Maria Olmedo-Malagon

Maria Olmedo-Malagon is the Program Manager of the 2020 Census Communications Campaign for the U.S. Census Bureau. Maria oversees a $415 million communications campaign that encompasses paid advertising, public relations and events, social media, development of digital platforms and national and local partnerships.

Previous to that position, Maria was the Assistant Division Chief for Program Management and Communications at the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey Office. In this capacity, Maria oversaw all management, data user education, outreach and promotional efforts related to the survey.

Previously, Maria was the Director for Food Safety Education at USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) where she managed an award winning advertising, partnerships, events, social media and public relations campaign.  Maria also served as FEMA’s Office of External Affairs Executive Officer where she oversaw all financial management, procurement and human resources operations related to the office in charge of all communications efforts during national disasters.

Maria started her career at the U.S. Census Bureau as a Governmental Affairs Specialist at the Customer Liaison and Marketing Services Office and during the 2010 Census she was the Team Leader for Stakeholders Relations at the 2010 Census Publicity Office where she coordinated communication activities with key internal and external stakeholders for the campaign, and managed messaging and content for the Hispanic, Puerto Rico and immigrant populations.

Maria has a Master’s Degree in Public Opinion and Survey Research from the University of Connecticut, a Bachelor’s Degree Magna Cum Laude in Political Science with a minor in Communications from the University of Puerto Rico and a Master’s Certificate in Project Management for George Washington University.  She is the winner of USDA’s Cultural Transformation Award, the National Association of Government Communicator Blue Pencil Award, and the Web Health Award.