SUZANNE
STEEL
1980 Hampshire Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43221
cell: 614-582-3184 office: 614-292-9637
e-mail: steel.7@osu.edu
August 20, 2015
Dr. Jay T. Akridge
Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture
Search Committee Chair, Head, Department of Agricultural Communication
615 W. State Street - Agricultural Administration Bldg.
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2053
Dear Dr. Akridge,
Thank you for the opportunity to apply for the position of Head for Purdue’s Department
of Agricultural Communication. Through ACE, our professional organization, and other
collaborative efforts, I have enjoyed working closely with several of your communicators
and have been impressed by their talent, work ethic and commitment to excellence. I also
learned about the department and its people at a deeper level while serving on its review
committee in 2013.
Purdue’s agricultural communicators are considered to be among the best in the landgrant system, and its College of Agriculture is recognized as a world leader in agriculture,
natural resources, food and life sciences. I believe my expertise and experience are a
great fit for your position. I am excited by the prospect of leading your communications
team in advancing the college’s image and reputation.
As my resume details, I have broad knowledge and deep understanding of the land-grant
system, extensive experience in developing and leading successful communications
initiatives, a strong record of building and guiding high-performing teams, and a solid
reputation as a highly collaborative leader. Some highlights:
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Leadership. I have directed a variety of initiatives that enhanced the effectiveness
of Ohio State’s agricultural communications unit, including launching the college’s
first marketing team as well as a dedicated project management group. The
project management team develops detailed project plans that provide clarity for
clients and have resulted in on-time delivery of communications projects and
increased customer satisfaction. As a member of the unit’s leadership team, I
make decisions about priorities, strategies, organization, staffing and budgets. I
have been instrumental in leading change in our college and serve in leadership
roles at the national level.
Marketing. I have experience aligning communications with strategic priorities of
organizations, creating and implementing marketing and communications plans,
developing reputation management strategies, and applying and advancing new
brand standards.
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Management. I have a proven ability to lead and manage people and projects. My
high performing teams at Ohio State receive the tools, information, mentoring and
guidance they need to succeed in their work and to adapt to change brought by
new priorities and reorganization.
Communications expertise. I have a broad range of communications experience,
from writing to media relations, from marketing to branding, from web planning to
social media, from crisis communications to issue management. I excel in written
and oral communications and have received national awards and recognition for
my efforts.
Collaboration. I serve on the brand implementation team and the academic
excellence messaging team for Ohio State. I also collaborate with fellow
communicators in other Ohio State colleges and in universities across the country.
I have worked closely with administrators, unit heads and college stakeholders.
Higher education and land-grant experience. I have a deep understanding of
and appreciation for the important role land-grants play in addressing emerging
issues, through research and outreach as well as in teaching our next generation
of leaders. It is an honor to work with and support researchers and educators who
are making a difference in our world.
Thank you for your consideration. I’m excited about this opportunity and look forward to
learning more about your needs and expectations for this position.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Steel
SUZANNE
STEEL
1980 Hampshire Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43221
cell: 614-582-3184 office: 614-292-9637
e-mail: steel.7@osu.edu
QUALIFICATIONS: Visionary leader who recognizes opportunities and implements
change to achieve organizational goals; strategic leader who identifies and
addresses emerging issues; servant leader who provides teams with tools and
information to ensure success; mission-driven, collaborative team player who aligns
communications efforts with college and university priorities; skilled communicator
with strong work ethic, high performance standards and extensive experience in
developing and managing successful projects and teams; personal and professional
dedication to diversity; and commitment to exceptional customer service.
EXPERIENCE
Assistant Director, Communications (2013-present), Ohio State University College of
Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). Responsible for enhancing the
image and reputation of the college through messaging, marketing and brand
management. Work directly with college and university administrators and
advancement teams. Supervise writers, designers and social media leader. Plan,
execute communication campaigns, marketing plans. Provide talking points and
manage crisis communications. Serve on university’s academic messaging team.
Strategic Communications Director (2011-2013), Ohio State CFAES. Hired and
supervised department’s first dedicated project manager for web development.
Realigned news messages to focus on strategic priorities of the college. Coordinated
with video producers to create multimedia content. Served on university brand team
and oversaw creation of college templates and brand website to implement new brand
across college.
Marketing Director (2005-2011), Ohio State CFAES. Hired marketing specialists and
launched new marketing unit. Developed strategic marketing campaigns for centers
and educational initiatives. Led creative team in development of marketing materials.
Led faculty through site mapping exercises for web development based on user needs
and expectations. Led internal team to produce targeted legislative communications
materials. Helped develop college’s strategic plan. Led communications audit.
Coordinated market research efforts. Responsible for managing unit budget.
News Director (1995-2005), Ohio State CFAES. Led news and media relations staff to
write and place stories in local, regional and national media. Managed crisis
communications and reputation management responses. Wrote legislative materials
highlighting impact of outreach and research. Prepared talking points for administrators.
Oversaw writing and production of internal and external publications. Led publicity and
media relations for the Farm Science Review, a three-day event attracting 130,000
people. Developed strong relationships with key reporters and editors. Trained faculty
to work with media. Instrumental in department’s strategic plan and reorganization.
Responsible for managing unit budget and for hiring/evaluating staff.
Agribusiness Reporter (1991-1995), The Columbus Dispatch. Business desk reporter.
Wrote column three times per week, daily stories and Sunday section fronts.
Coordinated efforts with designers and photographers. Oversaw and wrote special
series that resulted in changed regulations and multiple local, state and national writing
awards. Reported from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Traveled with and reported
lieutenant governor’s trade mission to Mexico.
Associate Editor, Crops and Chemicals (1984-1991), Farm Journal Magazine.
Coordinated all staff and freelance crops and chemicals coverage for national
publication. Conducted interviews, researched and wrote articles; edited field reporters’
and freelancers’ copy; worked with designers, photo editor and proofreader to prepare
pages for print; managed freelance budget. Traveled in U.S., Canada, England,
Argentina and Brazil.
Associate Editor, Crops (1980-1984), Pennsylvania Farmer Magazine. Interviewed
farmers and agribusiness professionals across five states for articles published in bimonthly magazine. Shot photographs, developed film, printed images and designed
page layouts.
LEADERSHIP
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Vice-president for Association for Communications Excellence (ACE), 2015-2016;
president-elect 2016-2017, president 2017-2018 and past-president 2018-2019.
Director, Special Interest Groups (SIG), ACE, 2009-2012.
Chair, ACE Marketing SIG, 2007-2008; Media Relations SIG, 2002-2003.
Led national land-grant communications team to create manual and train-the-trainer
media relations workshop, 2003. Led to additional workshops and updates.
Participated in national image enhancement writing team for land-grant universities,
1997-2005, in collaboration with USDA.
Leadership Columbus graduate, 1999.
Secretary-treasurer of the National Association of Agricultural Journalists (NAAJ),
1995-2000.
HONORS, AWARDS
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ACE Service Award, 2007
ACE Pioneer Award, 2004
ACE Media Relations Award of Excellence, 2004
Recipient of gold, silver and bronze ACE awards
Oscar in Agriculture, 1995
Writing awards from NAAJ, the Society of Professional Journalists of Ohio, the
Cleveland Press Club, the Cincinnati Press Club and the Associated Press of
Ohio, 1995
NAAJ’s J.S. Russell Memorial Award, 1995
Young Professional Achievement Alumni Award, Ohio State CFAES, 1993
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Economics and Journalism, The Ohio State
University, 1979.