People

As a proud CU SJMC (pre-CMCI) graduate, with a masters in Integrated Marketing Communication and a doctorate in Communication, Dr. Khleif is uniquely qualified to teach in the Masters in Corporate Communication program. He brings nearly 30 years of public and private sector experience spanning global leadership roles in marketing, communication, strategy, learning & development, sales, services, and operations. Khleif speaks domestically and internationally about communications topics; has designed and...

With over 35 years of professional public relations experience, Kelly Ladyga – a 1996 CU Boulder journalism alumna – brings diverse strategic communication perspectives to the Masters in Corporate Communication program. She began her career as Director of Public Relations for the Colorado Wildlife Federation and then moved on to similar roles for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Colorado Ski Country USA, and the Colorado Tourism Authority. Most...

Dr. Burton St. John III researches public relations and the management of risk and crisis. He is the author of the 2017 book Public Relations and the Corporate Persona: The Rise of the Affinitive Organization (Routledge), a finalist for AEJMC's 2018 Tankard Book Award. He is also co-author of the 2017 book Crisis Communication and Crisis Management: An Ethical Approach (Sage). He is lead editor of the 2018 volume Cases...

Dawn Doty joined CMCI as a full-time public relations instructor in 2016. She also serves as the adviser to the Public Relations Student Society of America. She was recognized with the PRSA's Outstanding Educator of the Year Award in 2021. Before joining CU Boulder, she worked as partner and vice president at Denver-based Linhart Public Relations where she earned a reputation as an energizing, creative and no-nonsense leader who cares...

Dr. Jolene Fisher is an assistant professor in the Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Media Design at CU Boulder. She teaches a variety of undergraduate courses within the public relations track, as well as core and elective courses within the department's doctoral program. Dr. Fisher's research analyzes the use of digital games as strategic communication tools, and the impact of organizational transparency on stakeholder trust, and has been published...

Joanne Bischmann is the founder and owner of MOB Communications, a strategic organizational and communications consultancy. Prior to starting her consultancy, she worked for Harley-Davidson, retiring after a 29-year career, in February 2019. She most recently served Harley-Davidson as Vice President, Chief Communications Officer. She was responsible for shaping stakeholder perceptions and creating advocacy for the company through targeted communication of the Harley-Davidson story. This included all external corporate communications...

Dr. Jay DeFrank is a consultant to leading global aerospace companies and international government agencies. His career in global communications and government relations leadership in industry, government, and academia spans four decades. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Communications and Government Relations, at Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of a Fortune 50 corporation, from 2008-2016. There he was responsible for the company’s worldwide internal and external communications, including...

Drew Krejci is Vice President Communications at Optum, UnitedHealth Group’s information and technology-enabled health services business, and Head of Communications for Optum Rx, the pharmacy care services business of Optum, and works across the enterprise to develop and execute communications strategies, provide communications counsel to business leaders and work across the enterprise to build, protect and monetize Optum’s reputation with internal and external stakeholders. Krejci has more than 20 years...

Stephanie Marchesi is President of WE Global Health and President of the NA Eastern Region of WE Communications – a global integrated communications firm. As the global sector leader, Stephanie is an expert in the intersection of health and technology, and has built the most progressive communications team in the industry designed to help clients navigate the tech-fueled transformation of the healthcare industry. As the regional president, Stephanie has oversight...

Tom Stilwell is vice president, corporate marketing and communications, at cybersecurity leader Illumio where he has served since February 2021. He previously led global communications at Zscaler (NASDAQ: ZS) and Splunk (NASDAQ: SPLK). Before his technology career, Stilwell was a journalist for a dozen years who served in various broadcast news producer roles across the Colorado Springs, Portland (OR), and San Francisco/San Jose/Oakland markets.

Kate Whiteley is Vice President of Corporate Communications and Production for Caesars Entertainment where she leads communication, media relations, and film and television production efforts across the company’s more than 50 resorts and casinos. She oversees the company’s Corporate Communications and Public Relations teams spearheading corporate messaging and communications strategy. She also leads the Production and Talent Relations team and Caesars Entertainment Studios, a 45,000 square-foot soundstage off the Las...

Jennifer Wills serves as Vice President of Communications and Chief of Staff for Centura Health, a $4.2 billion multi-state health system, with one especially important vision: to provide whole person care to every community, every neighborhood, every life. Wills oversees communications, public relations, and media relations for the system. She joined Centura in 2013 and, prior to her current role, she led communication plans and programs for the Office of...