FROM STAFF REPORTS

Jefferson State Community College Coordinator of Marketing and Community Outreach Damita Hill recently earned the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations‘District 2 “Communicator of the Year” Award during the district conference in Asheville, North Carolina.

Hill plays a significant role in coordinating, planning and implementing the college’s marketing and promotional activities. She has served Jefferson State for over 20 years, using her role in marketing to create a resource pipeline among all entities of the college to validate marketing’s role by showing how it impacts the college.

She regularly attends training, workshops and conferences for her own development, and she in turn provides professional development training. She is a certified professional business trainer in leadership, communications and customer service, and she has been JSCC’s trainer since 2004. She has delivered countless professional development and training workshops to several large organizations across Alabama: She’s worked with the Alabama Deans of Student Affairs Association, the Alabama Community College System’s Human Resources Management Association and the JSCC Leadership Academy.

“She is a dynamic speaker and facilitator with a proven ability to engage participants, motivate them to learn and sustain their interest and enthusiasm,” says Sara Davis, marketing and communications director at Coastal Alabama Community College and Hill’s nominator.

Hill is an active member of the community, cultivating positive relationships with many elected officials, community stakeholders and business leaders. She regularly attends Birmingham City Council meetings and fosters relationships with several council members, who affectionately call her “Miss Jeff State.” She also seeks out opportunities for college personnel to make presentations to various community organizations. College recruitment activities and events are important to her because she always wants to support the awareness of college programs, services and initiatives.

“She has a reputation across the college of operating with a spirit of excellence and collaboration,” Davis says. “She is the consummate team player.”

In addition to her day-to-day duties, Hill served as the AmeriCorps VISTA supervisor, volunteered with the City of Birmingham and represented JSCC at various chamber of commerce and community events. She has been the secretary of the Alabama Community College System’s Public Relations Association board and is currently its incoming president.