATES & SPECIALIZATIONS

• AI Product Management: Duke University
• UI / UX Design Specialization: California Institute of the Arts
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialization: University of California, Davis
• Salesforce Sales Operations Specialization: Salesforce & Pathstream

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EDUCATION

Master of Art, Graphic Design
Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
Award-winning portfolio and community engagement work.

Bachelor of Science, Communications
Mississippi University for Women, Columbus, MS
Dual-focus on journalism and public relations with a minor in history.

Continuing Education Courses

• Addressing Unconscious Bias as a Leader
• Coaching Skills for Leaders and Managers
• Critical Thinking
• Transformational Leadership
• Leadership Foundations
• Ken Blanchard on Servant Leadership
• Leadership Foundations: Leadership Styles and Models
• HighEd Web Leadership Academy

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TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, lnDesign, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, Dreamweaver, Acrobat, XD, and related applications
• Macintosh and PC (Macintosh primarily)
• Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Office 365, SharePoint, Teams
• Google Applications: Docs, Sheets, Analytics, Data Studio, Classroom, Slides, Analytics
• Other: Studio Arts, Photography, Videography (Nikon/Canon digital SLR/35mm), HTML, CSS, WordPress, Salesforce, Articulate, UI, UX. LMS, Sharepoint

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ADDITIONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Knowledge of printing processes and techniques
• Knowledgeable of accessibility standards
• Well-versed in communication best practices
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a knowledgeable resource to leadership
• Effective communicator

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

The University of Tennessee · Knoxville, TN

March 2023 – present
Digital Content Strategist – Office of Marketing and Communications

Digital Content Strategist for the Office of Communication and Marketing, helping to advance the university’s digital communications transformation initiative by developing content strategies to optimize content on the university’s intranet and external website platforms. Serving as a consultant and advisor to partners across campus, helping them develop audience-focused content strategies. Work closely with the project’s digital content producers to execute content plans according to established strategies, governance, and best practices.

Southern New Hampshire University · Part-time, Global/Online

March 2023 – present
Providing affordable and accessible higher education to everyone.
Adjunct Faculty – Graphic Design and Media Arts UX/UI

Teach classes and mentor students in graphic design and media arts user experience and user interface design courses, including User Interface & Experience, Fundamentals of Design, Design Thinking, Web Analysis and Design, Web Development, User Centric Design, Information Architecture, and Collaboration in User Experience.

Chenoa Creative, Southeastern USA

January 2005 – present
My community outreach and creative freelance business.
Founder, Freelance Art Director, and Graphic Designer

This is my freelance passion project, where I use my unique skills to support the communities I live, work, and play. I offer creative direction, strategic content consultation, and studio and media arts services. Brand development and graphic design; Create unique branding, promotional, and collateral materials for a wide range of clients. Create print, digital, and social media initiatives, advertisements, and promotions. Including e-newsletters, custom emails, websites, brochures, and business systems. Oversee the art direction for various freelance photographers, illustrators, and programmers. Oversee marketing, sales, business, and financials. (Please see the community experience section of my resume for examples of projects and scope).

The University of Tennessee Extension, Family and Consumer Science, Knoxville, TN

April 2018 – Oct 2022
The research-based outreach arm of the University of Tennessee
Creative Content Specialist (Extension Specialist, Information Technology and Communications)

Served as lead for the Creative Content Team and was charged with developing a comprehensive communication strategy that promotes the collective impact story of programs while also strengthening the internal communication systems and workflow in a replicable, measurable, and manageable way.

• Streamlined production processes by implementing a project management system across multiple internal teams and executive managers.
• Restructured the internal SharePoint resources site for enhanced user experience while bringing decades of materials up to date with a refreshed design and branded materials.
• Structured and implemented a complete external website rebuild moving from SharePoint to a custom WordPress environment while coordinating alongside Institute technology and marketing teams.
• Provided design and creative oversight to all departmental program brand development, marketing materials, and educational elements from concept to completion.
• Collaborated with executive leadership and campus partners to establish marketing and communication strategy, define objectives, and measure the success of internal and external programs and initiatives.
• Hired, trained, evaluated, and mentored Creative Content team members and worked with them toward professional development opportunities.
• Develops and maintains team and project budgets while determining resource allocation for team personnel, funds, paid marketing, and equipment.
• Effectively addressed and met the unique needs of each community culture, socioeconomic experience, and educational level represented by the people in each of the 95 serviced counties across Tennessee.
• Design and maintain high-quality print, web, and social interfaces, templates, and tools while staying informed of best practices and trends.
• Oversight and guidance of multimedia and E-learning initiatives focused on developing advanced e-learning technologies designed for statewide and nationally available modules.
• Facilitation and establishment of learning opportunities for staff, leadership, and partners. Served as a leader facilitating statewide conferences and professional development in communication, technology, and graphic design.
• Serve as communication, design, and IT expert for regional and state workshops, retreats, webinars, and programs.

