PRSSA Professional Advisor 

Dana Howard is an accomplished Public Relations and Marketing professional with nearly two decades of experience across higher education, nonprofit, corporate, and financial sectors. A proud alumna of Murray State University, Dana earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and Marketing in 2005 and her Masters in Telecommunications Systems Management in 2009 with a focus in Marketing.

Dana spent over a decade in higher education communications, notably serving as Murray State University’s first Social Media Manager. In that role, she helped shape the institution’s digital strategy and traveled throughout Kentucky leading workshops for businesses and nonprofits on the value of strategic digital engagement. She is a published author of communications strategy and digital marketing for case studies in journals and publications.

Her consulting work includes partnerships with national organizations like Leadership Women in Dallas, Texas, as well as small businesses and nonprofits across Western Kentucky. In 2017, she transitioned into the financial industry, joining Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB), where she currently serves as Vice President and Director of Marketing. At CFSB, Dana leads brand strategy, campaign development, and strategic communications efforts that support the bank’s community-first mission. In 2024, she became a FEMA-certified Public Information Officer, expanding her expertise in crisis communication while collaborating with emergency management teams across Western Kentucky.