I believe strong communications should do more than fill a content calendar. They should help people understand what matters, why it matters, and why they should care.

I’m Diane Swenson, a marketing communications strategist, writer, and digital storyteller with more than 15 years of experience in higher education, event communications, brand storytelling, and audience engagement. My work blends creativity with structure: thoughtful strategy, clear writing, useful data, and content that feels human.

My favorite kind of work is the kind that connects the dots. A student’s story that shows the value of an education. A faculty research article that makes complex ideas easier to understand. A social media strategy that turns audience behavior into better content. A campaign that helps an organization show up with more clarity, consistency, and purpose.

I bring the magic, but I also bring the metrics.

Strategic Communications

I build communications strategies that connect organizational goals with the people they are meant to reach. That means understanding the audience, clarifying the message, and choosing the right mix of channels to move the work forward.

My experience includes communications planning, editorial strategy, social media management, web content, newsletters, event promotion, internal collaboration, and reputation-building storytelling. I’m comfortable working from the big picture down to the smallest detail, because both matter.

Digital Strategy & Storytelling

I love creating content that feels useful, clear, and human. Whether I’m writing a feature story, planning a social campaign, or shaping a message for a specific audience, I’m always thinking about what will make someone stop, care, and understand.

My social media work is data-informed and audience-centered, with engagement consistently exceeding higher education industry benchmarks across LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. I use analytics to understand what is working, refine strategy, and build content that better serves each platform.

Brand & Editorial Leadership

To me, brand is not just a logo or a color palette. It is the feeling people get after every interaction with an organization. I care about consistency, voice, tone and the details that help a brand feel trustworthy and recognizable.

I bring strong editorial judgment, organized execution, and a collaborative approach to communications work. From student success stories and alumni profiles to faculty research, rankings, reports, and major events, I focus on telling stories that support the institution’s broader goals.

Want to see the work behind the words?

Explore my resume, portfolio, and writing samples to see how I bring strategy, storytelling, and measurable results together across channels.