Skip to main content

The Reed College of Media and College of Creative Arts will merge to form the new WVU College of Creative Arts and Media as of July 1, 2024. Get details.

Marketing Communications
Apply Request Info

Karen Naumann

Senior Instructor at the U.S. Department of Defense’s Information School
Teaches Crisis Communication

Karen Naumann, APR, PMP, is a multifaceted, seasoned practitioner with over 25 years of communication experience. She is an educator, global program manager, industry leader and author.

In 2023, she was selected as project manager for a U.S. Army strategic communications and outreach contract focused on prevention, resiliency and readiness. She is also an adjunct instructor and course developer in Crisis Communications at West Virginia University, where she instructs active military, earning a graduate degree.

Additionally, she has consulted for the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, Labor (DRL), Office of Policy Planning, and Public Diplomacy (PPD). Her work focused on the international human rights and democracy country reports.

In 2022, Naumann worked in South Korea as a Senior Strategic Communication Planner and Team Lead in support of the four-star-led UN Combined Forces Command at U.S. Forces Korea, where she developed communication strategy recommendations for command-wide and Republic of Korea allies.

She was a Sr. Instructor at the U.S. Department of Defense’s Information School for several years, where she had the privilege of training hundreds of public affairs officers for the United States fleet and field in topics ranging from Complex Adaptive Systems Thinking to Strategic Foresight and Issues Management and Disinformation. She was also an in-house subject matter expert, contributing to evolving Information as a DOD joint function.

Before this, Naumann was an executive at an established D.C. public relations firm. She has also worked in communication and digital diplomacy for the Government of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Consulate General of Israel to the Southwest United States. On behalf of the Government of Israel, she led strategic communication efforts in a six-state region.

The award-winning communicator is frequently tapped as a speaker and facilitator for conferences and, events on topics ranging from Cognitive Biases and Crisis Communications to Strategic Communications and Persuasion. She is also a frequent contributor to national publications and a published author in public relations. Her innovative approach to military public affairs analysis can be found in Intercultural Public Relations .

Naumann is Accredited in Public Relations (APR). By earning her APR, she has demonstrated her commitment to excellence and the highest ethical standards. She also holds a PMP from the Project Management Institute.

She is active in the Public Relations Society of America and the National Press Club. She is also a member of the United National Association of the National Capital Area, Information Professionals Association, Project Management Institute, Louisiana State Society, LSU Alumni – D.C. Chapter, National Association of Government Communicators, National Communication Association, Grey Swan Guild, and Washington Women in Public Relations.