After a national search, Rebecca Noricks is Dogwood Health Trust's first Vice President of Communications. Becky is responsible for developing and implementing internal and external communication strategies that advance Dogwood’s purpose, vision, values and culture.
Noricks is an accomplished communications strategist and practitioner with more than two decades of experience in the philanthropic, public and private sectors.
Prior to joining Dogwood, she was a communications officer for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) in Battle Creek, Michigan, one of the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. There she led robust communications strategies in support of the foundation’s mission and deep commitments to racial equity, community engagement and leadership development.
Since 2019, she led the communications and knowledge strategy for WKKF’s Expanding Equity program, which focuses on advancing racial equity, diversity and inclusion in the private sector. The program supports a network of 600+ leaders from 100+ companies in 10+ industries in implementing DEI strategies that create workplace cultures where all workers can thrive. As a skilled facilitator and public speaker, Noricks served as a trainer and curriculum developer for the program’s communications and change management components.
Noricks also managed program communications for the foundation’s racial equity and racial healing, community engagement, leadership development, food systems and place-based work in New Mexico and New Orleans. She led seven national branding and messaging efforts, including: WKKF’s organizational identity rebrand; WKKF Community Leadership Network; Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation; National Day of Racial Healing; Catalyzing Community Giving; WKKF’s 90th Anniversary; and Expanding Equity.
“I am so incredibly grateful to join such a talented, strategic and caring team. Dogwood is a leader for good in Western North Carolina. The organization’s commitment to creating a better region for all with ‘no exceptions’ resonates deeply with me and is the sort of work I’ve been fortunate to be part of throughout my career,” said Noricks. “I am eager to collaborate shoulder-to-shoulder with the staff, leadership team, board and most importantly the leaders, grantees and partners in the community – to lift up this inspiring and hope-filled work.”
She holds a bachelor’s degree in business communications from Calvin University and a master’s degree in public administration with a nonprofit management emphasis from Grand Valley State University. She is also certified in change management and human centered design.