Kelly Williams Brown started in her role as Linfield University’s media and public relations manager on Sept. 19. Brown will work with reporters and the media, write content for Linfield’s various platforms, distribute press releases and edit “Linfield Ahead,” the university’s twice-weekly newsletter.
“We’re very happy to have Kelly join what is already a vibrant Strategic Communications team at Linfield,” said Scott Nelson, chief marketing officer and associate vice president of strategic communications. “She has experience as a journalist, which is helpful in working with outside journalists on our behalf. She’s also a celebrated author and comic, which speaks to her high level of work as a creative professional.”
Brown has wide-ranging communications experience, having worked as a daily newspaper reporter (most recently for Salem’s Statesman Journal), long-form magazine writer, advertising copywriter and as a messaging strategist. She has particular experience in nonprofit communications, working with the Oregon Humane Society, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Girls Inc. and more. She was also senior copywriter at Leopold Ketel in Portland from 2012-2014.
Brown is the author of three books, including the New York Times-bestselling “Adulting: How to Become a Grown-up in 535 Easy(ish) Steps.” Her essays and humor columns have been published in a variety of national publications, and her work has been translated into 14 languages.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in print journalism from Loyola University New Orleans in 2006.
“I am absolutely thrilled to join the Linfield team,” Brown said. “I think we, as a university, have an amazing story to tell, and I’m so excited to be a part of it.”
In her free time, Brown enjoys hosting a weekly pub trivia, calligraphy and printmaking, cooking, and spending time with her friends, partner and extremely goofy dog Eleanor. Originally from New Orleans, she’s also a big Saints fan.
