Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Washington State University Spokane
Spokane, Washington Area
- Current
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- Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Washington State University Spokane
- Past
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- Board of Trustees at North Idaho College
- Owner at PageWorksInk
- Resource Development Specialist at Idaho State Independent Living Council
- State Senator at Idaho State Legislature
- State Representative at Idaho State Legislature
- Vice President at FuturePast: The History Company/Melior Publications
- Education
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- Washington State University
- Eastern Washington University
- Washington State University
- University High School
- Recommended
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1 person has recommended Barb - Connections
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500+
connections
- Industry
- Public Relations and Communications
Barb Chamberlain’s Summary
All-around professional communicator and contributor to good public policy. Working in higher ed with interest and involvement in urban development and planning, active transportation, and health policy.
Key Attributes
• Vision of communications, community relations, and public affairs based on values, priorities, and outcomes
• Developing expertise in use and measurement of social media and networking tools
• Understanding of and experience in the policy-making arena as a state legislator, elected community college trustee, and staff liaison with all levels of government
• Experience leading integrated communication initiatives building on internal strengths for external recognition
• Ability to convey ideas and information with enthusiasm, flair, and accuracy
• Inclusive leadership style and skill in creating and managing collaborations
• Productivity and decisiveness under pressure, quick thinking, flexibility
• Commitment to excellence in public and community service
Barb Chamberlain’s Specialties:
• Strategic Messaging in Public Communications
• Community & Government Relations
• Social Media
• Board Governance
• Media Relations
• Public Administration and Management
• Public Policy Development
Barb Chamberlain’s Experience
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Director of Communications and Public Affairs
Washington State University Spokane
(Higher Education industry)
February 1998 — Present (11 years 11 months)
Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Washington State University Spokane, 2000–present; Communications Manager 1998–2000.
• Serve as chief external relations officer for the campus, providing strategic planning, oversight, and execution of integrated campus communications: public and community relations; government relations; media relations; advertising and marketing; publications; online communications including Web and email; special events; internal communications; crisis communications; work with central University Relations leadership to develop and implement strategies and tactics in Spokane on behalf of the university. -
Board of Trustees
North Idaho College
(Educational Institution; 51-200 employees; Higher Education industry)
1996 — 2001 (5 years )
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Owner
PageWorksInk
(Publishing industry)
January 1989 — December 2001 (13 years )
Owner, PageWorksInk, 1989–2001. Writing, editing, design, typesetting, layout, indexing, and production management for books, newsletters, and other publications, including undergraduate and graduate textbooks in a wide variety of disciplines and works of popular history published by the Museum of North Idaho.
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Resource Development Specialist
Idaho State Independent Living Council
(Fund-Raising industry)
September 1997 — September 1998 (1 year 1 month)
Resource Development Specialist, Idaho State Independent Living Council, 1998. Research, writing, program planning, and grants administration for the SILC and for the state’s centers for independent living. Wrote successful proposal for $500,000 HUD grant.
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State Senator
Idaho State Legislature
(Public Policy industry)
November 1992 — December 1994 (2 years 2 months)
Idaho State Senator, 1992–94. Youngest woman ever elected to Idaho State Senate. Sponsor of successful legislation on domestic violence, child care, child custody and visitation, child support, environmental regulation, victim’s rights, museum contribution tax credit, and other issues. Committee assignments: Commerce and Human Resources; Health and Welfare; Judiciary and Rules; Interim Committee on Juvenile Justice (1994); Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Technology (1994); Interim Committee on Criminal Code Recodification (1993); Interim Committee on Child Custody and Visitation (1993); Special Committee on Health Care (1993–94). Named “Idaho Child Advocate Legislator of the Year” in 1993 by the Idaho Alliance for Children, Youth, and Families.
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State Representative
Idaho State Legislature
(Public Policy industry)
November 1990 — December 1992 (2 years 2 months)
Idaho State Representative, 1990–92. Youngest woman ever elected to Idaho State House of Representatives. Sponsor of successful legislation on child care and other issues. Committee assignments: Commerce, Industry and Tourism; Environmental Affairs; Interim Committee on Solid and Medical Waste (1991).
