Metropolitan Ministries has tapped Rebecca Ruggieri to be its program impact manager. Ruggieri, who has earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Georgia, will monitor the effectiveness and impact of Metropolitan Ministries’ programs in order to better assess and modify client service practices. Metropolitan Ministries is a 39-year-old agency that provides emergency financial support, support services and stability navigation.
Falu is Maxine Smith fellow
The Tennessee Board of Regents has made Rachael Falu, an assistant professor of English at Chattanooga State Community College, a 2017-2018 Maxine Smith fellow. During her seven years of employment at the school, Falu has made significant contributions to its Humanities and Fine Arts Division.
During the fall 2017 semester, Falu developed an honors section of African-American Literature for the Global Scholars Honors Program. Falu also serves as coordinator and faculty sponsor for Chattanooga State’s Alpha Beta Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and is involved in various global and international initiatives at the college. In 2014, Falu was chosen to teach an African-American Literature course for three weeks in Cape Town, South Africa through the Tennessee Consortium for International Studies Program.
The Maxine Smith Fellows Program was established through the Geier desegregation lawsuit to provide career opportunities for African-American TBR employees. Its purpose is to identify future leaders, pair them with mentors and provide them with opportunities to develop leadership skills.
Waterhouse adds to communications
Waterhouse Public Relations has expanded its communications team with the additions of Sarah Burns as social media coordinator and graphic designer and Emily Wildenberg as account coordinator.
Burns will lead WPR’s digital media implementation to increase audiences and engagement for clients across all social media platforms. With experience and knowledge in developing visual content for print and digital outlets, she will execute market strategies relevant to consumer behavior and industry trends.
Burns joins the firm with a background in social media management, graphic design and marketing. Most recently, she served as the graphic design and marketing specialist for Celtic Testing Experts, where she managed all aspects of the company’s social media efforts, graphic design projects and website presence. Burns earned a degree in new media art from Kennesaw State University.
Wildenberg will manage and monitor client media coverage across all platforms, conduct client and industry research and assist in the support of overall client objectives. She most recently served as a marketing intern for Advance Marketing Solutions, where she supported client relations and strategic development of client brand growth and awareness. Wildenberg earned a degree in public relations from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.