Support Page Content
Our Expert Teams
Social audiences as of January 2024
Our Approach to Communications
Our messages, campaigns, and stories are supported by and informed through a range of sources, including:- Sacramento State’s strategic plan. University Communications works closely with campus leadership to develop communications highlighting the University and its strategic goals and priorities.
- Community perceptions survey. Every two years we commission a community perception survey to gauge the public’s awareness, attitudes, and opinions of Sac State to aid in developing messages and to track changes in perception.
- Cross-campus collaboration and support. We regularly work and consult with partners across campus, as well as manage two campuswide collaborative groups: the Communications Council, which fosters synergy and consistency among all campus communicators; and as the Hornet Social working group, which collaborates on strategies and messages to create quality content and increased engagement.
- A strong brand. What we look, sound, and feel like is the foundation on which all the University’s communications are built. We provide resources for advertising, editorial style, social media best practices, and visual identity, as well as downloadable tools and assets through the online brand center.
We do this with engaging, memorable, and impactful communications focusing on:
- Crafting and amplifying the Sacramento State story.
- Serving as the hub for the University’s strategic communications and brand.
- Providing tools and resources to aid campus partners in their communications.
Sr. Associate Vice President & Executive Assistant
As the head of University Communications, Jeannie Wong provides strategic direction, and oversees day-to-day management and operations.
Jeannie Wong, Senior Associate Vice President
A former journalist with more than 30 years of communications experience, Jeannie was a member of the upper-management newsroom team at The Sacramento Bee and helped guide news and features in print and online. A graduate of the University of Southern California, she joined Sac State in 2011 and helped develop the award-winning Made at Sac State campaign. She serves on the President’s Cabinet as a member of his senior leadership team.
Josie Gilmore, Executive Assistant/Business Operations Analyst
Josie joined Sacramento State in 2023. She provides executive support to the senior associate vice president and manages administrative operations for University Communications. Josie brings a decade of experience working in higher education to the team, most recently as executive assistant to the vice president for Student Affairs at Chico State.
Marketing & Strategic Communications
The Marketing team builds affinity for Sacramento State through strategic marketing; branding; podcasts; sponsorships, signature collateral, including the University’s annual fact book; and the Made at Sac State campaign. They also manage the visual identity, online brand center, Highway 50 billboard, Sac Connect campus digital signs, and conduct reviews and consultations. Additionally, the team has facilitated mural projects on campus, partnered with the Sacramento Republic FC, and helps lead the campus Communications Council.
Becky Repka, Director of Marketing and Strategic Communications
Becky has worked for small technology start-ups as well as large organizations such as The Sacramento Bee and SMUD, doing strategic marketing and communications, PR, advertising, community events, social media, email marketing, brand development, and more. She holds a master’s degree in marketing and has been a part of the communications team since 2012.
Phillip Altstatt, Sr. Media Production Specialist
Phillip has his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Sacramento State in studio art. His work has been featured in the Sac State Magazine and with the Believing and SACRAMENTO murals on campus. Phillip extends his creative skills into videography and podcasting to create meaningful and memorable stories with Sac State roots. He is the primary videographer for Made at Sac State and the host of the Beyond J Podcast.
Karen Booth, Sr. Brand Officer
Karen Booth joined Sacramento State in 2009. She has 34 years of experience in advertising and publication art direction and graphic design. As the University’s visual identity expert, she is responsible for maintaining Sac State’s look and feel in its various presentations. Additionally, she plays a key role in creating marketing campaigns, advertisements, and collateral for the University.
Jody Helm, Sr. Graphic Designer
Jody is a U.S. Navy veteran and multidisciplinary creative with more than 10 years of experience in industries ranging from manufacturing and agriculture to entertainment and hospitality. At Sac State, she develops high-concept campaigns and publications to increase visibility and affinity for the University. Prior to joining the communications team in 2020, Jody worked as a graphic designer at University Print and Mail.
Sam Macapagal, Graphic Designer
Sam has been a graphic designer for Sacramento State for nearly 17 years. He has experience in the food and beverage industry, manufacturing, and sign design and installation. Sam works on the signature Made at Sac State campaign and is the primary contact for the Sac Connect digital sign network and Highway 50 billboard.
Carol Nicknig, Marketing and Communications Specialist
Carol brings more than 30 years of marketing, communications, and community engagement experience with two of Sacramento’s most prominent law firms and the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization (now the Greater Sacramento Economic Council). She joined Sac State in 2016, previously working with the College of Continuing Education’s adult learner and HornetAttain! programs. With University Communications, Carol is the lead for the Made at Sac State campaign, annual Fact Book, Sac Republic FC partnership, and the “A Place of Belonging” campus murals.
