With more than a decade of experience across nonprofits, higher education, and civic organizations, my work is a unique blend of strategic communication expertise and operational precision.
Effective communication rests on three pillars: the storyteller, the channel, and the audience. I strengthen the storyteller’s voice while building the infrastructure to ensure their message reaches and resonates with the right audience.
Sep 2025 - Present
Heifer International FoundationProvide executive and administrative support across all organizational functions, reporting directly to the VP of Operations with responsibilities spanning operations, planned giving, and finance.
Partner closely with President & CEO on scheduling, communication, and travel coordination; prepare polished materials for board meetings and donor events.
Manage finance and planned giving administrative processes, ensuring accurate processing of annuities, trusts, and financial documents while supporting CRM record management and donor acknowledgments.
Coordinate internal operations, including HR administration, office management, staff retreats, and board meeting logistics; maintain organizational templates and compliance systems.
Aug 2023 - Sep 2025
Oxford American Literary ProjectWrote grant proposals, reports, and supporting materials for major institutional funders; secured and stewarded grants over $20K.
Maintained and updated the organization’s grants and reporting calendar; tracked deadlines, deliverables, and funder communications for donor and stakeholders.
Coordinated cross-functional planning with editorial, development, and design teams to align fundraising and outreach priorities.
Prepared donor briefings, impact summaries, and event materials for executive leadership and partner engagement.
Supported campaign planning and content development through media calendars, internal workflows, and stakeholder research.
Spearheaded social media strategy and digital outreach, resulting in a 42.1% increase in audience reach within the first 10 months.
Executed two successful $20K Whiting Foundation (2024, 2025) matching campaigns through targeted email marketing, social media content, and direct engagement.
Tracked engagement data and campaign performance; produced briefs to guide audience development strategy.
Coordinated logistics and content for community events and partner programming.
May 2022–Aug 2023
Arkansas Division of Higher EducationManaged program communications for statewide scholarship initiatives; liaised with legislative, healthcare industry, and academic stakeholders.
Drafted policy memos, white papers, and legislative reports used by executive staff in statehouse proceedings.
Maintained responsive, detail-oriented workflows to meet documentation, outreach, and compliance deadlines.
Aug 2021–May 2022
University of Arkansas at Little RockManaged public programming, digital outreach, and community engagement for a civic-focused satellite campus.
Developed social media strategy and audience-focused messaging to promote events and increase participation.
Created communication materials and conducted audience testing to support program visibility and improvement.
Aug 2020–Aug 2021
National Park CollegeProvided executive support, including complex calendar management, meeting preparation, and travel coordination.
Drafted presidential speeches, strategic memos, and official correspondence for internal and external audiences.
Maintained board schedules, recorded meeting minutes, and coordinated delivery of confidential documents across departments.
Aug 2018–Aug 2020
University of GeorgiaDesigned and delivered undergraduate public speaking curriculum
Created shared resources for virtual learning transition during COVID-19
Honored with the R. Baxter Miller Award for excellence in African American and Multicultural Literature (2019)
Jan 2017–May 2018
University of ArkansasAug 2013–May 2016
Hendrix CollegeMy graduate research focused on how institutions shape and communicate regional identity through public spaces. My thesis, “The Myth of Southern Atonement: Constructed Forgiveness in Public Spaces,” examined how universities in the American South navigate their complex histories through institutional communications and public memory projects.
Early Career Alumni Award (2025)
Richard S. Arnold Graduate Fellowship (2018)
Top American Studies Thesis, National Communication Association Convention (2019)
Top Master's Rhetorical Thesis, National Communication Association Convention (2018)
University of Oxford, Christ Church College | Fall 2014
Youth Ambassador, Share Our Strength | Summer 2015
Led statewide hunger relief communications and outreach initiatives:
Managed public relations and earned-media efforts
Conducted field research at summer meal sites across Arkansas, documenting operational needs and community impact
Selected to present college campus engagement strategies at national Share Our Strength conference
April 2023 – Present
Young Democrats of ArkansasLead statewide electoral communications strategy across multiple chapters to mobilize young voters and drive ballot initiative support.
Developed and distributed press releases, talking points, and digital toolkits for campaigns
Coordinated messaging alignment with allied organizations and PACs; supported signature drives, volunteer training, and press events.
Young Democrat of the Year, 79th Annual Young Democrats of Arkansas Convention (2024)
National Delegate, Young Democrats of America Convention (2025)
2021–2022
Arkansas Day of Racial Healing2021
National Park College2019
University of GeorgiaBrand Storytelling & Narrative Development
Copywriting for Multiplatform Content
Content Development for Digital & Print
Public Speaking & Presentation
Media & Press Relations
Campaign Management (digital and grassroots)
Stakeholder Engagement Communications
Visual Storytelling
Philanthropic Communications
Organizational Messaging & Reputation Management
Leadership Support Communication
Strategic Planning & Execution
Grant Writing & Fundraising (major grants, donor stewardship)
Policy Analysis & Legislative Communications
Program/Project Management (cross-functional, multi-stakeholder)
Event Planning & Donor Relations
Budget & Operations Management
Community Engagement & Partnership Building
Survey Design, Assessment, and Impact Evaluation
Team Leadership & Executive Support
Stakeholder/Volunteer Coordination
Office & Productivity Suites: Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite
Analytics Tools: Google Analytics GA4, Qualtrics, Audience Segmentation
Data Analysis: Quantitative & Qualitative Methods
CRM & Donor Management Platforms: Neon, ActBlue, GoodChange)
Email Marketing: Mailchimp, Emma
Content Management: WordPress, Kirby CMS
Project Management: Asana, Slack
Social Media Management platforms
Adobe Creative Cloud (for visual assets)
Survey & Feedback Tools
"Points South Live: Otis Redding Foundation & Macon Music Revue,’ Points South Podcast, 2024.
"Grassroots Placemaking." Legacies & Lunch Lecture Series, Central Arkansas Library System, 2023.
Publications
Clayborn, E.A. (2023). Getting some Little Rock history into your summer staycation, Arkansas Times.
Clayborn, E.A. (2020) Regionalist Gaze in Paul Theroux’s Deep South, Southern Communication Journal, 85:3, 166-177, DOI: 10.1080/1041794X.2020.1727947.
Clayborn, E.A. (2019). The Death of Alan Berg. in J. Webb (Ed.), Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories in American History. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.
Clayborn, E.A. (2018, May). “The Myth of Southern Atonement: Constructed Forgiveness in Public Spaces.” [Thesis].
Clayborn, E.A. (2020). Ashli Quesinberry Stokes & Wendy Atkins-Sayre, Consuming Identity: The Role of Food in Redefining the South. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2016. 231 pp. Southern Communication Journal. DOI: 10.1080/1041794X.2020.1781433.
Clayborn, E.A. (2018) Jodi Kanter, Presidential Libraries as Performance: Curating American Character from Herbert Hoover to George W. Bush. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 2016; 198 pp. Southern Communication Journal, 83:1, 58-60, DOI: 10.1080/1041794X.2017.1398272.
The Austin-based musician performed live at the Windgate Center for an Oxford American live event
Rev. Greg Spradlin, the Delta Soul Singers, and Macon Music Revue honor their roots in North Little Rock
