A Better Way to Do College
The campaign's main landing page, bringing together Maricopa's messages about educational access, affordability, and opportunity.
Explore the CampaignSelected Work at Maricopa Community Colleges
Marketing & PR Analyst · District Marketing and Communications · January 2025–Present
At Maricopa Community Colleges, I work on districtwide marketing and communications for 10 colleges across the Phoenix area.
My work ranges from developing brand messaging and campaigns to writing for web, email, and other channels. I work with the technology behind those communications, too—building dynamic content and improving workflows that help us reach different audiences across the district.
A Better Way to Do College
I played a leading role in developing Maricopa's A Better Way to Do College campaign, from shaping its objectives and content strategy to producing many of its public-facing assets.
I helped define the campaign's goals, including a focus on making content more discoverable through AI-powered search. I then planned the website's structure and supporting assets and wrote its webpages.
Campaign Website
Supporting Pages
Bachelor's Degrees
A closer look at the value of earning a bachelor's degree through Maricopa.
View Bachelor's Degree PageAffordable Textbooks
Content explaining Maricopa's OER and affordable textbook options.
View Affordable Textbooks PageMicrocredentials
An introduction to Maricopa’s microcredentials and how they support professional development.
View Microcredentials PageCampaign Videos
I wrote scripts, recorded voiceovers, and composed original music for two explainer videos in Maricopa’s Better Way series.
A Better Way to Do Textbooks
An explainer about the cost of college textbooks and how students can save through open educational resources (OER), low-cost textbooks, and zero-textbook-cost course options at Maricopa.
Watch on YouTube
A Better Way to Do a Bachelor's Degree
An explainer examining the cost of earning a bachelor's degree and how Maricopa's four-year programs offer students a more affordable path to completing their education.
Watch on YouTubeA Better Way to Do College Podcast
I'm responsible for the editorial writing behind Maricopa Community Colleges' A Better Way to Do College podcast, developing episode content, host introductions, and interview questions for education, business, and community leaders.
The podcast examines issues shaping higher education and the future of Arizona, with conversations ranging from workforce development to the experiences of students and educators.
Featured Episodes
Investing in Arizona's Workforce
Featuring Todd Sanders, President and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Chamber
A conversation about the industries shaping Arizona's economy, the state's evolving workforce needs, and the role of education in supporting long-term economic growth.
Watch the Episode
Keeping It Real
Featuring Dr. Veronica Hipolito, President of South Mountain Community College
A conversation about first-generation college experiences, what makes educational opportunity meaningful, and how colleges can help students find a path forward.
Watch the EpisodeWebsite Content
I've written a wide range of content for Maricopa's websites, from stories about our colleges to resources for students, families, and the community. Here are a few examples of that work.
Maricopa GO
I developed the name and branding for Maricopa GO and wrote the web content introducing the developing student success program, its planned support services, eligibility, and ways to stay informed.
Explore Maricopa GO
Maricopa's Community Hub
I wrote Maricopa’s Community hub webpage and all of its supporting subpages, developing content about the district’s community programs, partnerships, and resources. The section is designed for prospective students, families, local residents, and community organizations.
Explore the Community Section
Proud to Be First
A webpage recognizing first-generation college students and connecting them with information, resources, and encouragement throughout their educational journeys.
View First-Generation Page
Aerospace Training at Chandler-Gilbert Community College
A look at aerospace career training at Chandler-Gilbert Community College and its connection to Arizona's growing aerospace and defense industries.
Watch on Instagram
Preparing for My Netflix Documentary
A playful reel participating in the “Netflix documentary” meme trend, drawing attention to Maricopa's enrollment reach and its rate of students graduating debt-free.
Watch on Instagram
Three New Bachelor's Degrees
A talking-head update announcing three additional bachelor's degree programs planned to launch at Maricopa Community Colleges in 2027.
Watch on InstagramJournalism & Editorial
Before joining Maricopa Community Colleges, I worked in music and entertainment journalism, covering artists, technology, and the music industry for publications including American Songwriter and Consequence.
My work included interviews, reported features, news, and service journalism.
BandLab Founder Meng Ru Kuok on Music and Technology
American Songwriter · May 2021
I interviewed BandLab founder Meng Ru Kuok about the company's growth, the technology changing how people make music, and the evolving relationship between musicians and the music industry.
The conversation explored topics ranging from digital production tools and social platforms to the future of music distribution and collaboration.
Read the InterviewYola on Stand for Myself
American Songwriter · July 2021
An in-depth feature exploring Yola's artistic development, her experiences in the music industry, and the making of Stand for Myself.
Through our interview, the story examines her creative independence and the challenges of making music on her own terms.
Read the Feature
Taylor Swift's Vancouver Eras Tour: A Ticket Guide
Consequence · November 2024
A service-journalism guide covering Taylor Swift's Vancouver “Eras Tour” performances, organized to help readers navigate ticket availability, purchasing options, and event information.
Read the ArticleIndependent Projects
Outside of my professional work, I build and use AI tools, develop integrations, and explore applications of emerging technology.
These projects give me room to investigate ideas, solve practical problems, and develop new technical skills.
A custom AI skill for analysis
“didi” is a custom AI skill I developed to investigate complex questions, examine competing claims, and identify contradictions in evidence and arguments.
Building it involved extensive research, instruction design, testing, and revision. I worked through challenges in the model's analytical behavior, refining its methodology and instructions to produce more substantive, evidence-grounded analyses.
didi remains an active development project that I continue to evaluate and improve.
An AI-powered workflow for project management and organization
I built a workflow connecting ChatGPT and Notion to manage projects, organize tasks, and keep important information accessible.
I use it regularly to plan and manage my personal and professional projects. The integration helps me stay organized, maintain context across projects, and spend less time on routine administrative tasks.
This Website (You're Already Here)
I designed and developed this portfolio website with help from ChatGPT, bringing together content strategy, information architecture, visual design, and web development.
For the visual direction, I drew inspiration from the optimism of early-2000s technology, reimagining that aesthetic through a more contemporary perspective. The project gave me a chance to experiment with those ideas and apply the same editorial and technical judgment I use in my other work to something a little more personal.
If you're reading this, at least one part of the project works!
About Me
I'm Jo Vitagliano, a writer, editor, and content strategist based in Arizona.
I began my career in music journalism, interviewing artists and reporting on the entertainment industry for publications including American Songwriter and Consequence. That work helped develop the research, interviewing, and editorial skills I use today.
At Maricopa Community Colleges, I work across content development and marketing technology. In addition to producing communications for a wide range of audiences, I contribute to Salesforce-related projects, quality assurance, communication workflows, and staff training.
I'm especially interested in how AI can support writing, analysis, and content creation. I use it extensively in both my professional and independent projects, with a focus on developing practical tools and maintaining strong editorial judgment.
Outside of work, I enjoy making music, cooking, reading about history, and traveling with my wife.
View My RésuméContact
Interested in connecting or learning more about my work? Feel free to reach out.