Becky McKendry

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MSU Extension Health and Nutrition Communications Manager
Justin S. Morrill Hall of Agriculture

As communications manager, Becky's mission is to shine a light on Michigan State University Extension’s extraordinary impact, with a special focus on the organization's health and nutrition efforts and the dedicated staff who deliver this programming to Michiganders.

Becky provides strategic marketing and communications counsel to leadership and educational staff; writes and edits content; manages digital and print communication assets, such as seasonal news digests and annual impact reports; serves as MSU Extension's media relations manager, connecting experts across the state to reporters and press contacts; creates and delivers writing and communications professional development workshops to health and nutrition staff; promotes and rolls out programs and events; and more. From 2019 to 2020, she also produced former MSU Extension director Jeff Dwyer’s Partnerships and Peninsulas podcast.

Before joining MSU Extension, Becky spent five years as senior editor for Public Sector Consultants (PSC), a public policy research firm in Lansing, Michigan. There, she supervised and directed an editorial department and edited high-level research for nonprofit, governmental and corporate clients. She also worked on major marketing and communications initiatives at PSC, including a firmwide brand refresh and events like Pundit Summit and the Governor's Energy Excellence Awards.

Prior to that, Becky worked as a journalist and editor for different publications covering a multitude of topics, from environmental news to sports and music. Notably, she served as a pop culture interviewer for author Chuck Palahniuk's (Fight Club) official website and a longtime music writer for publications like Punk Planet Magazine and Sound the Sirens. Since 2006, she has also run her own editorial and communications business, providing editing, writing and consulting services. Her clients have ranged from architecture firms and tourism marketing agencies to tech startups and educational companies such as McGraw Hill-Education.

A proud Spartan, Becky holds a bachelor's in journalism with a concentration in editorial reporting from Michigan State University. During her undergraduate studies, she received several accolades, including the MSU Outstanding Senior Award, the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism's Service Award, and the Capital News Service Connection Award. At the 2014 University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum, she presented original digital communications research on how environmental news outlets could broaden their beat and cover underrepresented demographics.

Becky holds multiple professional certificates for editing and public relations from the Poynter Institute and the American Copy Editors Society. Her writing and communications work has won numerous awards, including the Society of Professional Journalists' Mark of Excellence Award and a Bronze Award in Digital Writing from the Association for Communication Excellence.