Katherine Saxon Keith

Katherine Saxon Keith

Followers of Katherine Saxon Keith601 followers
location of Katherine Saxon KeithNashville, Tennessee, United States

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  • Timeline

  • About me

    Director of Campus Communications, Vanderbilt University

  • Education

    • University of Tennessee, Knoxville

      2014 - 2019
      Master of Science in Communication Communication and Media Studies
    • University of Tennessee, Knoxville

      2006 - 2010
      Communications Public Relations

      Minor in Business AdministrationCompleted twelve hours of Journalism and Electronic Media credits

  • Experience

    • Visit Knoxville

      Apr 2008 - Jul 2013

      Produced content for print materials including brochures, flyers, and annual visitor guidesDeveloped press releases, story pitches, and media alerts for clientsPitched story ideas to media outlets on a local, regional and national levelManaged Visit Knoxville social media accountsPlanned and implemented travel journalist press trips Assisted in event planning for small group eventsExecuted all responsibilities of Web Communications Manager (see position description below) Managed knoxville.org website content Managed Visit Knoxville social media accountsProduced e-newsletters and alertsAssisted in promotions and execution of special eventsWrote blog posts for knoxville.org Produced content for print materialsAssisted Sales and Marketing Team in development and implementation of marketing campaignsAssisted in development and content for mobile website and app Promoted and helped execute events including Uniquely Friday and First FridayUpdated visitor center e-commerce websiteUpdated social media sites with relevant information to more than 450 social media subscribersManaged main information desk while providing customer service to hundreds of weekly visitors

      • Communications Manager

        Sept 2012 - Jul 2013
      • Web Communications Manager

        Jul 2011 - Aug 2012
      • Visitor Information Associate

        Apr 2008 - Jul 2011
    • Haiti Outreach Program

      Nov 2010 - Jun 2011
      Public Relations Intern

      Developed public relations and marketing materials including press releases for fundraisers and eventsShared news via social media and web outlets to more than 500 social media subscribersWrote blog posts about relevant news pertaining to program Developed promotional materials including flyers, posters, brochures and direct mailAssisted in the redesign of the givehaitihope.org websitePromoted and helped plan and execute special fundraising events with more than $60,000 raised in 2011Coordinated volunteers Show less

    • WDVX Radio Station

      Jan 2011 - May 2011
      Public Relations Intern

      Wrote and distributed weekly e-newsletters and e-blasts to more than 6,000 subscribersShared news via social media and web outlets to more than 6,000 social media subscribersWrote public relations and marketing materials including press releases for fundraisers and eventsPromoted and helped coordinate special events including spring and fall fund drives and annual galaAssisted in updating the WDVX websiteCompleted database management of more than 2,000 donors and volunteers into an electronic system Show less

    • University of Tennessee, Knoxville

      Jul 2013 - Aug 2019

      Produced content for communications that reaches more than 28,000 current studentsManaged and produced the university’s official student newsletter Produced content for press releases and media advisoriesPitched story ideas to local, regional, and national media outletsAssisted with crisis and issues management communication efforts Planned and executed campus-wide campaigns that reaches more than 40,000 campus membersShared news and university campaigns via UT social media outlets that reaches more than 400,000 combined followersAssisted in promotion and execution of campus events ranging from 50 to 5,000 attendeesPlanned and implemented inaugural communications conference for more than 150 staff across campus*Hootsuite Platform Certified Show less

      • Public Relations Specialist III

        Jul 2018 - Aug 2019
      • Public Relations Specialist II

        Jul 2015 - Jul 2018
      • Public Relations Specialist I

        Jul 2013 - Jul 2015
    • Vanderbilt University

      Sept 2019 - now

      Develop and implement strategic communications and integrated marketing plans and tactics in support of the strategic goals and priorities for Vanderbilt University Communications and Marketing Lead a team of Communications Strategists who are responsible for developing communications strategies designed to engage with and communicate about the Vanderbilt community, including students, faculty and staffLeverage storytelling expertise, gather news, develop messaging and content, and coordinate dissemination of story packages across the divisionCollaborate with key campus partners to enhance Vanderbilt's reputation and advance the university’s mission as a premier academic research institutionThe Strategic Communications team within Vanderbilt University Communications and Marketing designs and executes integrated communications strategies to protect and enhance Vanderbilt’s local, national and international reputation, and positions the university as one of the world’s leading academic research institutions through the distribution of compelling content across a variety of digital and traditional channels. Show less Collaborate with divisional colleagues to implement institutional campaigns for 24,000+ community members, including COVID-19 communications, Return to Campus Plan communications and the Anchor Down. Step Up. campaign. Manage communication needs for the Division of Administration, which encompasses 16 campus unitsCollaborate on institutional issues management communications Oversee project management of divisional efforts Analyze data and trends to make strategic recommendations for future efforts Advise divisional and institutional leadership Assist campus partners to develop and implement communication strategies Develop content for institutional websites, newsletters and web posts Show less

      • Director, Campus Communications

        Sept 2022 - now
      • Senior Communications Strategist for Community Engagement

