From flexible options and creative exploration; success is built on experiences.
Musical, creative and curious Brittany Foster Crampsie’s professional life is driven by curiosity and a desire to make a difference – for herself and those around her.
Crampsie, of Carlisle, Cumberland County, credits Lehigh University, its culture, academic flexibility and interdisciplinary harmony with supporting her ability to learn, grow, put into practice and contribute to the complex world of political discourse and dynamics of governmental communications.
“My undergraduate and graduate studies provided me with the theory behind what I’m doing –it was practical in real life. I took courses in state government American government and history at Lehigh, and those things informed the context of what I do now,” she explained.
Crampsie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Mass Communications with a Minor in Philosophy. She is the owner of Brit Crampsie Communications, LLC and a political analyst and contributor on regional Harrisburg cable television news programs.
Crampsie is a communications advocate, working to support Planned Parenthood. She was also part of probation reform initiatives signed into law in 2023. Her advocacy efforts include Pennsylvania's clean energy expansion initiatives and mental health care providers support for better accessibility and care to those in rural parts of the commonwealth.
“This business, Brit Crampsie Communications, LLC is about building the life I wanted,” she said.
Television
During her time at WFMZ 69 Crampsie wrote stories for their website coverage, a position that helped prepare her to work in front of a television camera more than 11 years after earning her master’s degree in 2013.
“When I was in graduate school I worked nights at WFMZ covering school board and political meetings. I was offered a full time job working on Pennsylvania campaigns and elections, and it was a great experience and network building,” she explained.
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Brittany Foster Crampsie
Owner of Brit Crampsie Communications, LLC
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“Bet on yourself, especially if you know you’re able and willing to do the work. I think everyone that’s going to Lehigh is pretty smart and a hard worker. I don’t know if I could have done what I’m doing now if I hadn’t done the work at Lehigh."
In addition to her consulting firm, Crampsie is regular on air contributor to Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) a call-in show featuring news, headlines, election coverage, and caller phone questions and remarks.
Similar to a radio talk show format the news program is an hour long segment set up to review and debate issues. It features a Republication and a Democrat as well as a rotating slate of guests. Election night coverage and live race data updates are part the program coverage, she said.
Crampsie does Sunday morning shows for CBS and ABC Nexstar Media stations, offering more political analysis broadcast via cable programming.
Press secretary and a global pandemic
From 2017 to 2021, Crampsie was the press secretary to Pennsylvania Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (Democrat; 43rd District). Costa’s district includes parts of Pittsburgh, East Hills and areas of Mon Valley and South Hills communities.
Her WFMZ experiences and a stint working as an independent consultant were part of the reason she was offered – and took on – the state government role.
During the advent of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, her tenure as press secretary was amplified.
“In that role during the pandemic essential services never shut down. It was such a high responsibility time for state government, guidance and programs. It was very intensive, communications with constituents and regulations…it was a wild time,” Crampsie reflected.
She said because there was no framework to address working during that interval and about five people were physically in person on voting days as most of the government was operating through virtual platforms.
“So many people were doing their absolute best to mitigate a situation we had never seen before. It was draining, humbling and eye-opening,” Crampsie explained.
In hindsight, she said the pandemic provided a fresh lens to view and prepare for future outbreaks, emergencies or widespread catastrophic situations.
As a digital native, Crampsie knew reaching people with accurate and timely resources and information meant a strategic change in approach. Her team had to find a way to meet people “where they were” and on the platforms and services where they consume news and information.
“A daily press conference streamed on cable TV may not be the best way to reach everyone,” Crampsie said.
She values using different approaches to provide information to as broad an audience as possible: from online services and TikTok to streaming services and digital town hall or town square formats and communities.
Producing and placing high quality video content on appropriate platforms became an important communications initiative during her time as press secretary – and a significant take away for her own business.
“Young people don’t watch cable news every day, they’re streaming,” she said.
“Different approaches, different routes, and getting people to trusted communities to make those messages. People feel more invested when they get the message first-hand where they hang out,” she said.
An opportunity to learn, explore and grow
Ready or not, most U.S. colleges and universities – including Lehigh –require students to declare a major sometime during their sophomore year.
Crampsie initially chose Lehigh because it provided a rare opportunity to use and share her musical talents without requiring her to be a music major or minor.
As a talented high school cellist, Crampsie wanted music in her collegiate life, without being tied to a music conservatory degree program.
“I got a music scholarship to Lehigh, and I knew I didn’t want to become a performer. I wanted to study journalism or political science,” Crampsie explains.
At Lehigh she got to do more than she expected.
During her undergraduate years Crampsie majored in Political Science, and minored in Mass Communications and Philosophy, while finding time for cello lessons and a seat in the Lehigh orchestra.
As a member of the Lehigh Student Senate and president of her honor society she tackled leadership roles while graduating in 2013 a semester ahead of schedule. She began her master’s degree early, applying and honing skills along with taking on a variety of internships.
Crampsie said she “made the most of her time at Lehigh” and credits those years with providing a wealth of opportunities.
“I took a lot of academic things I was interested in and what I liked about Lehigh was how accommodating it was there,” she said.
Crampsie’s advice to others is simple, and she borrows from Nike’s iconic slogan. “Just Do It” best describes her drive, her success and her advice to others.
“Bet on yourself, especially if you know you’re able and willing to do the work. I think everyone that’s going to Lehigh is pretty smart and a hard worker. I don’t know if I could have done what I’m doing now if I hadn’t done the work at Lehigh,” she said.