Deborah Hakes

Deborah Hakes has a diverse work experience spanning over 15 years. Deborah started their career as a Communications Coordinator at Michigan State University in 2003. In 2005, they worked as an Assistant Director of Communications and Public Relations at The Carter Center, where they engaged with high-level personalities and leaders to raise awareness and engagement. That same year, they also had a Journalism Fellowship at The Poynter Institute.

Deborah then moved on to become the Director of Communications at The Children's Home in 2014, where they led a communications team and focused on positioning the organization as a leader in its field. Shortly after, in 2015, they joined Welcoming America as the Director of Communications. Deborah built and developed the communications department, and achieved national awareness through earned media and online marketing strategies.

Most recently, Deborah served as the Director of Communications and Marketing at the Georgia Public Library Service from 2018. Deborah led the communications strategy and was awarded national marketer of the year in 2020 for their efforts to strengthen local library marketing.

Overall, Deborah Hakes has demonstrated expertise in communications, marketing, and public relations through their various roles and achievements throughout their career.

Deborah Hakes holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree with a double major in Business Administration and Graphic Design from Saginaw Valley State University - College of Business and Management. Deborah also obtained a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Journalism from Michigan State University. However, no specific start or end years are provided for either of these educational experiences.