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EDUCATION
University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, Arkansas

Master of Arts, Professional and Technical Writing

Technical Writing Concentration

Graduated: December 2014. GPA: 4.0

As a graduate student in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing, focused on broadening skills as a writer and communicator through a wide variety of classes. Studied topics including rhetoric, linguistics, document design, pedagogy, and technical communication. Learned new technical skills to complement growing writing ability, gained teaching experience, and continued to refine editing abilities.

Curriculum Vitae                                                                          
WRITING, EDITING & COMMUNICATIONS EXPERIENCE
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas

Editor

August 2017  Present

Responsibilities include: Edit, proofread, and rewrite grant applications and academic manuscripts for scientific researchers as part of team of editors under UAMS' Science Communication Group. Provide researchers with feedback and suggestions on flow and clarity of written materials. Ensure grant applications persuasively sell research plans and manuscripts make arguments effectively.

General Dynamics Health Solutions, Little Rock, Arkansas

Technical Writer

May 2016 August 2017

Responsibilities included: Used skills built as a writer, editor, and communicator as well as knowledge gained in previous positions to serve GDHS' Medicaid contract with state of Arkansas. Prepared white papers and presentations on Episodes of Care and Patient Centered Medical Homes programs. Ensured quarterly provider reports met Quality Assurance standards. Reviewed and assisted in updating business requirements documentation. Prepared documents and presentations for publication, conference submission, or business proposal. Performed other tasks as assigned.

FanRag Sports, Online

Copy Editor

September 2016  August 2017

Responsibilities included: Copy-edited articles on college football, college basketball, and other sports for FanRag Sports and predecessor sites Today's U and Today's Pigskin on a freelance basis, using years of journalism experience and sports knowledge to polish articles for online publication.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Little Rock, Arkansas

Technical Writer/Editor

May 2015  May 2016

Responsibilities included: Used skills built as a writer, editor, and communicator to serve HPE’s Medicaid contract with the state of Arkansas. Edited quarterly PCMH Detailed Business Requirements documentation. Produced letters to providers. Prepared proposals and presentations for client and other stakeholders. Performed other tasks as needed.

Raymond James Little Rock, Little Rock, Arkansas

Social Media Consultant

August 2014 – March 2015

Responsibilities included: Gave advice on how to use social media to communicate company’s message and manage its brand utilizing the Hearsay Social tool. Taught social media skills to financial advisors with varying levels of digital experience. Helped set up appropriate social media accounts for external business communications use.

UALR Department of Rhetoric and Writing, Little Rock, Arkansas

Editorial Consultant

May 2013 – December 2014

Responsibilities included: Edited department website using Wordpress. Edited custom-textbook content and newsletter for Composition program. Assisted Director of Composition in planning for regional composition conference, including editing of conference website and printed program. Took on other editing tasks as needed for department faculty and staff. Contracted individually with faculty, students, and university community members to edit professional materials such as journal submissions, fiction and nonfiction pieces, and internal program proposals.

Writing Program Administration Journal, Little Rock, Arkansas

Assistant Editor

January 2014 – December 2014

Responsibilities included: Edited manuscripts approved for publication by a blind peer-review board. Ensured voice and style choices consistent with journal's guidelines. Assisted editors of journal with content management and preparation, contributing years of editorial expertise during journal's first publication cycle under management by a new department and university.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, Arkansas

Copy Editor

November 2006 – October 2012

Responsibilities included: Edited news and business articles for statewide publication in newspaper with daily circulation of 180,000 (270,000 on Sundays). Edited articles in NewsEdit Pro, proofread pages, and compiled wire stories on deadline. Occasionally checked final versions of the paper at the printing press.

Image Magazine, Fort Worth, Texas

Managing Editor, Copy Editor, Contributing Writer

August 2003 – May 2006

Responsibilities included: Managed staff of 10–15 for quarterly student magazine with circulation of 6,000. Planned issues and ran budget meetings, reported to the editor in chief. Made and gave input on editorial decisions. Edited feature articles, editorial columns, and other content. Wrote and edited headlines, proofread pages, and worked to meet press deadlines. Occasionally wrote reviews.

