Women’s History Month: Jasmyn Rudd Is Making Sure Communities Are Heard — Not Just Spoken For

Jasmyn Rudd does not just communicate information. She makes sure it actually reaches people. As a communications strategist with nearly a decade of experience, she has built a career translating complex work into language that communities can understand and use. Her work spans public health, policy, and national security, but her approach remains consistent. If people cannot connect to the message, it will not matter. That belief continues to guide everything she does.

A true DMV native, Jasmyn comes from deep Virginia roots that go back generations. She grew up in a region that valued global awareness and cultural understanding, which shaped how she sees communication today. In high school, she studied Chinese through advanced levels and traveled to China during her junior year. That experience expanded her perspective early on. Since then, she has traveled across Europe and the Caribbean, including Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Iceland, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Aruba, and St. Kitts. Those experiences continue to influence how she connects with different audiences. Although she is now based in Bergen County, New Jersey, her DMV identity remains central to who she is.

She began her career at Child Care Aware of America, where she managed communications for a $40 million Department of Defense contract serving more than 1,200 military families. From there, she joined the National Association of County and City Health Officials and led communications efforts across multiple CDC-funded initiatives. Her work focused on opioid misuse, injury prevention, and emergency response. She produced more than 75 toolkits and health resources that reached over 3,000 local health departments nationwide. In addition, she stepped into advocacy, briefing Senate staff on pandemic readiness and supporting public health leaders on Capitol Hill. During the COVID-19 surge, she also built a rapid-access resource hub to support local health departments in real time.

Later, as a Public Affairs Specialist at the DC Public Service Commission, Jasmyn focused on community engagement. She designed strategies that centered underserved communities in Wards 7 and 8. She also built partnerships with organizations such as DC SEU, DC Public Library, and local creators to expand outreach. At the same time, she launched the agency’s first DEI Speaker Series in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office of Racial Equity. She later brought that same community-first approach to national security work with CISA and DCG Communications. There, she supported the Department of Homeland Security’s Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention efforts, and her work earned a 2024 MarCom Gold Award.

Beyond her professional work, Jasmyn continues to invest in the next generation. She co-founded Journey Forward Consulting with her fiancé, Tyler “Coach Shaddy” Shadrach. Together, they provide pro bono communications training and leadership development for student athletes in Bergen County. Jasmyn holds a degree in Communication and Rhetoric from the University of Pittsburgh and a certificate in Data Visualization from Harvard University. She now lives in Bergen County with her fiancé Tyler, their daughter Journey, and their dog Tyson, while still carrying the values and perspective shaped by the DMV.

This Women’s History Month, Jasmyn Rudd represents leadership rooted in clarity, access, and accountability. She does not just deliver messages. She makes sure communities see themselves in them.