Alissa Swango

Alissa Swango has extensive experience in digital media and content management. Alissa has held various leadership roles at National Geographic Partners, including Vice President, Digital Executive Director, where they oversaw digital content distribution and promotion. Alissa also partnered with internal teams and external platforms to ensure high-ROI digital promotion. Prior to this, they were the Senior Director of Digital Programming, where they led a team and optimized digital storytelling strategies.

Before joining National Geographic, Swango worked at Atlantic Media as the Director of Digital News Operations for National Journal. In this role, they managed newsroom operations and implemented digital strategies. Alissa also served as the Executive Digital Editor and the Assistant Digital Editor and Product Development Lead for National Journal, where they led digital initiatives and implemented content strategies to drive traffic.

Swango's earlier experiences include working at the Chicago Tribune as the Deputy Digital Editor and the Digital News Editor, and at USA TODAY as the Assistant Online News Director. Alissa also worked at MSNBC as an Interactive Fellow, where they produced multimedia packages.

Additionally, Swango has teaching experience as an adjunct professor at American University and DePaul University, where they taught courses on digital journalism. Alissa also advised News21 at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

Earlier in their career, Swango worked as a Website Manager for The Fund for American Studies, where they created the organization's first digital newsletter and managed their website.

Alissa Swango attended the University of Iowa from 1997 to 2001, where they earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism, Art, and Art History. Following their undergraduate studies, they enrolled in Georgetown University from 2000 to 2002 for The Fund for American Studies program in collaboration with The School of Continuing Studies. Alissa then pursued a Master of Science degree in Journalism with a concentration in New Media at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, from 2005 to 2006.