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Vice President
FuturePast: The History Company/Melior Publications
(Publishing industry)
September 1986 — September 1989 (3 years 1 month)
Vice President, Futurepast: The History Company (a history consulting firm) and its subsidiary Melior Publications (publisher of high-quality works of regional interest), Spokane, Washington, 1988–89. Also Director of Marketing and Production, 1987–88, and Office Manager, 1986.
• Developed all marketing materials and news releases; developed and implemented direct mail and other direct sales campaigns for advance promotion of publications.
• Managed all editorial work flow, photograph permission, typesetting, and vendor oversight for production of official Washington Centennial publications Washington: Images of a State’s Heritage and Washington Songs and Lore and other books; performed all copy editing and created book indexes.
Barb Chamberlain’s Education
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Washington State University
PhD student , Political Science , 2003 — 2009
Studying part-time while working full-time. Focusing on public policy, public administration, and political culture.
Peer-reviewed publications:
“Cultural Sources of Variation in U.S. Urban Sustainability Attributes.” William Budd, Nicholas Lovrich, Jr., John Pierce, and Barbara Chamberlain. Cities (forthcoming 2008).
“Cultural Sources of Variation in Urban Sustainability in the US: Testing Theories of Creative Class, Social Capital and Elazar’s Subcultures.” William Budd, Nicholas Lovrich, Jr., John Pierce, and Barbara Chamberlain. Paper presented to the annual meeting of the Western Political Science Association, March 2007. -
Eastern Washington University
MPA , Public Administration , 1996 — 2002
MPA research project, “Community College Trustees and Public Communication: A Review of the Literature,” successfully defended May 2002.
Studies focused on public communications and public participation techniques.- Activities and Societies:
- Dean's List.
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Washington State University
BA, BA , English, Linguistics , 1980 — 1984
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University High School
1977 — 1980
- Activities and Societies:
- Marching band (flute, flag corps). Went to national championships.
Additional Information
Barb Chamberlain’s Interests:
Cycling (commuting, some road/recreational), reading, volunteering for things I believe in, enjoying the incredible four-season recreation of the Spokane area, politics, snow skiing, yoga, cooking, raising my kids to be caring global citizens who give more than they take, as should we all.
Barb Chamberlain’s Groups:
Empire Health Foundation Board of Directors (2008-present)
Bike to Work Spokane (chair 2008-present)
City of Spokane Bicycle Advisory Board (2008-present)
SpokeFest Association Board of Directors (2009-present)
SmartRoutes Spokane Leadership Team (2008-present)
Friends of the Falls Board of Directors (president 2007-2009)
Citizens for Spokane Schools (co-chair 2003-present)
Empire Health Foundation (board 2008-)
City of Spokane Bicycle Advisory Board (2008-)
SmartRoutes Spokane Leadership Team, 2008
University District Marketing Communications Group
Greater Spokane Incorporated: Public Policy Council, Ideation Task Force, Federal Legislative Advisory Group
Inland Northwest Business Alliance
Spokane MarComm Association
WSU Alumni Association
Council for the Advancement and Support of Education
American Political Science Association
American Society for Public Administration
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Society for New Communications Research -
Alumni of Washington State University -
Public Relations and Communications Professionals -
LinkedSPOKANE -
Washington State University -
Professional Public Service: MPA-MPP Degrees -
Bike Commuters -
GovLoop -
Spokane County PIOs Emergency Communications -
WSU Spokane Alumni
Barb Chamberlain’s Honors:
United Way Volunteer Team of the Year, 2008, for Citizens for Spokane Schools,
Commendation from Spokane Mayor Mary Verner for Bike to Work organizing efforts, 2008.
WSU Spokane Staff Excellence Award, 2004.
Named “Idaho Child Advocate Legislator of the Year” in 1993 by the Idaho Alliance for Children, Youth and Families.
Various awards for communications work from Spokane MarComm Association (formerly Spokane Public Relations Council), CASE.
Listed in a bunch of those Who's Who things.
Barb Chamberlain’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- job inquiries
- expertise requests
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
