Skills:

• Writing and editing, including knowledge of AP Style and MLA.
• XHTML, CSS, WordPress, other content management systems and some JavaScript.
• Social media including Facebook, Google+ (50+ in circles), Twitter (430+ followers), Goodreads, blogging and e-mail marketing.
• Adobe Creative Suit including Photoshop and InDesign; and Microsoft Office.
• Experience with Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems.
• Photography and some graphic design.
• Conversational Spanish and some Japanese.

Writing/Editing Experience:
Frontiers Travel, Editorial Intern, January-April 2012
Edit copy for Condé Nast Traveler-recognized travel agency. Work with specialized travel agents to develop their voices and styles to create compelling e-mail and web marketing campaigns.

The Northside Chronicle, Staff Writer, 2009-2010; Assistant Editor, 2010-2011
Managed community newspaper’s online and social media presences, recruited and mentored interns, assigned and edited news stories, reported on and wrote news stories and create and send weekly online editions. Promoted from staff writer to assistant editor in 2010.

The Figment Blog, Book Reviewer, October 2010-May 2011
Wrote monthly young adult book review for teen writing website.

The Pitt News, Copy Editor, 2006-2007; Staff Writer, 2008-2009
Edited and revised articles for grammar, spelling, AP Style and structure. Reported and wrote newsworthy articles for student newspaper, generated weekly story ideas as University beat writer and worked closely with Pitt’s Public Affairs office on stories.

Teaching Experience:
Graduate Writing Mentor, September 2011-Present
Mentor undergraduate students at Chatham University one-on-one to help them improve their academic writing. I work with first year students and transfer students as part of the for-credit Supplemental Instruction program and give grades based on progress in writing and participation.

Fiction Writing Workshop Series, October 2010
Designed and taught a free and open to the public workshop on the elements of fiction craft at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Four sessions covered character, setting, plot and overcoming writing challenges.

Travel Writing Workshop, May 2010
Designed and taught a three-session workshop to high school students at the Winchester-Thurston school. Students explored travel through words and photographs and learned how to workshop and how to revise.

Travel Writing Workshop, May 2009
Co-designed and co-taught a five-session workshop to high school students at the Winchester-Thurston school with writer Faith Adiele. Students explored travel through objects, photos and experience and learned how to workshop and how to revise.

Volunteer Experience:
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Friend of the Allegheny Branch, January 2011-Present
Help plan and create events for the community, volunteer at events, collect books for book sales to benefit the library, advocate for library to local and state politicians.

National Novel Writing Month, Volunteer, 2009-Present
In 2009 raised funds for literary nonprofit that promotes writing in classrooms and everyday life. In 2010 collected 3,300 books for book sale that benefited the Young Writer’s Program. In 2011 beta tested a new website for the organization.

Education and Research Experience:
Chatham University, May 2013 (expected graduation)
Master of Fine Arts in Fiction Writing
Concentrations in Teaching Creative Writing and Travel Writing
Current GPA: 3.89

University of Pittsburgh, April 2009
Bachelor of Philosophy in English Writing
Certificates in West European Studies (focus on Spain) and East Asian Studies (focus on Japan)
GPA: 3.81

Bachelor of Philosophy Undergraduate Thesis, 2008-2009
Title: España: An Experiment in Cross-Genre Writing
Thesis Committee: Leslie Rubinkowski (chair), Irina Reyn, Geeta Kothari, Michele Morano
España, a 124-page hybrid travel memoir/short story collection explores themes of spirituality and storytelling through a first hand account of a month spent in Spain studying Cervantes, and short fictions positioned throughout the work.

Brackenridge Fellowship, Summer 2008
Project: Nonfiction aspects of España
This three-month fellowship brought undergraduate students from many disciplines together to share their projects and research. Each student presented and wrote a final reflective paper on the experience.

Universidad de Alcalá de Henares (Spain), July 2007
Study abroad courses in “Cervantes and His Works” and “Spanish Art History”
GPA: 4.0