Catherine Doss joins College of Science as communications manager

Catherine Doss, of Blacksburg, Va., has been named college communications manager for the College of Science at Virginia Tech. In her new position, Doss will be responsible for planning and communicating the achievements and aspirations of the College of Science to its many audiences, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and peer research institutions.

Doss brings 15 years' communications and public relations experience to the position, including experience in health care, higher education, and information technology. Most recently, Doss served as an information specialist and project leader at IDD Inc. in Blacksburg where she was responsible for compiling and editing several electronic newsletters, creating and managing client website content, and writing copy for CD ROMs and online courses.

From 1996 to 2000, Doss served as a public relations specialist for the Office of the Provost and the Outreach Division at Virginia Tech. In this role, she was responsible for developing and implementing strategic communications plans for both internal and external university constituencies, including faculty, administration, and business and community leaders.

Doss served as a communications project leader for Carilion Health System from 1990 to 1996, during which time she was immersed in a wide array of public relations and marketing communications projects. Those included researching, writing, and developing written communications pieces, serving as a media liaison, and developing, implementing, and evaluating communications plans for Carilion's system of health care facilities.

Doss received her bachelor's degree in communications from James Madison University and a master's degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was the recipient of the 1989 Cultural Arts Research Grant from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and received accreditation by PRSA in 1998. She has held numerous positions with the Blue Ridge Chapter of PRSA, including president in 1999. Several of her publications have received meritorious awards from the Advertising Federation of the Roanoke Valley and superior awards from the Virginia Society for Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations.

Doss and her husband have two children.