Anne R. Whatley directs the education and research programs at Hershey|Cause Communications as well as advises on online and social network initiatives. Anne clients include working with the Media Democracy Fund on increasing awareness and support for issues such as net neutrality and digital inclusion. She also counsels networks of grantees of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation on policy advocacy. Last year, she directed a comprehensive survey of communications practices in the nonprofit sector that identifies shared characteristics of the most effective organizations. (www.communicationseffectiveness.org)
Anne’s experience includes managing award-winning public education campaigns, specializing in interactive and online efforts. She has advised clients ranging from nonprofit, government and corporate including the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, AARP, the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the World Wildlife Fund as well as several state and regional teen anti-smoking initiatives.
Anne also has a background leading strategic partnership initiatives and programming for at the Coro Foundation for Civic Leadership and UCLA's Center for Research, Education, Training and Strategic Communications on Minority Health Disparities.
Her projects have been profiled in several books, including PR on the Net and the textbook Strategic Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations and has also received recognition including winning PR Week New Media Site of the Year, Silver SABRE Best Use of the Web - Healthcare, and Public Relations Society of America Big Apple Award for Best Web site.
Anne graduated magna cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis with a B.A. and received her MSc degree with honors from the London School of Economics in the U.K. She is also an alumna of the Coro Fellows program in Public Affairs.
