New Comms Director Joins NOVA

Dawn Selak has joined the NOVA team as director of communications. She will spearhead the college’s communications efforts, working with the talented communications team to share inspiring stories about the college, its students and its faculty and staff with the NOVA community and the world.

Workforce development and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education have been common threads throughout her career. Dawn joins the NOVA team from the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) – an advocacy organization for the aerospace and defense industry – where she was the director of strategic communications and served briefly as acting vice president for communications. In partnership with the National Association of Rocketry, AIA also runs the American Rocketry Challenge, the world’s largest student rocketry competition, which she was excited to support as a Space Camp alumna.

Previously, Dawn served in the Obama Administration, holding a variety of positions at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of Energy and the White House. At the Energy Department, she had the opportunity to support the public launch and expansion of the department’s Solar Ready Vets pilot program, which prepares military personnel for careers in the solar energy industry.

Dawn earned her bachelor’s degree in public communication from American University, with minors in political science and international studies. Before the pandemic, she also taught gymnastics classes for Arlington County, where she lives with her partner and her mischievous cat, Barley. She enjoys cooking, baking and taking walks around the neighborhood with her dad and his dog, Ozzy.

Dawn looks forward to meeting NOVA’s faculty and staff and promoting its many innovative programs. If you have story ideas or would like to reach out to Dawn, you may contact her at DSelak@nvcc.edu.

Submitted by:
Dawn Selak, Comms, DSelak@nvcc.edu