TCU Daily Skiff, Fort Worth, Texas

Associate Editor, Copy Desk Chief, Copy Editor, Staff Reporter, Writer

August 2002 – May 2006

Responsibilities included: Edited news articles and editorial columns for publication in a daily student newspaper with circulation of 6,000. Wrote and edited headlines, proofread pages on deadline, and managed daily use of wire services. Managed staff of 10–20 copy editors, and helped manage other staff members. Made and gave input on editorial decisions. Covered administration beat and general assignment shifts. Gathered news information and generated news articles, feature articles and editorial columns. Maintained in-house stylebook.

Alliance Newspapers, Southlake, Texas

Copy Editor

October 2006 – November 2006

Responsibilities included: Proofread pages on deadline for group of related weekly community newspapers owned by Fort Worth Star-Telegram once a week.

The Community News, Aledo, Texas

Staff Intern

May 2005 – August 2005

Responsibilities included: Covered towns of Annetta and Annetta North and Parker County Commissioners Court as a reporter for a weekly community newspaper with circulation of 3,000. Gathered news information and wrote news articles, profiles and features. Edited news articles and editorial columns. Wrote and edited headlines, proofread pages on deadline.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Huntington Learning Center, Little Rock, Arkansas

ACT Tutor

March 2015 – Present

Responsibilities include: Teach high school students in and near Little Rock the ins and outs of taking the ACT for college admission and scholarships, specializing in the Reading and English portions of the test. Also teach study skills or subject tutoring in writing or other subjects when needed.

University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service,
Little Rock, Arkansas
Writing Tutor

September 2014 – August 2017

Responsibilities included: Coached students in a master's degree program in public service on how to write. Used skills built as a teacher, tutor, and student to help those students learn to express themselves and their ideas about public service.

UALR Department of Rhetoric and Writing, Little Rock, Arkansas
Graduate Teaching Assistant

January 2014 – December 2014

Responsibilities included: Taught the first-semester course in UALR's Composition program. Conducted workshop-style class covering rhetorical knowledge, critical thinking, and composition in multiple genres, modes, and environments, with an eye toward the Writing Program Administrators learning outcomes.

Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy at UALR,
Little Rock, Arkansas

Composition Instructor

July 2014

Responsibilities included: Worked on a team of faculty members and students to help incoming freshmen improve language skills, including reading and writing, for ACT Compass academic placement test and general preparation for college coursework. Led students in activities to enhance literacy levels, including writing projects and discussions of readings. Devised hands-on activities to explain writing mechanics.

University Writing Center at UALR, Little Rock, Arkansas

Graduate Assistant, Volunteer

August 2012 – May 2014

Responsibilities included: Tutored UALR students in writing, with an emphasis on content, process, and critical thinking skills. Helped manage staff of 15-20 undergraduate and graduate interns. Kept Mac computers up to date. Assisted staff and student clients with technology troubleshooting. Assisted director with community outreach activities.

Charles W. Donaldson Summer Bridge Academy at UALR,
Little Rock, Arkansas

Graduate Writing Mentor

July 2013

Responsibilities included: Worked on a team of 12 faculty members and students to help incoming freshmen shore up language skills, including reading and writing, for ACT Compass academic placement test. Explained writing mechanics, helped students understand structure of Compass test, and assisted with testing practice.

Private Tutor, Keller, Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas

Math Tutor

September 2000 – December 2001; September 2014 – Present

Responsibilities include: Tutor individual students in subjects ranging from high school algebra and geometry to college and graduate school writing.

Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas

Bachelor of Science, News-Editorial Journalism

Minor in History

Graduated: May 2006. GPA: 3.3

As an undergraduate student in the Schieffer School of Journalism, focused on print journalism and related topics, including intersections of mass media with law, ethics, politics, and public affairs. Spent four years editing and writing for Student Publications in a variety of positions developing understanding of the kind of work a journalist is expected to do and honing skills needed for job market.

