Taya Jarman, APR

Taya M. Jarman, MS, APR is an accomplished and award-winning communications professional with experience developing and implementing communication strategies that support organizational objectives. She was recently nominated as PRWeek’s Top 40 Under 40 for her career results. 

Taya is the communications director for the Virginia Department of Health Office of Family Health Services. In this role, Taya is responsible for developing guidelines and the overall strategy for the VDHLiveWell brand. She has marketed and advertised over $800,000 in public health campaigns. With her leadership, the team developed an award-winning drinking water infographic, Every Woman’s Life multicultural campaign and VDHLiveWell.com website. Taya has served as a panelist for the Center for Disease Control (CDC) national social media webcast to discuss best practices and guidance from the VDHLiveWell program.

Prior to VDH, she created the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) award-winning social media program. During her four years at DMV, she managed internal communications including its employee newsletter and initiatives. Before DMV, she was the spokesperson and community outreach coordinator for Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). While at VDOT, she assisted with international media relations and credentialing Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Richmond and Jamestown.

Taya has extensive experience as a strategic and creative thinker. She worked as a consultant for the Annual BET Award Show in Los Angeles, CA where she facilitated multiple celebrity press conferences and organized media placement along the red carpet.

Taya graduated with a master's of science degree in strategic public relations from Virginia Commonwealth University. She also holds a B.A. in communication and leadership from Christopher Newport University and a graduate certification in general management public relations from the University of Maryland University College. She’s taught several public relations courses at Virginia State University and served as a guest lecturer at Howard University, Virginia Union University, Bowie State University and North Carolina A&T State University.

Taya is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Virginia Government Communicators, and an executive board member for the Public Relations Society of America. 

When she’s not at work, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and two sons John III (Tripp – for triple) and Tyler.