Multimedia & Digital Communications
The Multimedia and Digital Communications team uses various visual media to capture the Sac State story. The social media team actively engages students, faculty/staff, alumni, and regional audiences through Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, X, and Flickr. In addition, the team leads Hornet Social to facilitate message sharing across campus.
Jessica Vernone, Director of Multimedia and Digital Communications
Jessica is a multifaceted professional with a bachelor’s degree in digital media and a master’s degree in higher education leadership from Sacramento State. Since joining University Communications in 2014, she has been at the forefront of establishing the University’s social media presence to engage and build community with both students and the broader region.
Sam Churich, Lead Social Media Strategist
Sam joined University Communications in 2017 after working two years in University Advancement. He manages the University’s flagship social media accounts, provides lead work to social media student assistants, and helps lead the campuswide Hornet Social working group. Sam earned his bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Sac State and was a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).
Rob Neep, Videographer and Multimedia Coordinator
As one of the original members of the University Communications team, Rob’s expertise and passion have played a part in setting a standard of excellence for the department. Once a cameraman for News10, he brings a wealth of experience and a keen eye for capturing the essence of every moment. He is committed to showcasing the best aspects of Sacramento State.
Bibiana Ortiz, Visual Communications Specialist
After acquiring her bachelor’s degree in film and video production at Sacramento State, Bibiana is pursuing a master’s degree in higher education leadership. She began working at Sacramento State in 2018 and joined the University Communications team in 2022. Bibiana combines her photography and videography talents with social media engagement strategies to capture the essence of Sacramento State’s vibrant community.
Andrea Price, Photographer
After graduating Cum Laude from Sac State, Andrea began her 21-year photography career as a self-employed wedding photographer before joining Sac State’s University Communications team in 2015. Her specialties include campus beauty, portraits, and capturing the spirit of the University at events and gatherings, including Commencement and Athletics.
News & Communications
The News and Communications team provides news and feature stories and other content for media and public consumption, covering the University, its students, faculty, and alumni, and revealing the accomplishments, achievements, and milestones that characterize its standing as an educational leader and an important community center. The team also manages media relations and outreach, providing University experts to offer insights on current issues and topics. News and Communications staff connect the campus community through the Monday Briefing and the Sacramento State Leader newsletter.
Brian Blomster, Director of News and Communications
Brian built a communications career in daily journalism and corporate communications before becoming Sacramento State’s director of News and Communications in 2017. He leads the University’s writers and editors in telling the Sac State story and sharing it with the media and the public. Brian is editor of Sac State Magazine, a member of the crisis communications team, and editor of communications from the President’s Office and other campus outlets. He earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Sac State.
Cynthia Hubert, Sr. Writer
Cynthia came to Sacramento State in November 2018 after an award-winning career reporting and writing for The Sacramento Bee. Cynthia’s coverage spans key areas of the University, including inclusive excellence, the colleges of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and Health and Human Services. She has written about topics as diverse as prison education programs, Dreamers, and key research projects involving faculty and students.
Lanaya Lewis, Public Information Officer
Lanaya brought significant broadcasting and public relations experience to Sacramento State when she joined the News and Communication team as public information officer in 2023. As a television reporter and anchor working in Mississippi, and then as a communications specialist for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, Lanaya became adept at messaging and media relations. At Sac State, she works with media, University experts, and across campus to help develop and share messaging with the public.
Jonathan Morales, Sr. Writer/Editor
Jonathan joined the Sac State communications team in 2017 as a writer and editor. He previously worked at San Francisco State University and as a newspaper reporter and editor. Jonathan covers the colleges of Arts and Letters and Continuing Education, Made at Sac State, is managing editor of Sac State Magazine, and is responsible for the Leader newsletter, the University Style Guide, and several other key projects.
Jennifer Morita, Sr. Writer
Jennifer joined Sacramento State in 2022. A former reporter and writer for The Sacramento Bee, she covers the colleges of Business, and Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies, along with several centers, and sustainability. Jennifer is also a published fiction author.
Daniel Wilson, Writer/Content Editor
Daniel became a writer/content editor for Sacramento State in 2022 following several years as a journalist working for The Sacramento Bee as an audience engagement producer and reporter. A 2018 Sac State graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, Daniel covers the colleges of Education, and Engineering and Computer Science. He produces the weekly campuswide Briefing and is part of the University Communications editing team.
