County Administrator John A. Budesky is pleased to announce the appointment of Kristin Smith Dunlop as Director of Communications and Community Engagement for Hanover County. Dunlop, a veteran journalist who most recently worked for Henrico County Public Relations, begins her new role February 1.

During her four years as a Public Relations Specialist, Dunlop enhanced Henrico’s social media presence, including adding that County to platforms such as Instagram and Nextdoor. She also hosted Henrico’s news show and podcast. 

In addition to writing news releases and feature stories for the web, Dunlop specialized in media relations and served as the media liaison for the mass vaccination efforts at Richmond Raceway. 

Before getting into public relations, Dunlop had an award-winning career in television news, including five years at WRIC-TV. Well-known for her storytelling abilities, her work appeared on NBC, ABC, CNN, HGTV and VH1.

“My entire career has focused on sharing information that impacts people,” Dunlop said. “I believe clear, honest and transparent communication is essential to build trust, solid relationships and a better future for Hanover County.”

“We are excited to add Kristin to our team,” Budesky said. “Communication and engagement with our citizens are among our very top priorities and having a person with Kristin’s skills and experience at the head of this department will greatly enhance our efforts.”

A graduate of the University of Missouri, Dunlop earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Prior to coming to the Richmond area, she worked as a broadcast journalist in Tucson, Cleveland and Detroit.

She looks forward to connecting with the Hanover County community.

“I see so much untapped potential,” she said. “To be able to join the team and build upon it is a tremendous opportunity. I want to give Hanover residents and businesses reason to be proud, but I also think it’s important we share what makes Hanover so special with people throughout central Virginia.”