top of page

Resume

Recent Experience

Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy (Houston, Texas)

2024 - 2026

Policy Communications Specialist

Developed cross-functional communications strategies to promote high-level policy research, events, and initiatives, including flagship reports and major conferences.

 

Collaborated with institute experts and staff to create compelling content strategies and adapt long-form research into accessible formats for target audiences, including policy explainers, newsletters, op-eds, press releases, and podcast episodes.

 

Led the institute’s media engagement efforts, including building press relationships, coordinating press releases, expert alerts, and media advisories, and pitching research and opinion pieces to state, local, and national media outlets.

Served as lead producer and editor for the institute’s podcast network, including the flagship weekly “Baker Briefing” podcast. Managed a team of podcast interns and led a comprehensive overhaul of the podcast network, including visual identity, music, episode web display, and publishing and marketing strategies. In the first year leading “Baker Briefing,” grew its average downloads from roughly 700 to 7,500 per month.

2023 - 2024

Senior Editor 

Developed and coordinated content strategies for major publications, events, and initiatives in addition to staff editor responsibilities, including media outreach and microsite design and production. Delivered secondary review for publications and marketing copy across the editorial and digital teams. 

2020 - 2023

Staff Editor

Shepherded hundreds of academic-style policy research publications, including papers, reports, briefs, articles, and commentaries, through the editing process. Worked closely with institute experts to deliver clear, constructive review and feedback at each stage of editing, with careful attention to logic and structure of argument, readability, and tone in adherence with brand standards.

 

Wrote copy to promote research and events via the institute’s newsletters, social media, website, and annual reports. With a fellow editor, produced a weekly newsletter and maintained a daily presence on the institute’s main social media accounts.

Education

Expected 2026

MA, Anthropology | University of Houston

2017

BA, Linguistics | University of Texas at Austin

Tools & Standards

Design & Production: Adobe Acrobat, Canva

Digital Marketing: Bluesky, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Mailchimp, Sprout Social, X/Twitter, YouTube

 

Digital Publishing: Drupal, Wix, WordPress, basic HTML

Editorial Standards: AP, Chicago, and APA styles, Google Workspace​, Microsoft Word


Language​s: English (native), Spanish (proficient)

Media Relations & PR: Google Trends & Alerts, Meltwater

Podcast Production: Adobe Audition, Adobe Podcast, Libsyn, Podbean, Zoom

Project Management: Asana, Slack

Contact

© 2026 by Karina Zemel

bottom of page