Penelope Whitney

Penelope Whitney is the Communications Director of IRLE, where she develops and implements strategies to extend its impact. Previously she was Director of Communications at the Kaiser Permanente Labor Management Partnership, one of the most successful in the US. There, she led a team that produced visual and online learning tools for frontline healthcare workers, and promoted partnership innovation and programs throughout Kaiser Permanente and beyond. Penelope combines a love of storytelling with years of experience helping nonprofits, unions and academics successfully communicate their mission and research. Her approach has led to first-ever media coverage and new policies for many science and environment issues. In addition, she has led spokesperson, media and message trainings for organizations such as National Wildlife Federation and researchers from UC Davis to University of Virginia. She received an M.F.A. in fiction writing from University of Montana, and a B.A. in journalism and environmental studies from UC Santa Cruz. She has taught writing at both institutions. In her spare time, she rides horses and tells stories on stage at venues like Fireside Storytelling in San Francisco and That Really Happened in Berkeley.