REFERENCES

Dr. Sherry Rankins-Robertson,

       Associate Vice Chancellor of

       Student Success, Retention,

       and Online and Extended

       Learning, University of

       Arkansas at Little Rock:

       501.569.3204,

       sjrobertson@ualr.edu

 

Dr. Allison Holland, Director Emeritus,

       University Writing Center,

       University of Arkansas at Little

       Rock: 501.569.8311,

       adholland@ualr.edu

Stephen Raborn, Senior Vice

       President, Investments, and

       Branch Manager, Raymond

       James Little Rock: 501.558.4000,

       stephen.raborn@raymondjames.com
 

Dr. Michael Kleine, Professor Emeritus 

       of Rhetoric and Writing, University

       of Arkansas at Little Rock:

       501.569.8318,

       mwkleine@ualr.edu

Amy Barnes, Associate Professor of

       Mass Communication, University

       of Arkansas at Little Rock:

       501.569.3250, aobarnes@ualr.edu
 

Dr. Beverly Horvit, Assistant

       Professor, University of

       Missouri School of Journalism:

       573.882.0880,

       horvitb@missouri.edu

Sandra Tyler, News Editor,

       Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:

       501.378.3886,

       styler@arkansasonline.com

HONORS & AWARDS

Rhetoric & Writing Department Award

       UALR, Rhetorical Theory

       2013

CQ Award for Copy Desk Excellence

       Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

       2007 – 2008

TCU Dean's List

       2002, 2004

TCU Chancellor's Scholar

       2002 – 2006

National Merit Scholar

       2002

Eagle Scout

       Boy Scouts of America

       Troop 170, Keller, Texas

       2002

PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS

American Medical Writers

       Association, member,

       2017–Present

Society of Professional Journalists,

       member, 2014–Present,

       2003–2006

       TCU Chapter Treasurer, 2005

National Council of Teachers of

       English, member, 20142015

Conference on College Composition

       and Communication, member,

       2014–2015

Council of Writing Program

       Administrators, member,

       2014–2015


American Copy Editors Society,

       member, 2014–2015

Delta Epsilon Iota Academic

       Honors Society, UALR chapter,

       member, 2014–Present

Phi Alpha Theta History Honors

       Society, TCU chapter, member,

       2005–Present

COURSEWORK

Advanced Editing

Composition Theory

Computer Assisted Information

       Gathering

Copy Editing

Digital Rhetoric

Document Design

Grant Writing

Information Graphics

International Communication

Introduction to Programming

Language Theory

Media and Politics

Media Law and Ethics

Opinion Writing

Persuasive Writing

Public Affairs Reporting

Public Relations for 21st Century

       Nonprofits

Public Relations Writing

Reporting

Rhetorical Theory

Science & Sustainability Writing

Software Documentation

Teaching Practicum

Technical Communication Theory

Writing and Video Games

Writing for Children, Teens, and

       Families

Writing on the Web

DIGITAL SKILLS

Adobe Creative Suite

Adobe RoboHelp

Construct 2

Facebook

Google Docs

Google Maps

Hearsay Social

HTML/CSS

Mac OS

MediaSpan NewsEdit Pro

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Windows

Prezi

Slack

SnagIt

Social and New Media

Twitter

Wix

Wordpress

2010 - present

2010 - present

PRESENTATIONS

Arkansas Education Association Conference, Fall 2014
       Presented on assignment design incorporating WPA outcomes and explaining WPA outcomes to

       students

Southern Regional Composition Conference, Spring 2014

       Co-presented with Dr. Michael Kleine and Dr. Jeremy Ecke on code-awareness and teaching of

       grammar and mechanics in the composition classroom

African American Male Initiative Conference, UALR, Spring 2014 Co-presented with Dr. Sherry

       Rankins-Robertson on code-switching in the composition classroom

Southern Regional Composition Conference, Spring 2015
       Co-presented with Deana Nall on using the convergence of our backgrounds in journalism and

       rhetoric and writing in the composition classroom through a letter to the editor assignment
 

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