Emily has more than 20 years experience in communications and marketing and has held several communications-related roles at HFA — currently as the content development specialist for Learning Central.
Her passion has always been writing and editing for publications, social media, or wherever the written word or creative communications strategies are needed to tell a story or compel a donor.
Emily has a BA in journalism and another BA in integrated marketing. Prior to joining HFA, she was a newspaper journalist before working on communications teams in healthcare and higher education, as well as serving as public relations chair for numerous nonprofit boards.
While Emily does not have a bleeding disorder, she does have two rare diseases which led to a kidney transplant in 2016, so her life experience gives her a deep understanding and unique perspective in serving a patient community.
She lives in a small community south of Des Moines, Iowa, with her two children, two cats, husband and stepchildren. Flowers are also a big passion for Emily. If she had not pursued the field of communications, she would have become a horticulturist. When not writing, she owns and operates a small flower farm where she grows specialty cut flowers and designs bouquets to sell at local markets and through local shops and florists.