Maureen R. Harper oversees media relations, public relations, crisis communications, and employee communications for Mayor Frank G. Jackson’s Administration. In addition, she is charged with coordinating the Mayor’s public appearances and speaking engagements and serves as the Mayor’s speechwriter.

As Chief of Communications, Harper has increased original programming at the City’s public access television station and led the City’s crisis communications efforts during the massive snowstorm of February 2007 and the public school shooting tragedy of October 2007.

In 2008, she authored the Mayor’s Urban Agenda as a tool to influence the national conversation about the issues facing urban centers. The Urban Agenda was responded to by both Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and sparked local, state, and national media interest.

Prior to joining the Mayor’s Executive Staff in 2006, Harper served as Public Relations Manager for Cleveland City Council and Public Relations Specialist for the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. She also worked as a debate and speechwriting consultant for the 2005 Jackson mayoral campaign.

Harper earned a master’s degree in interpersonal communication from Bowling Green State University and a bachelor’s degree in English and communication/theatre arts from Heidelberg College.