Ivy Blog
Staff Spotlight: Jennifer Keeler
Job title: Communications Specialist
Hometown: Casa Grande, Arizona
What inspired your career path?
I am naturally inquisitive. I have a curiosity about the world around me and I’ve always enjoyed learning. Give me a documentary over a blockbuster hit any day! I love meeting people, asking good questions, hearing their stories and then telling those stories in a captivating way. I also appreciate good grammar and have a strong opinion on the Oxford comma. Naturally, that led to a career as a writer in journalism and corporate communications.
Explain your role in the research being conducted at the Ivy Center.
My role is to create informative, engaging content around the research work being done at the Ivy Center. Whether in the online Newsroom, the Ivy Blog or in the media, my goal is to bring attention to and promote the Ivy Center’s cutting-edge research endeavors.
What does it mean to you to work for the Ivy Center?
Working for the Ivy Center is fulfilling. If I can contribute, in some small way, by telling the stories of the work being done here and the lives changed by it, that is incredibly rewarding. It’s also a privilege to get to know the patients and tell their stories. I feel a sense of responsibility to tell their stories well. Expanding the reach of the Ivy Center’s mission may lead to more patients joining clinical trials, which may lead to more research discoveries, which moves us closer to the goal of finding a cure.
What’s the culture like at the Ivy Center?
There is a spirit of collaboration at the Ivy Center. Each member of the team is an expert in their discipline and we’re all passionately working together toward the goal of finding a cure for brain cancer. It’s inspiring!
Have you ever been personally impacted by brain cancer?
I haven’t been personally impacted by brain cancer, but many friends and family members, including my dad, have been through cancer diagnoses. Now that I’m working at the Ivy Center and meeting the patients, it feels personal. I hear their stories and see their resilience, and it makes the Ivy Center’s work to find a cure even more vital.
What is your favorite part about your job?
I am enjoying learning about all the research efforts here. I’m learning about the brain and how cancer is treated – it’s fascinating. And, of course, my absolute favorite part is working with our small, but mighty, marketing and communications team.
What’s one question you usually ask those you interview?
I like to ask, “What book is on your nightstand?” It’s pretty telling!
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
I spent a summer during college working on a carnival. I can make an excellent caramel apple!