Written by Sandra Wu
Addressing Capacity Challenges Through Strategic Design Support
At Communication Leadership Consulting, we believe impactful partnerships happen when talented graduate students are paired with organizations that need fresh ideas and hands-on support. Through her work with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the agency responsible for supporting K–12 public education across Washington state, graduate student Doris Zhang demonstrated exactly what that collaboration can accomplish.
As a Communications Specialist, Doris worked closely with Katie Hannig, Communications Operations Manager, and Ker Malkin Gesulga, Senior Digital Video Strategist, throughout her time at OSPI. There, she supported a variety of communications and design initiatives that helped OSPI better engage educators, students, and communities across Washington state.
“One of our biggest pain points as a team was capacity. We had a lot of design needs coming in from different programs, and not always enough time or the right staff to execute these requests.”
Shared by Doris’s supervisor, Ker Malkin Gesulga, at OSPI.
Doris helped bridge that gap by transforming program ideas into polished, accessible communication materials that aligned with organizational goals and audience needs.
“She was very thoughtful about her approach with the intended audience, clarity, and tone, and not just visual aesthetics. In some cases, her drafts or initial concepts helped us get a clearer picture of what we needed, which made the final deliverables even stronger.”
Ker explained.
Creating Impact Through Public Education Communications
One of the most rewarding aspects of the experience for Doris was seeing how communication and design could directly support public education initiatives across Washington state.
“I had the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects, including social media campaigns, data visualizations, accessibility-focused communication materials, and large-scale information design projects.”
Doris shared.
A standout project was Harvest of the Season, a farm-to-school initiative that featured 24 local crops grown throughout Washington state while helping students and cafeteria staff learn more about locally sourced food. Through this work, Doris strengthened her skills in stakeholder communication, cross-functional collaboration, and integrating emerging technologies into creative workflows.
“I was surprised and inspired by how open OSPI was to utilizing new media and emerging technologies, especially the adoption of AI tools. I was able to explore and use AI technologies in creating cafeteria communication materials as well as animations, combining traditional design methodologies with newer creative tools.”
Doris expanded.
Delivering Results for OSPI
According to Ker, Doris’s supervisor, her contributions helped the team manage growing workloads while maintaining project momentum.
“The biggest improvement was that our workload became more manageable. Doris helped keep projects from getting stuck in the queue, and the materials she delivered were clean, thoughtful, and aligned with our needs.”
Ker shared.
Ker also highlighted the value of partnering with graduate student consultants through Communication Leadership Consulting.
“Working with Doris was a very positive experience. She brought fresh and innovative ideas, asked great questions, and took feedback seriously. She was still learning, but she also made a real contribution to the team.”
Ker added.
Building Career Readiness Beyond Graduate School
The experience Doris gained through OSPI helped prepare her for her current role as a Category Manager Intern at TikTok.
“My experience with OSPI played a major role in helping me land my internship at TikTok because it gave me hands-on experience working in collaborative environments while solving real communication and strategy challenges.”
Doris reflected.
Today, she applies the stakeholder management, communication, and analytical skills she developed during her consulting experience.
“Most importantly, OSPI helped me become more confident in presenting ideas and collaborating across teams. The supportive team at OSPI helped me recognize and appreciate the value of my own work, which became the foundation of my confidence working in a much larger organization like TikTok.”
Doris explained.
A Bridge Between Graduate School and Professional Experience
As an international student, Doris credits Communication Leadership Consulting with helping her gain meaningful professional experience while building a network of industry connections.
“Comm Lead Consulting has been one of the most valuable parts of my graduate experience because it provided opportunities to work on real-world projects with real clients while still having the support of a learning environment. The program also provided abundant networking opportunities and connected students with professionals from different industries. As an international student with limited work experience in the U.S., the Comm Lead Consulting program became a valuable bridge connecting me to real-world professional experiences and future opportunities.”
Doris emphasized.
Partner With Communication Leadership Consulting
At Communication Leadership Consulting, our graduate student consultants bring fresh perspectives, creative problem-solving, and real-world expertise to organizations across sectors. From strategic communications and information design to digital accessibility, stakeholder engagement, and emerging technologies like AI, our students help organizations expand capacity, strengthen audience connections, and bring important initiatives to life.
If your organization is interested in partnering with our team, visit the “For Clients” section on our website and fill out the “Request Consultation” form to get started!
University of Washington