From Beijing to South Bend

Spring 2022 Shannon Scholar Returns to Campus

Saint Mary’s College welcomed back alumna Kate Hartman Rosenzweig ’04 as the spring 2022 Shannon Scholar. Hartman was on campus March 28–30, participating in communications classes and meeting with students.

The Shannon Scholars Program, established by a generous gift from Professor William N. Shannon and his wife Bonnie, invites exceptional alumnae back to campus to share their experiences, expertise, and career paths with students, faculty, staff, and the local community. 

After graduating from Saint Mary’s in 2004 with a degree in business administration in marketing, and a minor in public relations and advertising, Hartman dove into the corporate world. Through an internship at Sears, she started her PR career at Edleman and later with Weber Shandwick. After spending eight years at agencies, she accepted a job as the manager of global brand at the Coca-Cola Company’s corporate headquarters in Atlanta. In just 12 years at Coke, she reached her personal goal of becoming an executive by the age of 40, when she was promoted to vice president of strategic communications. During her tenure at Coca-Cola, Hartman led the communications strategy, management and implementation for the London 2012, Sochi 2014, and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, as well as the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the Special Olympics 2015, and 2017 World Games. She also developed and implemented the most successful press campaign in the company’s history with the relaunch of “New Coke” to promote the brand’s strategic partnership with Netflix’s Stranger Things. Hartman is known as a champion of disruption and someone who constantly challenges the traditional "PR" standard. She played an integral role in the rewiring work that transformed Coca-Cola North America’s external media relations and communications team to become more proactive and connected across all areas of the business.

It’s no surprise that in January 2021, Hartman was promoted to vice president for strategic communications in North America, overseeing all internal and external communications for the company’s flagship market. However, just months after her promotion, she was presented with her dream job—Chief Communications Officer of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). Initially turning the job down due to her recent promotion, and the possibility of having to move from Atlanta to Colorado Springs, Hartman was given the opportunity to work remotely. So, in May 2021, she accepted the position and in six short weeks, she was off to Tokyo for the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. For the USOPC, Hartman is responsible for public and media relations efforts, including storytelling and stakeholder engagement with athletes, fans, national governing bodies, team members, and other partners to increase visibility and support for the US Olympic and US Paralympic movements. 

“This position allows me to work for an organization that shares the same values I hold,” says Hartman. “No matter if you’re Republican or Democrat, everyone comes together to cheer for Team USA.”

Now that Hartman is home from the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, she returned to Saint Mary’s to speak with students, resident assistants, and athletes as the 2022 Shannon Scholar. In the classroom, Hartman spoke to communications and marketing students on “living their purpose.” Hartman described how she found her purpose by creating a personal mission statement her senior year. On the list was “lead with compassion, live with balance and conviction, make a difference, and love hard.”

Dubbing herself as “great RA, terrible statistician,” Hartman was a Resident Assistant while at Saint Mary’s, which she credits for developing her leadership skills. She shared with current RAs and senior spring athletes how being a role model can impact their future. She was also the guest speaker for the Career Crossings Office brunch where she advised soon-to-be-graduates on life after college. 

While on campus, Hartman said she was most looking forward to being back in the classroom, and for her 10-year-old daughter Charlotte to visit the College for the first time. “There’s just a feeling when walking through the halls of Le Mans that makes you feel like you’re home,” she said.

Next stop for Hartman, Pennsylvania Avenue President Biden has invited 800 Team USA Olympic and Paralympic athletes to the White House in May, as part of celebrating national pride displayed throughout the games.