Dana Goehring is the newest addition to NEOMED’s Office of Public Relations and Marketing team. She began at NEOMED as an intern in the fall of 2015 and is now a full-time public relations and marketing assistant. Her primary role is a writer for both print and digital publications.
A native of Northeast Ohio and a 2016 graduate of the University of Mount Union, Dana holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations and writing, with minor in chemistry.
You started out as a chemistry major. How did you find your way into marketing and public relations?
It all started out with organic chemistry. No matter how hard I studied or how often I went into the professor’s office for help, I never understood it. I had always heard that organic chem was one of those things that you either get or you don’t. I didn’t! That was when my advisor said, look, your lab reports are very well-written. Why don’t you make chemistry your minor and do science writing?
It’s exciting to interview the researchers here because I love learning new things and my chemistry background helps. Sometimes they’ll talk about an organic compound and I’ll say, “I made that in the lab!’’
You’re a self-proclaimed geek/nerd. What makes you say that?
I really like the periodic table and chemistry puns. In college, I had a poster of the periodic table on my wall and a book on interesting facts about the different elements. I also have shirts that use the blocks of the periodic table, such as my “O-Chemis- tree” shirt for Christmas. Here’s an example of a chemistry pun: “I told a chemistry joke. There was no reaction.” I think those are so funny.
What is your favorite piece you've written so far?
It’s a series of pieces on suicide prevention, directed at students. That sounds a little odd to be a favorite piece, but it’s such an important topic and I was honored to be trusted with it. The subject hit home because I just graduated myself and realized that this is an issue on campuses everywhere.
What’s with the owls all over? They’re on your wall, your coffee mug, your lunch tote…
I really love owls! They are such beautiful creatures. I think my fascination started in college. My love for owls was so well-known on campus that if some of my professors found owl items, they would give them to me.