Bio

Patti Mulligan is the Communications Director and a member of the Executive Committee for the Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Center at NC State University. She leads strategic communications, public engagement, and external affairs for a nationally recognized interdisciplinary research center working at the intersection of biotechnology, policy, ethics, and society.

Since joining NC State in 2017, Mulligan has advised Center leadership and faculty on communications strategy, messaging, and reputational risk—particularly for politically and socially contested areas of science and innovation. She oversees the Center’s communications ecosystem, including the website, newsletter, reports, social media, multimedia content, and public events, translating complex interdisciplinary research for public, policy, and professional audiences.

Mulligan has played a central role in planning and promoting high-profile lectures, workshops, exhibitions, and a long-running hybrid colloquium series, cumulatively reaching 10,000+ participants over the years. She also provides communications leadership for large, externally funded initiatives totaling $30M+, and develops systems and workflows that support continuity and institutional knowledge within a lean research center.

Prior to joining GES, Mulligan served as Operations Director for the North Carolina Democratic Party’s 2016 Coordinated Campaign and as Director of eGiving for United Way of the Greater Triangle. She received the NC State Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in 2020.

Awards

• NC State Chancellor’s Award for Excellence (2020)
• Office of Research and Innovation Award for Excellence (2019)