Carissa Nelson

Carissa Nelson is a marketing and communications professional specializing in value-driven, impact-focused storytelling within public-sector and educational environments. With more than a decade of experience in marketing and communications spanning higher education, youth development, statewide outreach, and more, she leads communications strategies that translate complex programs into clear, compelling narratives for diverse audiences.

In her role with Illinois 4-H and University of Illinois Extension, Carissa provides strategic direction for statewide marketing and communications initiatives, supporting program promotion, brand alignment, and audience engagement across print, digital, and social platforms. Her work bridges administration, program staff, and communicators - ensuring messaging is both mission-aligned and accessible to the families, volunteers, and communities Extension serves.

Carissa’s expertise includes integrated campaign planning, editorial strategy, social media analytics, stakeholder communications, and content evaluation. She is particularly skilled at developing frameworks and tools that help teams communicate more effectively, from onboarding guides and messaging toolkits to training resources and evaluation plans. She also regularly advises on sensitive and high-stakes communications.

A passionate advocate for professional growth and innovation, Carissa has delivered trainings and presentations on marketing strategy, digital tools, and artificial intelligence for communications professionals at the state and national levels. Her work is grounded in collaboration, data-informed decision-making, and a belief that strong communications create real and lasting public value.

Education
MS | Family & Consumer Sciences | Illinois State University
BS | Marketing | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Awards & Recognition
Chancellor’s Excellence Award semi-finalist, 2024
National Communications Award Winner, NAE4-HYDP, 2024