Christina Cook has worked as a speechwriter for three presidents of Dartmouth College and one president of the University of Pennsylvania. In her latter role, as Director of Strategic Writing in Penn’s Development Office, she managed a team of five speechwriters and oversaw three print publications in the course of a capital campaign. Cook has also taught speechwriting at Penn State University and is currently writing books full-time.

Rachel Dawson is Senior Director of Leadership Communications and Engagement at Johns Hopkins, where she has served in several communications roles since 2010. Previously she was a series producer for the Sundance Chanel’s ICONOCLASTS series. She has a degree in English from Brown University.

Martha Eddison is Special Assistant & Senior Communications Advisor to the President, MIT. Since 2007, Martha has served as the principal writer and a strategic communications advisor to three successive presidents of MIT—Susan Hockfield, Rafael Reif and now Sally Kornbluth. She began her speechwriting career in politics, heading the speech office of the late New York Governor Mario M. Cuomo. Later, while raising three young children, she spent nine years as a freelancer writer, bringing wit, rigor, clarity and delight to fundraising and admissions materials for clients that included Brown, Harvard Medical School, MIT, Tufts, Williams and Yale.

Mike Field is senior counselor to the Higher Education Leadership Communication Council. Mike served for 11 years as senior advisor to the president of the University of Pennsylvania, and previously, 18 years director of speechwriting for the president of Johns Hopkins University. Mike also serves on the Advisory Council of the Professional Speechwriters Association.

Aaron Hoover is multiple Cicero Speechwriting Award winner who wrote or edited dozens of commencement speeches during his 20-year stint as speechwriter for University of Florida’s Office of the President. He was delighted (really!) when that work followed him through his transition last year to his current role as chief of staff in the Office of the Provost.

L. Hazel Jack brings 20 years of experience in higher education, specializing in strategy development, communications, fundraising, partnership development, community engagement, and board relations. For the past eight years, she has been a key leader at Colgate University, where she currently serves as Vice President and Chief of Staff to the President. In this role, she is a member of the President’s Cabinet, overseeing presidential communications and outreach, government relations, university-wide events, and the management of the president’s office. During her tenure at Colgate, she has held several leadership positions, including Vice President for University Communications and Acting Chief Diversity Officer. Before joining Colgate, Jack served as Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at Howard University, as Assistant Vice President for Marketing and Branding at Howard University, and as Assistant Dean for Admissions, Marketing, and Communications at Johns Hopkins University. Most recently, she completed her PhD at Syracuse University, where her dissertation examined the portrayal of Black women college presidents in print media.

Brent Kerrigan serves as a strategic story consultant helping global leaders turn their organization’s competing ideas and scattered messages into a clear story arc. With more than two decades of experience as an executive speechwriter, Brent has written for government ministers, corporate CEOs and multilateral leaders — including six years as head speechwriter for UN Climate Change (UNFCCC). He’s held senior roles at Transport Canada and The Centre for Multilateral Diplomacy (CEMUNE) and has developed communications strategies and narrative frameworks for clients across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Brent is also the founder of www.globalspeechwriter.com, where he trains aspiring speechwriters throughout the world — including how to responsibly integrate AI into their practice.

Maud S. Mandel, Williams’ 18th president, earned her B.A. from Oberlin College in 1989 and her master’s degree and Ph.D. in history from the University of Michigan in 1993 and 1998, respectively. She moved to Brown University as a visiting assistant professor, eventually becoming professor of history and Judaic studies and dean of the college—roles in which she served until joining Williams as president in July 2018. In addition to her work as Williams’ president, Mandel holds the title of Professor of History and teaches as frequently as her schedule allows, including tutorials. She and her husband, Steve Simon, live in Williamstown, and are parents to two children, Lev and Ava.

David Murray is executive director of the Higher Education Leadership Communication Council, the Executive Communication Council, and the Professional Speechwriters Association. He’s also editor and publisher of Vital Speeches of the Day magazine, and author of the communicator’s manifesto, An Effort to Understand: Hearing One Another (and Ourselves) in a Nation Cracked in Half (Disruption Books, 2021).

Jim Reische is special advisor for executive communications to Williams College President Maud S. Mandel, a position he has held since the role was created in June 2024. He serves as President Mandel’s chief speechwriter, leadership communications counsel and writing partner, as well as a key advisor on internal campus communications. He worked closely with Mandel on her influential statement on institutional statements (aka, “the unstatement”) in 2023 and developed Williams’ distinctive and surprisingly popular communications strategy during the pandemic. He was co-founder of the Higher Education Leadership Communications Council and facilitates a nationwide networking group for university and college speechwriters and exec comms professionals. Before becoming special advisor, Jim was previously Williams’ chief communications officer and held comparable positions at both St. John’s College and Grinnell College.

Alonda Thomas is the vice president and chief marketing and communications officer at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). She leads the University’s strategic communications, marketing, media relations, and brand and reputation management efforts. Previously, Alonda was the chief communications officer and associate vice president for Marketing and Communications at Jackson State University (JSU). Before that, Thomas previously served as director of public relations and interim vice president of communications at Howard University. Follow her newsletter, “Don’t Quote Me: Tips and Quips by PR Strategist Alonda Thomas” exclusively on LinkedIn.

Karen Wing is a strategic communications consultant working primarily with higher education, healthcare, and independent schools, with a focus on philanthropy. Previously, she served as the director of executive communications for three Penn State presidents and worked on two comprehensive campaigns that raised a total of $4.3 billion. She has also taught speechwriting and executive communications skills in Penn State’s Smeal College of Business, College of the Liberal Arts, and College of Communications.

Renell Wynn has more than 15 years of substantial executive experience, driving the communications and marketing strategies of some of the most prestigious universities in the United States by helping research institutions advance the human condition through service, care, research, teaching, and learning. Currently, she is vice president for communications at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. Her passion for learning and service as a marketing executive has been extended to the support of community organizations that are dedicated to helping young people thrive. As a board member of many Boys and Girls Clubs, Girls Scouts of America, and Parent Teacher Association, Renell believes these groups build young people’s character, confidence and positions them for successful lives.