Strategic marketer and storyteller | Facilitative leader | Advocate for educational equity
I love helping organizations and people tell their stories.
I am a purpose-driven and strategic marketing and communications leader who excels at seeing the big picture and executing on the small details. I enjoy developing inclusive, high-performing teams and working with others to reach common goals and drive positive impact.
Passionate about equity, I have dedicated my 12-year career to the education sector within a range of settings – from large research universities to entrepreneurial nonprofits. With experience that spans the spectrum of marketing and communications, I have built departments and strategies from the ground up.
Leveraging my analytical and leadership skills, I excel at advancing organizational goals through a mix of brand, content, and program/product marketing and storytelling. I lead projects from conception to assessment, ranging from rebrands to website redesigns to international thought leadership. I have created award-winning publications and events, launched multimedia storytelling campaigns, built student internship programs, and contributed to successful grant proposals.
A lifelong learner with a growth mindset, I enjoy seeking new knowledge and best practices in marketing and storytelling and in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility to inform my work. I have a B.S. in entrepreneurship and small business management and an MBA. Currently, I am the VP of Marketing and Storytelling at Making Waves Education Foundation.
Skills and expertise
Brand strategy and management | B2B and B2C marketing | Content marketing | Crisis communications | Fundraising communications | Google Ads and Analytics | Internal communications and change management | Leadership communications and speech writing | Messaging | Product and program marketing | Publications and visual communications | SEO and web strategy | Social media | Storytelling | Team, budget, and project management | WordPress | Writing and editing
Education
- MBA, Quinnipiac University
- B.S., Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, Quinnipiac University
- Division I Field Hockey Team
Current Position
- VP of Marketing and Storytelling, Making Waves Education Foundation
Professional Background
- Making Waves Education Foundation
- VP of Marketing and Storytelling (April 2023- Present)
- Director of Marketing and Storytelling (September 2021- April 2023)
- University of California, Davis (UC Davis)
- Executive Director of Communications and Marketing, Global Affairs (December 2020- September 2021)
- Director of Communications, Global Affairs (August 2017- December 2020)
- Drexel University
- Manager of Communications and Events, Graduate College (June 2015- August 2017)
- Quinnipiac University
- Administrative Assistant, Office of the President (November 2012- June 2015), Graduate Assistant, Office of the President (August 2010- November 2011)
- AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America)
- Regional Program Associate, Coaching Corps, Los Angeles (November 2011- November 2012)
Awards
Team Awards
- Circle of Excellence Award (Silver) for Future of International Education: Leadership Perspectives from Around the World series, CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) District VII (communications and marketing lead)
- February 2021
- Platinum Institutional Award for Global Learning, Research and Engagement, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) (lead writer and project manager for the award submission)
- November 2020
- Simon Award for Comprehensive Campus Internationalization, NAFSA Association of International Educators (lead writer for the award submission)
- March 2020
- Circle of Excellence Award (Bronze) for 2019 UC Davis International Student and Scholar Handbook, CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) (supervisory role)
- June 2020
- Circle of Excellence Award (Silver) for 2019 UC Davis International Student and Scholar Handbook, CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) District VII (supervisory role)
- January 2022
- Circle of Excellence Award (Silver) for UC Davis Global Affairs Viewbook, CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) (lead writer and project manager)
- June 2019
Individual Awards
- Drive Impact Award, Making Waves Education Foundation
- November 2022
- STAR Award, UC Davis
- April 2020
- UC Davis Instant Award, UC Davis Offices of the Chancellor and Provost
- May 2021
- December 2019
- October 2018
- March 2018
- Outstanding Staff Award, Drexel University Graduate Student Association
- May 2017
Leadership Training
- UC Davis Living the Principles of Community training, Spring 2021
- UC Davis Implementing the Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Vision training, Spring 2021
- University of California Women’s Initiative professional development, Fall 2020
- University of California (UC) Managing Implicit Bias Series training, October 2020
- Completed the Leadership Challenge training, March 2020
- Completed the UC Davis Development as a Supervisory Certificate Series, May 2018
Presentations
- “Building Strategic Partnerships and Communications,” Fulbright Ukraine Office, June 2020
- “Telling Your Global Story: Communications Resources and Strategies,” Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA), 2020 Annual Conference, February 2020
- “Strategic Communications Planning: Communicating Value Internally and Externally,” NAFSA Region XII Northern District Conference, March 2019
- “Strategic Communications Planning,” UC Davis Communications Council, February 2019
Check out some of my work
Written Communications
Digital Communications
Visual Communications
Events and Programs Communications
Other Affiliations and Interests
- 100+ Women of Sacramento
- AmeriCorps Alums
- Painting, upcycling, thrifting, photography, travel, wine tasting
Social Media
Bonnie C. Shea 