Her Story
About Mary Kate
Mary Kate Allen is a communications professional with more than two decades of experience shaping how higher education institutions tell their stories. Currently serving as Communications Manager at Georgia Southern University, she supports the Office of the Provost and the Office of Research, overseeing everything from the award-winning "Excellence in Action" newsletter — which regularly achieves open rates more than double the industry average — to executive speeches, press releases, and multimedia campaigns. Her path into this work began after earning a journalism degree from Georgia Southern in 2008, followed by years in aviation at Gulfstream Aerospace and FlightSafety International, where she developed technical writing and regulatory documentation skills that later sharpened her ability to translate complexity into clear, compelling communication.
Beyond her institutional role, Allen has built a parallel career as a screenwriter, earning recognition across numerous national competitions and currently developing a feature screenplay in pre-production. She is also furthering her expertise through a Master of Arts in Emerging Media at the University of Georgia, staying current with evolving digital and media trends. Her creative instincts and problem-solving mindset trace back to formative early experiences, including working as the lone woman on a newsroom staff, which taught her the importance of building supportive networks and approaching conflict with a solutions-first attitude rather than letting problems linger.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Allen channels her energy into community and philanthropic work, helping lead marketing efforts for Grillin' For Healing, an annual fundraiser that has generated nearly $100,000 for a local health clinic serving uninsured residents in Statesboro, Georgia. An accomplished equestrian, she competed on Georgia Southern's equestrian team and remains active in the Arabian horse community. With a book deal already in hand for a planned December 2027 publication, Allen continues to expand her creative footprint while maintaining her deep commitment to positivity, collaboration, and purposeful storytelling in everything she does.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mary Kate
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a habit of looking for the positive angle in difficult situations, along with a genuine commitment to building strong relationships and collaborative partnerships throughout my career.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
My husband, a physician and surgeon, taught me the value of organization and collaborative habits. I've also learned to set my ego aside, ask questions when I don't understand something, and stay open to simpler, better solutions rather than assuming I already have the answer.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't be afraid to build relationships. When I came into journalism as the only woman on staff, it was intimidating, but I learned to build my own circle of supporters and challengers. Be adventurous, speak up when you don't understand something, and don't hesitate to ask for help so you don't get left behind.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges is that institutions often default to focusing on budget cuts and negative narratives. The opportunity, though, is using storytelling to shift that focus toward the meaningful work happening around us — research breakthroughs, student accomplishments, and faculty impact.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Positivity, collaboration, creativity, organization, humility, and curiosity are the values that guide me most, both professionally and personally.
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