Dee Harris

About Dee Harris

Whether I’m building global advocacy strategies or designing for impact, I treat curiosity as infrastructure. I believe good design should feel like an invitation. I absorb thought-leaders who muse on creativity and imagination. I thrive when turning complexity into clarity by illuminating its inner structure, its tension and texture, so others can engage with it more fully and imaginatively.I\'m a writer, educator, and narrative strategist with over three decades of experience leading innovation in marketing and communications. I have served as Chief Marketing Communications Officer for one of the largest mental health nonprofits in the U.S, where I used the power of story to shift public perception, expand access to care, and support systems-level change.Today, as Director of Open Culture Storytelling at Creative Commons, I champion global initiatives like the Open Heritage Statement, and I collaborate with cultural heritage institutions to deepen connection and public engagement through open access. My work is grounded in purpose-driven creativity, using storytelling as a tool to imagine better futures and expand cultural possibility.I also serve as a juror for the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts, where I bring my expertise to celebrating excellence in international creative work and recognizing the power of design and media to shape how we see—and change—the world.• I have cross-industry expertise, leading creative initiatives and driving transformative change. • I started a podcast called OK State of Mind, just so I could meet and chat with the coolest people in my community. • I led global communications at Creative Commons, managing partnerships and producing content for major international initiatives. • I founded journalism and multimedia programs in a public school, earning recognition as Oklahoma’s Journalism Educator of the Year and High School Teacher of the Year. • I illustrated a book about the adult brain and how it learns, because who doesn’t love a good brain challenge?I get jazzed about.• Serendipity and the spark of unexpected moments• Animation, especially the charm of stop-motion• Creative storytelling and innovative content creationLet’s connect!

Experience

1. Director of Open Culture Storytelling

   Creative Commons

   Nov 2024 — Present

   Lead the Open Culture Platform, a global community of over 500 cultural heritage institutions (CHIs) advancing openness in the digital age.Develop and implement the global advocacy communications strategy for TAROCH (Towards a Recommendation on Open Cultural Heritage), including the framework used by Advocacy Circles worldwide.Secretariat of the TAROCH Coalition, supporting advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and narrative strategy to advance policy development in the UNESCO system.Coordinate with UNESCO, regional bodies, and advocacy leaders to align local action with global goals.Direct communications for the TAROCH initiative—shaping key messaging, writing and producing advocacy materials, and managing global press and media relations.Design and facilitate international convenings, webinars, and public events, such as Open Culture Live, to share case studies, build capacity, and foster cross-regional solidarity.Represent Creative Commons at global events and policy forums, and advise on positioning CHIs to lead in equitable, ethical open access.

Education

• Oklahoma State University

  Bachelor's Degree, English

Skills

• Marketing Communications
• Multimedia
• Advertising
• Journalism
• Editing
• Publications
• Social Media Marketing
• Web Design
• Graphic Design
• Writing
• Public Speaking
• Copywriting
• Broadcast
• Social Media
• Video Production
• Creative Direction
• Storytelling
• Video
• Public Relations
• Leadership
• Customer Service
• Strategic Planning
• New Business Development
• Marketing Strategy
• Marketing
• Strategic Communications
• Media Relations