Heritage Academy, Columbus, MS

July 2009 – July 2010, July 2013 – July 2017*
Advanced preparatory school.
Visual and Media Arts Instructor and Program Director

Developed and led a full-scale, award-winning visual and media arts program supported by in-house, student-led retail management and marketing efforts.

• Created visual arts curriculum and coursework, including ceramics, drawing, painting, printmaking, fiber arts, mixed media, design fundamentals, art theory, and art history.
• Ideated, structured, and led the media arts program, Heritage Academy Media (HAM), including journalism, graphic design, videography, and photography skills development using industry-level design software and practices.
• Began a digital WordPress newspaper and led more than 140 student journalists on multiple projects with tight deadlines and careful scheduling considerations.
• Facilitated the creation of yearly content management and governance plans for a student-led newsroom (lab) while leading discussions on story development, content deployment methods, and collaboration methods.
• Created and implemented social media practices while guiding students in reporting and posting as professionals.
• Established an advanced videography production after-school program focused on advanced digital storytelling techniques, filming techniques, and advanced editing and production practices.
• *(The gap was spent doing freelance creative work at home after the birth of twins).

International Expeditions, Helena, AL

Oct 2007 – Feb 2009
Global tourism and voluntourism company
Art Director

Oversight and development from start to finish of sophisticated, impactful designs to support brand leadership in marketing and advertising on an international stage.

• Implemented a new company website and branding across multiple print and digital formats.
• Conceptualized, designed, and handled pre-production of printed and electronic marketing materials, including email marketing, website, brochures, catalogs, advertisements, and internal and external branding.
• Designed advanced e-marketing materials, including the necessary back-end technologies to track and perform high-level marketing analysis.
• Created adaptable content that adjusts to represent the unique nature and cultures of international destinations and audiences while clearly explaining complex itinerary structures across global destination guides, catalogs, and digital marketing platforms.
• Experienced nature traveler, visiting destinations to experience, photograph, and capture traveler stories, culture, and nature involved in expeditions. Select pictures and content creation published in the Galapagos destination guide, the annual travel catalogs, and the website.
• Conducted research to stay informed on issues related to international travel, nature, and culture around the world.
• Managed additional design professionals who assisted with deadlines and workload.
• Facilitated a working library of images from around the world representing multiple photographers, destinations, wildlife, and cultures.
• Maintained proficiency in electronic publishing and awareness of publishing techniques, improving efficiency.

Clark Creative, Savannah, GA

Oct 2006 – May 2007
Boutique Graphic Design Agency.
Business Manager and Graphic Designer

Provided graphic design assistance on a range of digital and print client projects. Performed overall business management services, including customer service, public relations, and account management.

Scuba Diving Magazine, Savannah, GA

Jan 2006 – April 2006
An international magazine focused on scuba diving adventures.
Interim Assistant Art Director

Responsible for the layout and design of Scuba Diving Magazine and their annual Dive Into Adventure catalog. Including conceptualizing page layout, choosing and editing images, and advertisement placement.

Columbus First Methodist, Columbus, MS

July 2003 – Aug 2005
A large local Christian organization.
Communications Director

Public Relations role, responsible for marketing and media relations, creating publicity materials, and promotion of special events and programs. Copywriter and designer for publications, press releases, advertisements, and web pages. Served as a liaison for division leaders. Managed teams of volunteers and graphic design interns.

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WEBSITE EXPERIENCE

Including steps from concept to completion: governance, branding, marketing, content design and development.

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PREVIOUSLY MANAGED SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS

UT Extension FCS: @utextensionfcs, #utextensionfcs
LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest
Also, manage social recommendations and coordination for 95 county state Extension offices.

AIGA Knoxville: @AIGAknoxville
Facebook, Twitter

Skill Up Tennessee: @SkillUpTN
Facebook

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RECENT AWARDS AND HONORS

National Awards:

First Place: Social Media Education; NEAFCS 2022

Second Place: Social Marketing Series; NEAFCS 2022

Third Place: Social Media; NEAFCS May 2021

Second Place: Social Marketing Series; NEAFCS 2022

Third Place: Video/Television; NEAFCS 2022

Third Place: Social Media; NEAFCS May 2021

Silver: Scholarly Poster; ACE April 2021

Bronze: Logo Design; ACE, Apr 2021

Bronze: Marketing Communications Campaign with Budget of $1k or Above; ACE, Apr 2021

Regional Awards:

