Hailee Tavoian

Hailee Tavoian

Assistant Professor of Practice, Public Relations

Hailee Tavoian is a strategic communications leader and educator whose career bridges journalism, consulting, higher education, and the classroom. She began as a multimedia journalist, earning a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism and an M.A. in Strategic Communication from Southern Utah University — a foundation in fact-driven storytelling that still shapes how she approaches strategy and teaching today.

As a brand communications consultant, Tavoian advises executives, brands, and creators across health and wellness, consumer goods, and corporate sectors, leading strategic messaging and content development that builds national visibility and trusted media partnerships across owned and earned channels. Most recently, she served as Public Information Officer for the Town of Sahuarita, where she led media and public relations, producing communications and campaigns that supported public engagement and economic development initiatives.

Tavoian's years at Ohio University spanned work at the medical school, university advancement, and student affairs. She began leading editorial strategy and cross-campus content for the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, then moved into alumni engagement and fundraising communications, developing executive communications and content strategy in support of a $500 million university campaign. She later became Director of Strategic Communications for the Division of Student Affairs, leading all parent and student communications and directing the university's student crisis response.

Alongside her industry career, Tavoian has spent a decade teaching courses in public speaking, media relations, public relations, and content strategy at Ohio University, Southern Utah University, and Pima Community College. She has co-developed curricula later adopted across dozens of course sections and consistently earns high marks from students for her engagement and mentorship, bringing that same commitment to leadership and lifelong learning into every classroom.