        Nov 2020 - Sept 2022
      • Communications Strategist

        Jul 2020 - Nov 2020
      • Communications Relationship Manager

        Sept 2019 - Jul 2020
  • Licenses & Certifications

    • Hootsuite Certification

  • Honors & Awards

    • Awarded to Katherine Saxon Keith
      Platinum Award Winner: Welcome Week 2025 MarCom Awards Oct 2025 Strategic Communications | Marketing/Promotion Campaign | Special Event
    • Awarded to Katherine Saxon Keith
      Circle of Excellence Gold Award: Graduating Student Profile Series, Communications / Storytelling CASE Jul 2025 Each year, Vanderbilt University’s Communications and Marketing team produces a series of stories highlighting exceptional students from our graduating class. These features have become tradition, and they allow our audience to connect deeply with our graduates. These features generate excitement for commencement season. They are highly shared and regularly lauded by our community as impactful, moving portrayals. In 2024, we sought to elevate the series with a highly coordinated, multi-channel… Show more Each year, Vanderbilt University’s Communications and Marketing team produces a series of stories highlighting exceptional students from our graduating class. These features have become tradition, and they allow our audience to connect deeply with our graduates. These features generate excitement for commencement season. They are highly shared and regularly lauded by our community as impactful, moving portrayals. In 2024, we sought to elevate the series with a highly coordinated, multi-channel campaign, combining editorial, photography, video, design, and social media for a cohesive and immersive storytelling experience. Our social media storytelling brought new visual depth to these features. Beyond just reading about students, audiences could hear their voices and experience their personal journeys. The campaign extended across Vanderbilt’s home page, news page, university-wide newsletter, partner school accounts, and beyond. The impact was significant: Social media engagements for the series increased by 646% year over year. More: https://www.case.org/awards/circle-excellence/2025/2024-graduating-student-spotlight-series Show less
    • Awarded to Katherine Saxon Keith
      Circle of Excellence Silver Award: Welcome Week 2024, Communications / Communications Initiative CASE Jul 2025 Welcome Week is a cherished time at Vanderbilt University. Each year, we mark the arrival of new and returning students with milestone moments and “only-at-VU" traditions. This week includes move-in day, orientation, founder’s walk, and the first day of classes. This year, the Vanderbilt communications and marketing team rolled out the black and gold carpet like never before, with a content strategy that enhanced the energy and excitement of Welcome Week. Our goals were to help our new and… Show more Welcome Week is a cherished time at Vanderbilt University. Each year, we mark the arrival of new and returning students with milestone moments and “only-at-VU" traditions. This week includes move-in day, orientation, founder’s walk, and the first day of classes. This year, the Vanderbilt communications and marketing team rolled out the black and gold carpet like never before, with a content strategy that enhanced the energy and excitement of Welcome Week. Our goals were to help our new and returning students feel welcomed and to invite the wider Vanderbilt community to celebrate this pivotal joining moment. By bringing together the editorial, design, photo, video, social media, and campus communications teams, we executed a multichannel campaign that resonated with students, families, alumni, prospective students, and beyond. Our tactics included a fresh approach to design, highly visual editorial content, in-person campus activations, and a creative social media strategy. Our efforts broke year-over-year records and shattered our ambitious goals in terms of followers, views, in-person engagements, and content uploads. We received thousands of positive comments from students, parents, alumni, staff, faculty, and local community members. Some posts reached far beyond our community, as a viral video on TikTok and Instagram Reels introduced Vanderbilt to entire new audiences. These results not only set new benchmarks for Welcome Week engagement and impact, they contributed to @VanderbiltU reaching our highest-performing social media month of all time. More:https://www.case.org/awards/circle-excellence/2025/2024-welcome-week Show less
    • Awarded to Katherine Saxon Keith
      Finalist + Honorable Mention, 2021 PRNEWS Platinum PR Awards PRNEWS Nov 2021 Campaign of the Year > Education
    • Awarded to Katherine Saxon Keith
      Award of Excellence Public Relations Society of America Jun 2021 Crisis Communications > Covid-19 Challenges > Best Organizational Pivot category
    • Awarded to Katherine Saxon Keith
      Bronze Award Collegiate Advertising Awards Jun 2021 Collegiate Advertising Awards Bronze Award for the Anchor Down, Step Up campaign in the Crisis Management category.
    • Awarded to Katherine Saxon Keith
      Silver Anvil Award Winner Public Relations Society of America Jun 2021 Silver Anvil award in the category of Internal Communications > Associations/Government/Nonprofit Organizations
    • Awarded to Katherine Saxon Keith
      Grand Gold Award for Anchor Down, Step Up Campaign Anthem Video Council for Advancement and Support of Education District III Jan 2021
    • Awarded to Katherine Saxon Keith
      Platinum Award Global Finalist for the Anchor Down, Step Up Campaign Council for Advancement and Support of Education Jan 2021
    • Awarded to Katherine Saxon Keith
      Radical Collaboration Award Vanderbilt University Dec 2020 This award builds on the efforts recognized by the university awards, especially the Innovation Excellence Award, but with greater emphasis placed on collaboration across teams. The winning team was the core group of staff who worked on COVID-19 communications.
    • Awarded to Katherine Saxon Keith
      Anchor Down, Step Up Excellence Team Awards Vanderbilt University Oct 2020 The Anchor Down, Step Up Excellence Awards recognizes exceptional staff members and teams who have gone above and beyond to protect the Vanderbilt community and foster innovation since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • Awarded to Katherine Saxon Keith
      Business of Vanderbilt: 2020 Cohort Vanderbilt University Aug 2020
    • Awarded to Katherine Saxon Keith
      2019 Communication Award: Gold Award, Crisis Communications Tennessee College Public Relations Association May 2019
    • Awarded to Katherine Saxon Keith
      2019 Communication Award: Gold Award, Electronic Newsletter Tennessee College Public Relations Association May 2019
    • Awarded to Katherine Saxon Keith
      2018 Communication Award: Gold Award, Electronic Newsletter Tennessee College Public Relations Association 2018
    • Awarded to Katherine Saxon Keith
      Award of Excellence: Writing for the Media Council for Advancement and Support of Education District III 2018
    • Awarded to Katherine Saxon Keith
      Special Merit Award: Digital Communications Council for Advancement and Support of Education District III 2018
    • Awarded to Katherine Saxon Keith
      Campus Partner of the Year UT Student Government Association 2017