Amber Haskew: Communications Director

By Sarah Pride

Amber Haskew ('07) and husband, Mark

Amber Haskew calls her current job as Communications Director for Liberty Counsel “completely and totally a God-thing.” A 2007 PHC Journalism alumna, she had worked straight out of college as a reporter for a local radio station outside Baton Rouge, LA. When she got married in early 2009, she moved back to Lynchburg, VA to be with her husband and his new business. It took her six months to find a job—working as an accountant for a local furniture manufacturer.

“I really thought that if I followed God, He would bless me instantly with the perfect job,” shares Haskew. “While I was very grateful for a job, I was thinking, this is not what I want to do with the rest of my life.”

One day, however, her phone rang. The voice on the other end of the line belonged to Anita Staver, president of a non-profit group called the Liberty Counsel, who asked Haskew if she would like to meet for lunch to discuss the job of Communications Director for the organization. They had found one of the resumes Haskew had submitted months before.

“Naturally, you dress a little differently as an accountant than as a Communications Director, so I asked if we could meet for lunch the next day instead,” relates Haskew. “But [Staver] was going to be gone on a trip. So I had a 24-hour window to interview. It was completely orchestrated by God.”

Amber Haskew at her PHC commencement

At her new job, Haskew often fields calls from the New York Times or other major news outlets. She drafts press releases about the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious freedom—whatever cases Liberty Counsel is handling—and writes or researches the copy for two radio shows. The non-profit litigation, education, and policy organization also wants to expand into video production some time in the near future, as resources permit.

“It did take two years to finally come to this position, which is such a blessing from God,” says Haskew. “I do see how training from the last two jobs has helped me do this job so much better.”

Haskew also cites her Patrick Henry College education as an essential element in her preparation. Along with the fact that PHC Chancellor Dr. Michael Farris gave Liberty Counsel a helpful call on her behalf. Haskew says that the core curriculum helped give her a foundation in life, developing her worldview.

“I really see PHC as a critical stepping stone to get to this position, as I don’t think I would be here without the training I got from the school,” she says.

Note to alumni: If you would like to share your story with the Patrick Henry College community, email David Halbrook or Sarah Pride, and we will arrange an interview by phone or email.