Carrie Whitten Simmons, MA, serves as the communications lead for the Knight Center for the Future of News at Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. In this role, Simmons directs communications strategy and implementation, including community and media relations, partnership development and marketing while collaborating with faculty, donors, and implementing partners.
Prior to this, she was the communications lead for Arizona State University International Development Initiative (IDI). The IDI team worked with ASU faculty and project teams in countries around the world to utilize ASU expertise on development projects to further positive impact on global communities. Recent project work includes the Center of Excellence for Energy working to support Egypt in reaching its goal of 42% renewable energy by 2035 and Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Legacy Localization supporting the YALI Regional Leadership Centers, based in Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and South Africa, to reach their vision of a sub-Saharan Africa-wide transformational youth leadership program, YALI Africa.
Prior to joining ASU, Simmons was the director of marketing, communications and engagement for All of Us Research Program, an NIH grant implemented by University of Arizona. Simmons is an entrepreneur as well, founding and operating a business for 20+ years. Through this company she acted as an independent publisher and content creator for a show broadcast nationally on PBS and in 30+ countries around the world.
She is a fourth generation Arizonan, graduating with a bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, and creative writing with a minor in Spanish from Northern Arizona University, and a master's degree in political psychology from Arizona State University.