A photo of Jessica Doty Lilly in front of a gray brick wall

Doty, Jessica

Title: GEAR UP SWV Communications Manager / Cheerleading Coach

Department: Athletics, GEAR UP

Phone: 304-384-5981

Room: Grants House

Box: F-77

Doty, Jessica

Biography

Jessica Lilly is the Communications Manager at GEAR UP SWV, a program of Concord University that partners with New River Community and Technical College along with five county school systems in the region.

Jessica is a communications specialist with experience in media relations, event planning and public relations campaigns. She earned a B.A. in Communication Arts with an emphasis in both Broadcast Journalism/Electronic Media and Public Relations with a minor in Business Administration from Concord University.

Before joining the GEAR UP SWV team, Jessica worked for almost 15 years as a broadcast journalist. Jessica specializes in capturing the human element of storytelling that deeply connects with an audience. She served as a member of the Virginias Associated Press Board of Directors for 10 years from 2013 – 2023. Jessica won countless awards as a journalist including a Regional Murrow in 2016 in the radio documentary category and a Regional Emmy Nomination for television documentary.

This is her second year serving on the NCCEP/GEAR UP Communications Advisory Committee. She’s currently pursuing an MBA while juggling her second job as a college cheerleading coach and a family.

As cheerleading coach, Jessica has worked to successfully endow the first scholarship for the Concord Cheerleading program. The cheerleading program consistently places in the top 15 teams in the nation.

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Communication Arts, Broadcasting and Journalism/Electronic Media and Public Relations, Minor Business Administration, Concord University, Athens, WV (2007)

Professional Activities and Achievements

  • NCCEP Communications Advisory Committee, 2023  – Present
  • WCCTC Multimedia Publishing Advisory Committee Member, 2023 – Present
  • Virginias Associated Press Board of Directors Member, 2013 – December 2022
  • Best Multiplatform Story, 2022
  • Best Reporter, Virginias Associated Press 2021
  • Best Feature, Virginias Associated Press 2021
  • Best Radio News Anchor, Virginia Associated Press, 2016, 2017 & 2020
  • News Documentary, Regional Murrow Award, 2016
  • Douglas Southall Freeman Award for the radio documentary “West Virginia’s Clean Water Struggles” in 2013
  • Winner, Alumnus of the Year, Concord University, 2015
  • WV Associated Press Broadcasters Significant Impact Award, 2013

Conference Presentations

  • Glenville State College Appalachian Studies series, “We, too, are Appalachia”, Nov. 2018
  • Appalachian Studies Association Annual Conference, “The Struggle to Stay” series discussion, 2018
  • Featured Speaker at Appalachian Translational Research Network Annual Health Summit in Hershey, PA, 2017
  • Featured Speaker at the ENGAGE Conference of Leadership for Change at West Virginia Wesleyan College, 2017
  • Host and Moderator for Empowering Solutions, An Opioid Addiction Epidemic Discussion at Concord University, 2017
  • What Can We Do To Encourage and Amplify Student Voice? Discussion Lab NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference, 2024
  • Building Relationships with the Media NCCEP National GEAR UP Academy

More work here: wvpublic.org/people/jessica-lilly