Elizabeth Cruz Garcia
Digital Media Strategist · Los Angeles, CA · Open to full-time Opportunities
About Me
Strategic digital communications professional with 3+ years of experience in content marketing, social media strategy, and DEI-driven storytelling. Proven track record of scaling engagement, building brand visibility, and executing high-impact campaigns across nonprofit, academic, and entrepreneurial sectors. Skilled in managing cross-platform strategies, audience analytics, and multimedia content creation to support community-centered initiatives and global development programs. Currently seeking full-time opportunities in digital marketing and communications where strategy meets community impact.
Experience
October 2024 - May 2025
October 2024 - May 2025
February 2022 - August 2022
USC Annenberg Center for Third Space Thinking
Digital Strategy & Social Media Intern
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Orchestrated cross-platform digital strategies that increased the center's reach by 107,000%, boosting LinkedIn and Instagram visibility.
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Authored high-performing blogs, newsletters, and a funding proposal, resulting in a 10,500% increase in stakeholder engagement.
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Produced 20+ branded multimedia assets monthly (graphics, videos, blogs) across LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, aligned with strategic goals.
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Composed brand-compliant copy for program websites, newsletters, and social media channels, ensuring consistency with USC's voice and visual identity.
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Executed and optimized outreach campaigns using Mailchimp, achieving up to 100% open rates, 4.5% click-through rates, and 0% bounce rate across all campaigns.
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Revitalized program visibility and application interest for the 2025 World Bank-Annenberg Summer Institute and Third Space Youth Institute.
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Maintained and updated content across two key websites, ensuring accuracy, alignment with DEI values, and relevance to program goals.
World Bank Annenberg Summer Institute
Program & Communications Intern
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Coordinated logistics and stakeholder communications for a global initiative spanning 20+ countries, managing planning, cross-cultural engagement, and real-time communications.
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Created marketing collateral, including flyers, email templates, and social graphics, to promote the institute and increase program visibility.
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Developed storytelling content spotlighting global participants, institutional impact, and program highlights to enhance community engagement.
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Maintained program websites and landing pages to ensure accurate, timely information and improve user experience for global attendees.
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Produced multimedia content (email templates, digital assets, event promotion) to facilitate participant engagement before and during the institute.
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Navigated multi-level approval processes by coordinating with faculty, stakeholders, and communications leads to ensure timely delivery of content.
Elemental Breath LA
Digital Media & Social Media Intern
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Engineered an Instagram strategy generating 30,964 account reaches (+3,600%) and 1,317 profile visits (+287%), expanding the brand's digital impact.
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Developed 200+ pieces of original content and creative visual assets, driving consistent brand visibility across platforms.
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Executed full-scale brand audits and redesigned visual identity across 200+ social media assets and marketing materials, resulting in improved audience retention and brand consistency.
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Authored audience-specific blog posts and analyzed competitor benchmarks to support a long-term campaign strategy.
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Mastered Meta Business Suite in under 7 months and adapted swiftly to evolving platform updates to optimize performance and streamline content workflows.
July 2021 - August 2022
LEEAF (Leading for Equity in Entrepreneurship Accelerator & Fellowship)
Marketing & Communications Fellow
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Spearheaded creative storytelling through digital advertising campaigns highlighting entrepreneurship, equity, and innovation.
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Strengthened organizational messaging and expanded reach through targeted digital advertising and engagement strategies.
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Collaborated with startup leaders to shape business development materials and investor pitches, supporting growth and capital acquisition.
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Formulated media strategies grounded in social impact, community connection, and problem-solving.
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Leveraged mentorship and feedback loops to improve communication outcomes and team productivity.
Education
August 2023 - May 2025
University of Southern California
Master of Science - Digital Social Media
Involvement: Women's Leadership Society at USC Annenberg · USC PRSSA · USC Business Cosmetics Club · Digital Media Association at USC
Relevant Coursework: Managing Technologies for Digital Media · Introduction to Digital Social Media · Copywriting and Creativity · Analytics and Research Methodology · Public Relations and Branding · Brand Strategy for Digital Media · Communicating Entertainment Media Identities · Integrated Communication Strategies
August 2019 - May 2023
California State University, Los Angeles
Bachelor of Arts - Communication
Option: Mass Communication · Advertising & Public Relations
Minors: Social Media · Sustainability Marketing
Involvement: HACU Student Delegate · CSULA PRSSA · Lambda Pi Eta Communication Studies Honor Society · Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)
Relevant Coursework: Mass Communication Theory · Principles of Marketing · Advertising Communication · Introduction to Social Media Marketing · Content Marketing for Social Media · Community-Based Social Marketing · Social Media Marketing Strategy · Sustainability Marketing
September 2015 - June 2019
Woodrow Wilson Senior High School
High School Diploma
Involvement: Occidental College Upward Bound · International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme · InnerCity Struggle United Students Committee Organizer · Law Magnet Program
Skills
Languages
English — Native
Spanish — Intermediate
Technical Skills
Meta Business Suite · Canva · CapCut · Adobe Creative Suite · Figma · Mailchimp · Hootsuite · Sprout Social · Later Social · Airtable · WordPress · Wix · Squarespace · Google Workspace · Microsoft Office · Video Editing
Strategic Skills
Digital Marketing Strategy · Social Media Analytics · Content Marketing · Campaign Development · Brand Identity · Audience Development · Copywriting & Editing · Visual Storytelling · Strategic Storytelling · Blog & Newsletter Writing · Project Management · Cross-functional Collaboration · Stakeholder Communication · DEI-Aligned Communication · Community Engagement
Work Samples
Certifications
Influencer Marketing Strategy
Sprout Social