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Resume

Michigan State University College of Communication Arts and Sciences

Academic Specialist | School of Journalism, 2020-current

  • Program and curriculum development for co-curricular activities for the College of Communication Arts and Sciences

  • Instruct and manage curricular and co-curricular experiences

  • Grant and program reporting

  • Oversee Street Teams, groups of students who create award-winning communications for Lansing-area nonprofits

  • Instruct a large format class on creativity, human-centered design and entrepreneurship

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Michigan State University College of Communication Arts and Sciences Media Sandbox

Adjunct Faculty | Project Manager, 2017-2019

  • Oversee interdisciplinary Street Teams that partner with local nonprofits to develop media projects 

  • Develop and instruct CAS 396: Los Angeles Field Experience

 
Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Department of Forestry

Communications Coordinator, 2016-2017

  • Writer, editor, and designer of the MSU Forester

  • Developing and executing communications strategies, campaigns, publications and other materials for the Department of Forestry and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

  • Social media management

  • Researching news stories, interviewing individuals, and collecting information for publications and articles

  • Coordinating special events and presentations

 

League of Michigan Bicyclists

Communications and Development Coordinator, 2015-2016

  • Part of a team that works to advocate for policies that make Michigan a more bicycle-friendly state

  • Grant writing and reporting

  • Content development (including story writing and photography), copy editing and design for Michigan Bicyclist magazine

  • Online and print communications

  • Membership and donor recruitment and retention

 
The Robin Theatre

Co-founder and Artistic Director, 2014-current

  • The Robin Theatre is a community and socially engaged arts center for visual and performing arts in REO Town, Lansing

 
REACH Studio Art Center

Education Director, 2011-2014

  • Part of a team that oversaw multidisciplinary program development, management and evaluation for more than 1,400 students (regularly attending once a week)

  • Grant writing and reporting

  • Volunteer recruitment, training, and management

  • Community engagement

  • Facility expansion planning 

    • Worked with a team to expand from a 1,200 sq ft property to a 10,000 sq ft arts center

  • Creator of a youth-driven public art initiative

  • Communications and marketing

  • Recruitment and training of guest artist mentors and educators

  • Recruitment and training of interns and new staff

  • Fundraising and event planning

  • Partnerships with the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University to give at-risk youth access to world-class modern art

 

AmeriCorps 

Volunteer In Service To America (VISTA), 2009-2011

  • Grant writing and reporting

  • Program development

    • NorthWest Initiative Photo Program: teaching literacy through photography to underserved youth

    • Gardner Photo Program: supporting youth with an incarcerated parent or family member

  • Volunteer recruitment, training, and management

  • Event planning  

  • Communications and marketing 

 
The Flint Journal 

Photojournalist, 2007-2008

  • Daily news and sports coverage in Flint, and long-term documentary photojournalism

  • National Press Photographer's Association: Second Place Documentary Story, January 2008

  • Michigan Press Photographer's Association: Documentary Story of the Year, 2008

 
The Detroit Free Press

Freelance photojournalist, 2006, 2009

  • Daily news and sports coverage for Lansing, Detroit, and Flint

 
The Jackson Citizen Patriot

Intern photojournalist, fall 2006

  • Multimedia production, daily features, news and sports coverage, plus feature writing

Skills

Project management

Multidisciplinary curriculum development

Community outreach

Event planning

Program development and evaluation

Grant writing and reporting

Photoshop

InDesign

Multimedia storytelling

Photojournalism

Languages

American Sign 

English

Selected Grant Awards

  • 2015 Office of Highway and Safety Planning Grant Program for Share MI Roads

  • 2014 Capital Area United Way Women’s Leadership Initiative

  • 2013 and 2014 Community Reinvestment Fund (Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council, US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, Mid-Michigan Program for Greater Sustainability)

  • 2013 Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs Program for Operational and Project Support

  • 2012 Lansing Public Media Center Grant

  • 2011 Capital Region Community Foundation Impact Grant

  • 2011, 2012 and 2013 Capital Region Community Foundation Youth Action Committee

  • 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Sense of Place Grant (City of Lansing, Lansing Economic Area Partnership, Lansing Economic Development Corporation, and the Arts Council of Greater Lansing) 

  • 2010 Promoting Arts Integration in Teaching Standards, or P.A.I.N.T.S. Grant (Arts in Education/U.S. Department of Education)

  • 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013 Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs New Leaders Grant 

  • 2009 Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Board Grant Program

The State News

Photo Editor, spring 2006; Staff Photographer 2006, 2009

  • Staff management and photo assignment coordinator 

  • Photo selection and pre-press production of images

  • Michigan Press Photographer's Association: College Photographer of the Year, 2007 and 2006

  • Michigan Press Photographer's Association: Documentary Story of the Year, Second Place, 2006

    • Third place, 2007

  • Hearst Journalism Award, 2006

  • Associated Collegiate Press, 1st Place Online Multimedia Package, 2006

Michigan State University
Master of Arts in Education (4.0 GPA), 2014 

 

Michigan State University
Bachelor of Arts, Journalism (with high honors),  2006

  • Michigan Press Photographer's Association: College Photographer of the Year, 2007 and 2006

  • Michigan Press Photographer's Association: Documentary Story of the Year - second place, 2006 and third place, 2007

  • Hearst Journalism Award, 2006

  • Associated Collegiate Press, 1st Place Online Multimedia Package, 2006

"Abandoned Buildings/A Band in Buildings" Public Access Television Show,
2012-2014

  • Co-Creator/Program Manager for a Lansing arts and music show

  • A mentoring opportunity for teens to learn about filming, editing and producing video

  • Showcases local musicians and artists in the backdrop of properties ready for redevelopment

 
Ruth Ellis Center Youth Photography Show at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, 2012

  • Guest Artist 

  • A mentoring opportunity for homeless LGBT youth to learn about photography and participate in a professional exhibition

 
Gardner Photo Program: supporting youth with an incarcerated parent or family member, 2009-2011

  • Creator/Program Manager

  • Worked with volunteers and the MSU Diversion Project to use digital photography and help reconnect youth with their families 

 
NorthWest Initiative Photo Program: teaching literacy and photography to underserved youth, 2009-2010

  • Creator/Program Manager

  • Worked with a team of volunteers to help more than 60 youth increase their literacy skills

  • "Cameras in the Capital City" Exhibition

 

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