about #TheJLL

I help my clients identify and implement professional, holistic, and strategic communication and design solutions to business problems in the scientific research, higher education, small business, and nonprofit spaces. 

While my communication and design strengths are anchored in desktop publishing and print production, they have expanded to include digital media such as websites, email marketing, social media, and video editing. Most of my career has been in support of science in higher education. My expertise with scientific figure and data visualization allows me to help professors and researchers better illustrate key concepts. My degree is in journalism, so I’m also not afraid to work with words.

As the creative manager and a graphic designer in the communications department for Texas A&M’s School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, I’ve been responsible for the art direction and design of college magazines, a retrospective book celebrating the college’s centennial, marketing and informational pieces for various programs, and high-level reports and documents for administration with target audiences including the Texas A&M Provost, President, Chancellor and Board of Regents, as well as the Texas State Legislature. Currently, I’m managing the school’s portfolio of web properties and email marketing initiatives. I also supervise web development student workers and previously supervised graphic design student workers.

For almost a decade, I co-hosted, co-produced, and maintained the creative efforts for my family’s weekly classic country music radio show, Brazos Valley Gold, on Texas A&M’s KAMU-FM 90.9. As a freelancer, I provide print, digital, and web design and communication services for small businesses and nonprofits through my consulting business, Just a Little Laugh Productions. I regularly guest lecture in graduate classes at Texas A&M and have spoken at IABC and American Medical Writers Association conferences about visual communication. Recently, I’ve developed an interest in workplace mindfulness, well-being, and culture and I look forward to speaking on these topics in the future. 

My involvement with IABC currently includes engagement as the Brazos Valley chapter’s immediate past president and the Southern Region’s vice-president of leadership development. My work has been recognized with multiple IABC Silver and Bronze Quill Awards at the regional and chapter levels.

In 2016, IABC Southern Region named me their Communicator of the Year. In 2018, Sharon Hunter, SCMP, honored me with the IABC International Chair’s Award. Also, in 2016, I was a member of the team that received the Excellence in Communications Award from the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC).

I hold a Bachelor of Journalism in Media Studies degree from The University of Texas at Austin, and completed internships with KNNC-FM 107.7, KVUE-TV News, and Texas Monthly magazine during college.

I volunteer for nonprofits working to combat social injustices. I’m particularly passionate and vocal about my support of Planned Parenthood, The Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity, and battles for reproductive justice and gender equality.

With 25+ years of experience, the work I’ve done­­—and continue to do—speaks for itself, demonstrating a wide range of knowledge, strengths, and technical skills.

Beyond work, my husband, Martin A. Tapia III, and I have three dogs—Logan (our beautiful, red, long-hair fox terrier), Bruno (our lovable, tri-color, wire-hair fox terrier), and Oreo (our sweet, black and white pit bull). We spend as much time with his children and grandchildren as possible. We love to travel, fish, cook, refinish furniture, and do a variety of arts-and-craft activities together.