Nicole Dueffert

About Nicole Dueffert

Nicole Dueffert is a senior leader with extensive experience across the nonprofit, public, and private sectors — including positions on Capitol Hill, in national advocacy organizations, and at leading public health nonprofits.She currently serves as Senior Vice President of Strategic Operations & Organizational Excellence at Truth Initiative, working across departments to strengthen collaboration, improve information flow, and enhance organizational efficiency. She partners with senior leadership to align priorities, streamline processes, and ensure the organization operates cohesively toward its mission. Nicole also oversees cross-functional groups focused on project management, change management, and internal communications initiatives.Nicole previously served as Senior Vice President of Communications and Vice President at Truth Initiative. She provided vision, leadership, and strategy to the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Communications Officer, and other senior staff, and led the conceptualization, planning, and execution of earned media and communications strategies and tactics.Her earlier experience includes leadership roles at the Lupus Foundation of America, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, where she developed and executed national education and policy campaigns, built partnerships across sectors, and helped achieve landmark legislative victories. On Capitol Hill, she served in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, designing and implementing national and district-focused media strategies.Nicole is known as a strategic, solutions-oriented leader who connects people and processes to drive impact. She is passionate about building effective teams, aligning strategy with execution, and helping organizations communicate and operate at their best.Nicole is a graduate of Drake University.Specialties: Strategic operations, organizational excellence, strategic communications, public relations, media relations, change management, project management, cross-functional collaboration, strategic planning

Experience

1. Senior Vice President of Strategic Operations & Organizational Excellence

   Truth Initiative

   Nov 2025 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Lead organization-wide efforts to strengthen alignment, collaboration, and information flow across all departments, working closely with the COO and Senior Leadership Council.• Drive strategic operations initiatives by identifying interdependencies, reducing duplication, and ensuring projects and priorities connect to Truth Initiative’s mission.• Oversee the Project Management Group to promote consistent, efficient project execution and build shared tools, best practices, and knowledge systems.• Co-lead organizational change management, developing frameworks, supporting leaders through transitions, and advancing system improvements that increase efficiency and impact.• Direct organizational programming to enhance internal communication, visibility, and engagement across the organization.

Education

• Drake University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Journalism

  1989 — 1993

• American University

  Washington Semester Program

  1992 — 1992

Skills

• Newsletters
• Community Outreach
• Public Policy
• Speech Writing
• Corporate Communications
• Social Media
• Public Speaking
• Public Relations
• Media Relations
• Policy
• Event Planning
• Message Development
• Strategic Communications
• Communications Planning
• Non-Profits
• Public Affairs
• Press Releases
• Government
• Nonprofits
• Editorial
• Crisis Communications
• Journalism