First Place: Social Media Education; TEAFCS 2022

Second Place: Social Marketing Series; TEAFCS 2022

Diversity Team Award: UCDA Affinity Group; TN ESP Omega Chapter, 2021

First Place: Video Series; TEAFCS, Feb 2021

Award of Appreciation: logo design; ESP: Tennessee Omega Chapter, Dec 2020

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RECENT NATIONAL CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

Sergent, K., Bates, M., Towman, J. & Pickett, C. Cultural Competency Across Extension – A Roadmap for Administrators. Presentation at the Extension Leadership Conference, Joint Council of Extension Professionals, Virtually (2022)

Sergent, K., Bowers, A., Urban and Culturally Diverse Audiences Affinity Group Charter and informational presentations. Epsilon Sigma Phi National Conference, Savannah, GA (2021)

Sergent, K., Bowers, A., Madhosingh-Hector, R. & Bates, M. Rethinking the Extension Toolbox – A Focus on Culturally Diverse Audiences. Session presentation at the Extension Leadership Conference, Joint Council of Extension Professionals, Virtually (2021)

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AFFILIATIONS

Professional Affiliations:

AIGA Knoxville (soon to be AIGA Tennessee)
Professional Organization for design
VP and Educational Chair

Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP)
Honorary Extension Professionals Organization

• National Marketing Committee
• National Urban and Culturally Diverse Audiences Affinity Group, Engagement Chair (former co-chair)
• National Web Design Committee
• Omega (Tennessee) Chapter Board Member, Engagement Chair

National/Tennessee Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
The main organization for Family and Consumer Sciences as a profession.

Community Affiliations:

United Way of Knoxville, Information and Technology Committee
Promotes health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community.

Knoxville Area Urban League, Member
An affiliate of the National Urban League, is dedicated to empowering communities and changing lives.

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RECENT COMMITTEE EXPERIENCE

Representing UT Extension:

Extension Strategic Plan Implementation (2022-2025),
Goal Team: Fostering greater engagement of diverse communities

Visibility Committee, standing member and state representative
Storytelling sub-committee

Representing the Department of Family & Consumer Science:

• Marketing Committee, standing member 2018-2022
• Professional Development Conference 2023
• Publications and Peer Review 2020-2022
• Supervisory Retreat 2022, chair
• Technology and Innovations Leadership Team, chair 2018-2022
• Web/IT Committee, standing member 2018-2022

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RECENT GRANT ROLES AND PARTNERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES

Department of Health and Human Sciences:

• Administration on Community Living (Matter of Balance) May 2021
• Chronic Disease Program, May 2021
• SNAP-ED (Tennessee Nutrition Consumer Education Program), April 2018
• Suicide Prevention, 2021

HHS – CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Tennessee Extension Vaccine Education and Outreach Project, 2021-present
• EXCITE Vaccinate with Confidence, June 2021

HHS – Administration on Community Aging:

• Community Aging Initiative, 2020-present

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture:

• Preventing Rural Opioid Misuse Through Partnerships and Training (PROMPT TN), 2019-present
• Time to Talk: Facilitating Cost of Care Conversations, 2020-present

Tennessee Department of Labor:

• SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP ET/SKILL UP Tennessee), 2018-present

Robert Wood Johnson:

• Well Connected Communities, 2019-present

COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE

The following are examples:

The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, Columbus, MS
Ranked #6 public high school with the #1 ranked faculty in America.
Freelance Art Director and Graphic Designer

I created an alum magazine from concept to completion to drive interest in the school, increase alum relations and establish a more extensive alum database. I serviced the magazine through its 5th year, building a readership of over 75,000. I also worked to streamline their social media presence and created numerous branding and marketing materials.

The Magic City Blues Society, Birmingham, AL
An all-volunteer nonprofit membership association dedicated to preserving and performing the blues.

Established a branded printed and digital newsletter to promote and bring in blues musicians to the area. The newsletter also supported blues education and general awareness of blues as the first American form of music. I photographed musicians, performances, and venues and traveled to blues festivals and events to capture the heart of this musical art form and bring to life the stories of the living blues legends while we still could. I also sketched a series of charcoal renderings of blues artists that have been sold and auctioned around the southeastern USA.

America’s Second Harvest, Savannah, GA
Leader in the effort to end hunger and improve lives.
Photojournalist

Partnered to create a book that juxtaposed realities and assumptions surrounding Savannah’s homeless living in tent communities. I was allowed trusted access to photograph the residents and ask questions about who they were, why they were there, and if they would be interested in leaving or why not. The book was printed and freely distributed across Chatham County, Georgia, effectively raising awareness of the realities of these personal experiences and the legalities they faced. This book established a conversation that led to the development of a place for the homeless to groom and have access to phones and computers in a first-step effort to create dignity when applying for work. Additionally, it helped to create more beds in the area to better meet the needs of the homeless.