Emily Gerkin Guerrant is vice president and chief communications officer for Michigan State University. In this role, Guerrant co-leads the university’s central communications and marketing department. She oversees daily media relations for both issues management and positive public relations efforts, manages crisis communications, executive and internal communications and works with the University Communications and Marketing team to advance strategic communications efforts.
Prior to joining MSU, Guerrant was the senior vice president of marketing and communications at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the state’s marketing arm. She managed the strategic direction for all marketing campaigns, including the successful Pure Michigan tourism campaign, and also business and talent attraction marketing campaigns that positioned Michigan as a global leader in mobility, manufacturing, cyber security, defense and agriculture industries. Guerrant also led strategic media communications projects for the state’s economic development arm, focusing messaging around Michigan’s comeback economy and successes since the end of the recession.
Prior to MEDC, Emily spent 10 years at two statewide public relations agencies where she focused on issues management and advocacy communications. She started her career as a press secretary to state lawmakers and the Speaker of the House in the Michigan Legislature.
Guerrant earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from Central Michigan University and a master’s degree in public relations from Michigan State University.