RIO Communications & Marketing

 
The RIO Communications Team collaborates with partners in the Research and Innovation Office, across the University, and with external organizations to build awareness of the positive impact of University of Minnesota research and to advance the University's research mission and goals. We provide communications support for the Vice President for Research and Innovation, RIO's administrative units, UMN Technology Commercialization, and 12 academic centers and institutes. Our services include: communications strategy/planning, media/public relations, issues management, social media, email marketing, brand guidance, and website management. We also produce several internal newsletters that keep our audiences informed about important news, policies, and opportunities that impact the research community.

Meet the RIO Communications Team
 

JoonHyung Cho

Assistant Vice President for External Affairs and Communications
(612) 626-8302 | [email protected]

JoonHyung (Joon) serves as the assistant vice president for external affairs and communications at the University of Minnesota, where he leads strategies for external engagement and communications to support the university’s research and innovation mission. Working closely with the VPR, he oversees day-to-day management, coordination, and relationship building with external partners, including federal agencies, industry, academic institutions, and policymakers to advance external funding opportunities across the university’s research communities and overseeing the communication efforts of RIO. Joon has held leadership roles at the University of Virginia, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Louisiana State University, with extensive experience in corporate engagement, research business development, strategic fundraising, and technology commercialization.
 
 

Sophia Dagnello

Associate Director of Visual Communications
[email protected]

Sophia Dagnello is a visual communication specialist with a specialty in scientific visualization. As associate director of visual communications, she leads the design of strategic visual materials that enables complex research to become accessible and engaging, as well as oversees the office’s visual identity. She develops creative visual solutions that elevate UMN’s research visibility and stakeholder engagement. Previously, she worked at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, where she led projects from animation and data visualization to branding. With roots in biomedical visualization from Chicago she has spent the last 10 years translating research into compelling visual stories that enhance visibility and impact.
 
 

Erin Dennis

Internal Communications Director
612-723-6549 | [email protected]

As the internal communications director, Erin is responsible for shaping and leading a strategic, multi-channel internal communications program for RIO. She works with the RIO leadership, administrative and academic units, and partners across the University to develop and implement communications plans that enhance understanding of RIO's vision and goals and reinforce a culture of innovation, collaboration, and ethical practices throughout the UMN research community. Erin coordinates all electronic communications for RIO and serves at the primary contact for mass email and Salesforce Marketing Cloud accounts. She has held communications roles in RIO since 2013. Erin holds a BA in English from the University of Minnesota and an MA in English from South Dakota State University.
 
 

Shelly Gustafson

Communications Specialist
[email protected]

Shelly works in strategic communications with a focus on growing and highlighting the University’s research enterprise. She works closely with research teams on grant proposal development and assists with launching new RIO research initiatives. She uses narrative and information design to transform research into engaging, informative materials that assist university leaders, researchers and stakeholders to tell their stories. Her previous UMN work includes managing communications for the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, where she worked with researchers to craft the Fed Annual Report for USDA-NIFA and helped coordinate the First Kiss® apple launch. Shelly has worked in multimedia design, communications, and marketing for nearly 20 years. She holds a BA in English from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA.
 
 

Brook Paul

Communications Associate
[email protected]

As RIO communications associate, Brook’s responsibilities primarily include developing and leading RIO’s social media strategy; creating and implementing UMN Technology Commercialization communications; and supporting broader RIO communication strategies including storytelling, RIO newsletters, and web updates. Previously, Brook has experience leading non-profit communications and holds a BA in Communications from Bethel University. 
 
 

Holly Santiago

Website Manager
(320) 492-9740 | [email protected]

Holly manages the Research & Innovation Office’s unit websites on research.umn.edu and is the point person for website development, maintenance, and strategy. She also works with the RIO Comms team and university partners to coordinate content strategy across the university. Holly has worked in multimedia design, communications, and digital technologies for more than 20 years at several colleges, universities, and in the private sector.