Heather Rockwell, Communication and Public Affairs Director

Heather brings enthusiasm, creativity and communication expertise to Mahonia Public Affairs. After serving as the Communications and Events Coordinator for an international nonprofit, Heather developed a deep affinity for collaborative advocacy. Throughout her career, Heather has helped organizations reach their long-term goals and communicate their priorities effectively — most recently helping our clients secure funding for child care, education and workforce development initiatives across the state. Last session, Heather helped pass the nation’s first ever publicly-funded recovery high school program through the Oregon Department of Education, as well as legislation to improve local community food systems and increase sales opportunities for small farmers, producers and food hubs across the state. 

Heather loves looking at big-picture problems and then digging into the details to find win-win solutions. She knows how to engage an audience and bring important conversations to the table. With a passion for service and an obsession with organization, Heather helps our clients stay on top of their tasks while keeping their objectives top-of-mind.

Prior to working in the nonprofit world, Heather served as a Public Relations Assistant for a local author and speaker, where she helped implement a social media and communication strategy for a national audience. In that role, Heather collaborated with a small team to create promotional material, coordinate speaking events, and craft engaging presentations and speeches.

Heather received her Communication Arts degree from George Fox University. While there, she served as a member of the National Communication Association's Lambda Pi Eta honor society. Heather also enjoyed serving as a Teacher's Assistant and a Big Bruin during her college years, where she got to mentor fellow college students as well as students in nearby elementary schools. Continuing her passion for education and community service, Heather finished her degree by designing, implementing and teaching communication curriculum to local at-risk youth.

Heather now lives in Portland with her two lively cats Jack and Jill. When she’s not working, you’ll find Heather enjoying nature — either hiking in one of Oregon’s beautiful forests or capturing them in an oil painting.