U.S. Senator-elect Joe Donnelly recently made two appointments to his staff.

Donnelly chose Elizabeth Shappell as his communications director and Ben Ray as his press secretary.

Shappell has been communications director for Donnelly’s House office, his 2010 re-election campaign and his Senate campaign. Donnelly, a Democrat, has represented Indiana’s 2nd District since 2007.

Shappell has worked for Donnelly since 2008. She is a native of Mishawaka and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.

In her new post, Shappell will be in charge of Donnelly’s communications and oversee the press-office team.

Ray has been press secretary of the Indiana Democratic Party since July 2011. He previously worked for a Senate campaign in Kentucky, for the South Carolina Democratic Party and in the non-profit community. He is a graduate of Centre College in Danville, Ky.