Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
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Helen Dunn

Helen Dunn

Crozet

Summary

Dynamic and solutions-driven professional with proven record of shaping public narratives, building trust, and influencing high-stakes outcomes across complex organizations. Expertise in public affairs, executive communications, cross-cultural engagement, and stakeholder alignment—backed by extensive experience advising senior leadership on messaging, crisis response, and policy positioning. Repeated success in leading integrated communication strategies that elevate brand reputation, enhance organizational transparency, and mobilize community and political support. Skilled in legislative advocacy and policy success, with ability to unify messaging across diverse audiences and platforms. Strong foundation in international program management, with a career-long commitment to equity, clarity, and integrity in communications. Fluent in English (native) and French; proficient in Italian and Spanish.

Overview

14
14
years of professional experience

Work History

Chief Communications Officer

Albemarle County Public Schools
Charlottesville
12.2023 - Current
  • Lead strategic public affairs and communication efforts for the school division by organizing meetings with leadership, crafting internal and external messaging, and managing media relations.
  • Coordinate Freedom of Information Act requests, confirming compliance with state law.
  • Oversee marketing, media relations, and stakeholder engagement while directing staff training and development in communications.
  • Collaborate with the Community Engagement office and represent the division in partnerships, ensuring robust communication with national, state, and local entities, including elected officials.
  • Manage communication budget and ensure policy compliance in all activities.
  • Foster strong engagement with stakeholders, including senators and corporate leaders.
  • Drove communications engagement by 211% through strategic content campaigns and a website redesign that modernized the brand and strengthened community connection.
  • Launched the division’s first SEO strategy and enrollment marketing campaign, reversing 5% post-COVID enrollment decline and driving an 11% net increase—resulting in enrollment exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
  • Promoted all five direct reports, achieving the highest department satisfaction rating in Gallup polls.
  • Redefined communication portfolio by enhancing visual content and modernizing strategy.
  • Updated communication tools and procedures according to industry standards, and supervised digital communications including web and social media.
  • Achieved 100% success rate on legislative agenda with eight bills passed into law.
  • Increased online engagement and visibility by 200% through strategic initiatives.

Deputy Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Officer

Albemarle County Public Schools
Charlottesville
03.2022 - 12.2023
  • Orchestrated strategic communication initiatives and managed team of five staff to strengthen public relations.
  • Supervised three employees in the Department of Communications to ensure consistent messaging and crisis management.
  • Continued to build upon the work of the Legislative & Public Affairs Officer, enhancing policy engagement and community outreach.
  • Collaborated effectively with C-level leadership on strategic messaging and communication plans.
  • Established an enhanced media and social media program, increasing positive local news coverage by 33% and strengthening public perception through videography initiative focused on promoting division programs and maintaining a strong reputation.
  • Initiated marketing program to elevate division's profile, improving recruitment efforts and department staffing levels.
  • Devised and implemented successful strategies to transition the transportation department from understaffed to fully operational with substitutes available.
  • Directed creation of the Albemarle Foundation for Education, to foster equitable funding and support educational systems.

Legislative & Public Affairs Officer

Albemarle County Public Schools
Charlottesville
07.2018 - 03.2022
  • Crafted and executed strategic communications plans targeting community stakeholders, enhancing engagement and awareness.
  • Delivered impactful presentations to businesses, community organizations, and interest groups, fostering strong public relations.
  • Spearheaded media relations in partnership with the Strategic Communications Officer to optimize coverage and public image.
  • Orchestrated and managed relationships with key local and state legislators, participating in legislative sessions to advocate for school division interests.
  • Coordinated engagement with executive branch officials and federal representatives to promote policy initiatives.
  • Developed lobbying program that successfully engaged elected officials at all levels, leading to the production and passage of multiple bills annually.
  • Earned 'Citizen Lawmaker of the Year' award, recognizing contributions to legislative success.
  • Accomplished 100% bill passage rate, underscoring effective legislative advocacy skills.
  • Contributed to the development of strategic plans to align with institutional goals and communicate plans to diverse audiences.
  • Frequently selected to moderate town halls and public forums; delivered the majority of keynote presentations on behalf of the leadership team, reinforcing strategic priorities and fostering stakeholder engagement.

