The Scripps Research Institute

Senior Manager, Brand & Digital Marketing,
June 2024 – May 2025

Senior Designer & Brand Manager,
October 2020 – June 2024

Graphic Designer,
May 2017 – October 2020

Scripps Research has been ranked the #1 biomedical research institute in the U.S. and #2 in the world.

Providing creative team direction and visual brand management for graphic communications in a fast-paced and competitive environment, in support of initiatives for public health and biomedical research advancement.

Responsible for overseeing the creative aspects of marketing campaigns, advertisements, and design projects within the internal Marketing and Communications team while also collaborating with external creative agencies. Oversee broader marketing strategies and tactics utilized online to raise brand awareness, encompassing various channels such as websites, social media, email, search engines, and online advertising.

  • Lead and inspire the creative vision for all digital campaigns.
  • Develop innovative concepts across the web, social media, and digital platforms.
  • Manage a team of designers, copywriters, and developers to execute campaigns.
  • Collaborate with clients and internal stakeholders to align creative strategies with goals.
  • Ensure brand consistency across all creative outputs.
  • Adapt and adjust brand creative to meet marketing objectives and support research findings.
  • Build out strategies for email marketing campaigns, organic follower onboarding, and user experience, resulting in a double-digit expansion of the institute’s audience year-over-year.
  • Overseeing the rollout of a new visual brand from signage, website, social media channels, and internal documents. Sourced and designed packaging for high-end donor gifts.
  • Organizing project workflow while empowering and leading a cross-functional creative team of on-staff and contracted talent.
  • Regularly managing budgets, POs, and campaign financial goals.

California State University San Marcos

Branding & New Media Director,
June 2014 – May 17

Visual Communication Specialist,
November 2010 – June 2014

California State University San Marcos is one of the fastest growing universities in California.

Promoted to Director to manage university branding initiatives and on-staff communication leads in various campus departments including athletics, fundraising, public relations, and student recreation.

  • Quadrupled the funds raised at the Annual Gala via a thoughtful, creative approach to the event’s theme, invite and website design, décor and entertainment.
  • Increased out-of-state freshmen applications by 30% (2013-14 academic year) with a motivational student recruitment package.
  • Maximized the positive outcomes of campus-wide initiatives through collaboration with key stakeholders and creative print and web marketing materials.
  • Supported the university’s educational mission by developing and implementing a student internship program for photography, video production, social media and graphic design; mentored five to nine interns each semester.
  • Trained ~300 university employees on best practices for using visual identity media; collaborated with the athletics department to build their brand as they transitioned into the NCAA Division II.
  • Selected vendors, managed vendor relationships and RFI/RFP approvals.
  • Partnered with IT and web developers to create interface graphics of the university’s website and mobile app.

The Upper Deck Company

E-Commerce Product Merchandiser,
January 2006 – October 2010

Personalized Trading Card Production Artist,
June 2004 – January 2006

Upper Deck is a globally recognized sports and entertainment company specializing in trading cards, games and memorabilia.

Marketed products for the UpperDeckStore.com utilizing both print and web graphics. Worked closely with Product Development and the fulfillment warehouse to manage the inventory of the online store. Interfaced with online customers and vendors and handled the fulfillment of Upper Deck Rewards Auctions and Personalized Trading Cards.

  • Designed effective email campaigns, digital ads, direct mail and quarterly catalogs.
  • Completed two e-commerce site transitions plus full redesigns of web store graphics, including validation of completed site content and testing code.
  • Developed user-friendly interfaces for the online store using Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Commerce Server and Warp 9 ICS.
  • Managed product photo shoots for both the online store and product catalogs.
  • Created original designs for the Personalized Trading Card campaign then directed photographers while satisfying customer orders.
  • Coordinated the marketing calendar for the advertising and roll-out of new products tied to high-visibility events, such as the Super Bowl and NBA playoffs.

Additional Experience

Freelance Creative Direction (Part-Time),
2003 – Present

Currently providing creative services to corporations, agencies, and individual clients.

  • Projects include developing visual identities, logos, brand manuals, UI/UX, digital display ads, trade show signage and promotional print collateral, magazine ads, and branded apparel.
  • Clients include NY Times best-selling author Eric Topol, MD, Blackbird Laboratories, Hutchinson & Bloodgood, The Collective SD, and Renegade Games.

EDUCATION

Oregon State University

MBA, Marketing | Expected 2026

Purdue University, Extended Learning

Certificate, Digital Marketing | 2022

California State University San Marcos

BA, Graphic Design | 2010

CORE STRENGTHS

  • Outstanding visual design aesthetics: typography, color, layout, brand identity
  • Strategic multi-channel marketing expertise: microsites, user journeys, playbooks, email campaigns, social media, digital ads, slide decks
  • Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud; Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom, Premier, etc.
  • Expertise in web design (CSS, HTML5) and CMS (WordPress and Cascade)
  • Proficient with project management systems (Asana, Slack, Basecamp)
  • Exceptional creative direction and efficient project management, including digital assets and event logistics
  • Cross-functional team leadership that produces desired results
  • Effective talent procurement and team building: niche copywriters, web developers, photographers, animators, video editors, AV production
  • Strong photography skills: portrait, architectural, event, and product
  • Diligent KPI tracking, reporting, and campaign analysis to inform future marketing activities (GA4, Looker, Blackbaud, Klaviyo)

QUALIFICATIONS

  • 20+ years of graphic design experience with expertise in creating corporate visual identities, collateral, campaigns, and UX/UI
  • 10+ years of digital marketing experience, with expertise in creating and monitoring campaigns using digital CRM platforms like Blackbaud, HubSpot, Klaviyo, Campaign Monitor, and CMS tools like WordPress and Shopify
  • Proven success in managing paid campaigns and delivering strong results
  • Proven project management skills, with the ability to develop briefs and timelines and manage independently
  • Expert in designing corporate brand guidelines and scalable brand creative assets for marketing campaigns
  • Experience mentoring and guiding creatives at various levels
  • Experience as a lead member of multiple creative/design, marketing, and communications teams and as a freelancer overseeing client projects
  • Detail-oriented and organized, ensuring high-quality, on-time delivery
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills

AWARDS

2024 San Diego Press Club; Best Overall Use of Design: 100.scripps.edu

2023 Eddie and Ozzie Awards; 1st Place, Best Science Podcast: Science Changing Life

2022 Health Care Communications of Southern California; Bronze Prize, Magazine Category:
Scripps Research Magazine

2020 San Diego Press Club; 1st Place:
Animated Youtube Series – “Science, Simplified

2020 Folio: Eddie and Ozzie Awards; 1st Place, Publication Design, Nonprofit Category:
Scripps Research Magazine – Spring/Summer Issue

2017 Far West District of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education; Bronze Award:
President’s New Year Greeting Card

2015 Far West District of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education; Bronze Award:
Steps Magazine – Spring/Summer Edition

2015 San Diego Press Club; 2nd Place:
Steps Magazine – Spring/Summer Issue