Who is Rachel Johnson? An extremely Applachian, mildly creative and insanely funny communication professional. With 25 years of experience being a person who loves to talk, I am excited to find somewhere that has a story to tell.
As the Marketing Coordinator for Visit Mountaineer Country CVB, I leverage social media trends to show visitors and locals alike all the great things happening in North Central West Virginia.
If I’m not in the office or out and about in Mountaineer Country, you can probably find me at the movies. I am a proud AMC A-Lister and try to see at least one movie in the theater every week.
That covers what I’m up to right now! Keep reading for some back story…
In May 2024, I earned my Master’s degree in journalism. My thesis focused on how young women connect in online fandom spaces. I specifically looked at Swifties (because let’s be honest—is there a more passionate fanbase?). Using my findings, I made recommendations in my thesis to help professional communicators create “fan girls” within their target audiences.
In addition to my studies, I was also a graduate assistant for WVU Arts and Entertainment, where my primary roles were event booking and marketing. In this role, I had the opportunity to plan, market, and execute all kinds of events, from music festivals to late-night student events to Appalachian craft fairs. I’ve worked with big-name hip-hop stars and local balloon artists all in the same week!
And now you’re up-to-speed on the last three years of my life! If you’re still here and dying to know more read on for my origin story.
I was born and raised in Princeton, West Virginia, a small town in the Southernmost part of the state. As the daughter, granddaughter and niece of West Virginia University alumni, picking a college to attend was not a difficult choice. In May 2022 I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in public relations and minors in history, political science and Appalachian.
In my final year of undergrad, I completed an EXCEL project with WVU’s honors college focusing on women in Appalachia. This multimedia project highlights many different women and their cultural contributions to Appalachia. You can view that project here.