Assistant Director of Global Programs, McIntire School of Commerce

University of Virginia
Charlottesville
09.2015 - 07.2018
  • Spearheaded design and execution of global study abroad initiatives, enhancing international exposure for undergraduate and graduate cohorts.
  • Oversaw $1M budget for the M.S. in Commerce’s Global Immersion Experience, ensuring fiscal integrity, optimizing vendor contracts, and supporting immersive, high-impact learning across multiple global sites.
  • Delivered end-to-end student advising for global programs, from interest exploration through re-entry support, streamlining the advising experience and improving student satisfaction and program completion rates.
  • Played a lead role in strategic planning for international program expansion, supporting the school’s broader mission to globalize the business education experience and strengthen international partnerships.

Adjunct Professor

James Madison University
Harrisonburg
01.2012 - 10.2015
  • Key Responsibilities & Achievements
  • Curriculum & Content Development: Designed and implemented course materials, lesson plans, and assessments that emphasized clarity, engagement, and progressive skill-building in both written and spoken communication.
  • Cross-Cultural Communication: Taught students to navigate and understand diverse perspectives, fostering cultural intelligence and global awareness—critical skills in international business and corporate communications.
  • Public Speaking & Presentation Coaching: Guided students in refining verbal fluency and persuasive speaking skills through structured presentations and discussions, helping build their confidence and ability to tailor messaging to an audience.
  • Inclusive Instructional Practices: Applied principles of culturally responsive teaching and universal design to ensure accessibility and belonging in the classroom, aligning with DEIB values central to modern corporate environments.
  • Student Engagement & Mentorship: Provided personalized feedback and academic mentorship to support student growth, demonstrating active listening, empathy, and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly.
  • Assessment & Feedback: Conducted regular evaluations and adapted instruction based on data and feedback, showcasing a commitment to continuous improvement and results-based decision making.
  • Collaborative Academic Environment: Worked closely with faculty and program leadership to align course goals with departmental learning outcomes, contributing to a cohesive student experience and upholding academic standards.
  • Bilingual Communication & Language Precision: Demonstrated advanced fluency in French and English, emphasizing linguistic precision, clarity, and tone—skills that translate directly into effective brand, executive, and internal communications in multilingual environments.
  • Applied instructional best practices to support diverse learning styles, enhancing engagement, retention, and learner satisfaction in continuing education environments.
  • Developed course structures aligned with established language acquisition frameworks, ensuring measurable progress toward recognized learning outcomes.
  • Contributed to the school’s mission of lifelong learning by expanding language program offerings and adapting content to evolving student needs and career interests.

Education

Ph.D. - French Language And Literature

University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
10-2012

Master of Arts - French Language And Literature

University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
05-2005

BA - French & Psychology (PBK, Highest Distinction)

University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
05-2002

Skills

  • Brand Stewardship
  • Reputation Management
  • Executive Briefing Development
  • Strategic Content Governance
  • Stakeholder Alignment
  • Media Strategy Execution
  • Public Sentiment Analysis
  • Advocacy Campaign Design
  • Internal Culture Communications
  • Legislative Messaging
  • Cross-Sector Partnerships
  • Narrative Architecture
  • Crisis management
  • Cross-cultural communication
  • Marketing communications
  • Media relations

Timeline

Chief Communications Officer

Albemarle County Public Schools
12.2023 - Current

Deputy Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Officer

Albemarle County Public Schools
03.2022 - 12.2023

Legislative & Public Affairs Officer

Albemarle County Public Schools
07.2018 - 03.2022

Assistant Director of Global Programs, McIntire School of Commerce

University of Virginia
09.2015 - 07.2018

Adjunct Professor

James Madison University
01.2012 - 10.2015

Ph.D. - French Language And Literature

University of Virginia

Master of Arts - French Language And Literature

University of Virginia

BA - French & Psychology (PBK, Highest Distinction)

University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

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Helen Dunn