Charleston, W.Va. – Secretary of State Mac Warner is pleased to announce the addition of WVU Reed College of Media graduate Jennifer Gardner to the Communications team.  Warner appointed Gardner to be Deputy Press Secretary and replace Erin Timony who moved to Georgia to be closer to her family.

Gardner is a 2013 graduate of Parkersburg High School.  She attended West Virginia University where she served as a public relations intern for the university and as managing editor at The Daily Athenaeum, the school’s independent student newspaper.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) selected Gardner to serve as a public affairs intern in its Washington, D.C. headquarters during the summer of 2015.

During the summer of 2016, she was selected to participate in a reporting internship for the Charleston Gazette-Mail in Charleston where she was assigned news and feature writing opportunities.  After graduation in 2017, Gardner returned to the newspaper as a features writer.

Prior to joining the staff at the Secretary of State’s Office, Gardner was Assistant to the Dean and Communications Coordinator for the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy.

“We are excited about Jennifer joining our team,” Warner said.  “She’s an excellent writer who brings with her a unique set of experiences and skills that will enhance and build upon our relationship with the media and the general public.”

The WVSOS Deputy Press Secretary is responsible for coordinating communication to and with the media.  Gardner is also responsible for managing the social media strategy for the Secretary of State’s Office.  She can be contacted directly at (304) 356-2693, or by email at jgardner@wvsos.gov.

Gardner is the daughter of Philip and Morrey Gardner of Parkersburg.