Courtney Hytower

Doctoral Student advancing research and teaching in Media, Culture, and Communication. Instructs undergraduate media courses and evaluates video submissions as part of the Peabody TV News Awards screening committee. Bridges media analysis, rhetorical study, and classroom instruction with a clear focus on communication research and academic practice.

Doctoral Student at New York University (2023-08 – Present)

• Instruct fall 2025 undergraduate session in Forensic Media, covering rhetorical history and legal argument within a U.S. context.
• Teach core undergraduate media courses, including Introduction to Media Studies and History of Media, across multiple academic terms.
• Support undergraduate learning through teaching assistant duties, student guidance, and assignment grading in the major.
• Evaluate video submissions as a selected member of the Peabody TV News Awards screening committee.

Director at Upshift Strategies (2020-09 – 2024-09)

• Identified 2-3 new business opportunities annually to diversify client outreach and expand firm demand.
• Managed 3-4 client accounts weekly, balancing timelines, calls, task delegation, and content development for major engagements.
• Directed client research projects, including the plastics industry's global communication strategy and counter-strategy options for international clients.
• Guided clients on audience engagement and authentic messaging that encouraged communities to take action through voting.
• Supported nonprofit communications planning by leading internal staff conversations and drafting key materials.
• Mentored junior staff through weekly check-ins, professional development guidance, and constructive feedback on task management.
• Drafted key materials to support client and nonprofit priorities while strengthening message consistency across engagements.

Communications Strategist at Upshift Strategies (2018-12 – 2020-09)

• Managed weekly all-staff and client meetings through calendar coordination, scheduling, minute-taking, and follow-up.
• Structured 10 annual objectives for a research institute, aligning goal-setting across small working groups.
• Partnered with nonprofit communications directors to develop narrative messaging frameworks for the 2019 election cycle.
• Advised on nonprofit report launches by drafting talking points, authoring op-eds, and supporting partner communications during rollout periods.
• Conducted group and individual communications training to strengthen client confidence in press-facing situations.
• Built structured follow-up processes that kept project actions moving after meetings and reduced dropped next steps.
• Supported client-facing communications by refining messaging for election-cycle and report-launch deadlines.

Research Consultant at Democracy Fund (2018-06 – 2019-01)

• Develop messaging materials to support the organization's new foundational pillar and program rollout.
• Track itemized internal council updates monthly to summarize progress, current priorities, and future objectives for leadership review.
• Research and present a framework for integrating newly approved language across the foundation's programmatic goals.
• Compile concise messaging for internal council progress updates, clarifying current-state priorities and future-state objectives.
• Translate approved language into clear stakeholder-facing guidance to align program teams around shared organizational goals.

Administrative Consultant at Impactual LLC (2018-10 – 2018-11)

• Monitored 5-15 election-related media term mentions per week across social and earned channels for clients.
• Tracked corporate and celebrity election activity through social media and earned media sources.
• Managed procurement and distribution of care packages for clients and grantees.
• Drafted and proofread election update emails and reports, highlighting wins and future organizing plans.

Communications Assistant at Democracy Fund (2017-05 – 2018-06)

• Managed scheduling, notes, and follow-up for the Managing Director of Communications across internal and external meetings.
• Produced the foundation's inaugural Annual Letter, detailing over $50 million in field investments and its response to the 2016 election.
• Drafted speeches and talking points for the CEO to support high-stakes internal and external communications.
• Led research on emerging communications practices, incorporating behavioral and neuroscience data into strategy development.
• Wrote research memos that identified opportunities to broaden the foundation's influence among key audiences.
• Contributed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy design as a thought partner on foundation communications priorities.
• Coordinated winter and summer strategy retreats for 25 influential figures in philanthropy with careful scheduling and logistics.

Communications & Network Intern at Democracy Fund (2016-10 – 2017-05)

• Coordinated 4 grantee networking events from planning through execution.
• Reviewed rapid response talking points for the foundation president before public engagements.
• Drafted and edited president talking points for public remarks, refining message development, speechwriting, and executive messaging.
• Planned grantee networking events and coordinated logistics, materials, and attendee communication across teams.
• Expanded Cision PR and media tracking use beyond communications, training additional departments on reporting and media relations.

Press Intern at Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (2014-08 – 2015-12)

• Drafted outreach materials for new voters, aligning copy with campaign messaging and audience priorities.
• Supported daily press events for the election cycle by coordinating messaging with leadership and on-site press needs.
• Fact-checked incoming statements from opposing candidates to tighten message accuracy and support rapid response work.
• Developed outreach copy targeting new voters, translating campaign goals into clear, audience-focused messaging.
• Contributed to surrogate operations for Latino press outreach, coordinating media-facing support for targeted audiences.
• Served as an assistant press representative during Election Day events alongside party leadership and press teams.
• Coordinated event communications under fast-moving conditions, reinforcing message discipline across press activities.

Master of Arts in Media, Culture and Communication – New York University (2023-01 – 2023-01)

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science – Syracuse University (2016-01 – 2016-01)

Bachelor of Arts in Writing and Rhetoric – Syracuse University (2016-01 – 2016-01)