Shannon Andrea named director of media relations and D.C. area communications

Shannon Andrea has been named Virginia Tech’s director of media relations and D.C. area communications.  

In a new, expanded role, Andrea will lead the central Media Relations team, which has a universitywide focus on elevating Virginia Tech via national media and high-impact regional and local media. She also will oversee strategic communications and storytelling in the greater Washington, D.C., metro area. 

Andrea joined the Media Relations team in 2017 to launch an office in the Washington, D.C., area.

“Shannon has played in an important role in helping us attract increased media coverage, highlighting faculty expertise and research as part of our integrated marketing and communications plan to elevate Virginia Tech in the D.C. area,” said Tracy Vosburgh, vice president of communications and marketing. “We are now covered like one of the local universities in the D.C. media market, a huge accomplishment that reflects our growing presence and supports President [Tim] Sands’ vision.”

Andrea, who will continue to be based out of the Arlington Research Center, will supervise Media Relations team members based in Blacksburg. 

The Media Relations team, part of Communications and Marketing, works collaboratively with communications colleagues and faculty members across all of Virginia Tech’s campuses to develop tipsheets featuring faculty expertise, engage in message preparation, media training, and facilitating the needs of media. The team also operates a video and radio broadcast studio in the Moss Arts Center to connect faculty and campus newsmakers with local, national, and international news media.

Andrea has more than 20 years of public relations and strategic communications expertise working in the Washington, D.C., nonprofit and educational sector. Prior to coming to Virginia Tech, she worked as the director of marketing communications for the National Catholic Educational Association and the director of media relations for the National Parks Conservation Association. 

She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies with a concentration in public relations and advertising from Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y, and a master’s degree in public communication from American University in Washington, D.C.