Meet Kathryn Mueller.
Imagine working a full-time public relations job and owning a wine business, all while wrangling three young kids and being an online graduate student. Balancing all of this seems unfeasible for most, but not for Kathryn Mueller.
Everyday, Kathryn wears several hats: a mom, a storyteller, an entrepreneur and now most recently, a graduate student.
Kathryn Mueller, an online MA alumna from Murrow College’s Strategic Communication program, works full-time as a senior public relations specialist for Seattle Children’s Hospital where she creates content for the hospital’s external communication channels.
“It is incredibly rewarding to support the mission of Seattle Children’s, to help every child live the healthiest and most fulfilling life possible,” Kathryn said. “Whether I am writing a story about a child who has overcome incredible odds, interviewing a researcher who is relentlessly pursuing better treatments and medical advances for childhood diseases, or sharing a story of a medical provider who believes there is no such thing as ‘out of options,’ it’s an honor to work with such amazing and resilient individuals.”
Professionally, she loves creating content that is inspiring and ignites change. Kathryn takes a compassionate approach to storytelling, allowing her creative mind to share stories that showcase Seattle Children’s patient-centered approach to care.
“It’s my job to break through the clutter and find stories underneath industry jargon – the kind that pull at heartstrings, make you believe anything is possible and unite people. I help people and brands find their voice and bring stories to life,” she said.
After graduating from Capital University, a small private school in Ohio, with her bachelor’s degree in marketing, Kathryn started her career working public relations and marketing in the sports industry. She later decided to switch gears by serving a year in AmeriCorps where she discovered her passion of helping people in need. Following her time working with AmeriCorps and the American Red Cross, Kathryn joined Seattle Children’s public relations team, working her way up from a coordinator to a senior specialist role.
“Working for Seattle Children’s has truly been a dream come true. I love sharing stories of hope, care and cures.”
In addition to her full-time role, Kathryn owns a family winery with her husband called Virtue Cellars, working as creative director managing their digital presence. While they’re a “small but mighty operation”, Kathryn loves being able to share their wine with the world, producing about 1,000 cases of Bordeaux and Rhone style Washington state wines.
Kathryn knew that a graduate degree would help propel her career aspirations forward, and after researching several programs, Murrow College’s Online MA Program in Strategic Communication seemed like the perfect fit for her.
“I heard wonderful things about the program from friends and colleagues,” Kathryn said. “I loved the flexible design of the program, and the online format fit well with my busy lifestyle.”
Since enrolling, Kathryn said the program has far exceeded her expectations, improving her skills and expertise as a communications professional and helping her improve in all her professional roles.
“Every professor has been a wealth of knowledge and an advocate for my dreams,” Kathryn said. “The coursework applied directly toward enhancing my small business and helped me elevate my work at Seattle Children’s. I’m incredibly grateful for my professors and this program.”
As for the future, Kathryn sees endless professional possibilities. She would love to continue working in the healthcare industry, leading large communication efforts, as well as continuing to grow her wine business.
“Working in healthcare is incredibly rewarding and I enjoy the mission-driven work. I also want to continue to build our small businesses’ digital footprint. In both healthcare and the wine industry, I’m enthusiastic for opportunities.”
To learn more about Kathryn, visit her LinkedIn profile.
Learn more about the online MA Strategic Communication program