Hello! For the past nearly two years, I’ve been working as a communications specialist in the Office of the Provost at the University of Georgia. Across multiple mediums including news releases, newsletters, print materials, social media and website edits, I develop content that promotes the activities and initiatives of the Provost’s Office and its reporting units. I also serve as the office’s communications liaison to the UGA Arts Council and lead the communication and promotion efforts for the annual Spotlight on the Arts festival.

Prior to working at UGA, I was the online editor at Vox Magazine while completing my journalism master’s degree. In that role, I managed the publication’s digital brand by working with the editorial team to shape content from pitch to publish throughout the story process. I also managed and collaborated with student writers, editors and social media producers to produce content for Vox’s website, social platforms and newsletters. Things that I’m passionate about include the integrity of news content and building relationships between writers, editors and the communities they serve.

I worked as an assistant city editor for the Columbia Missourian, where I managed and led a team of general assignment reporters. Additionally, I’ve held multiple editing roles in the digital, print and social media spaces for both the Columbia Missourian and Vox Magazine. I also worked as a teaching assistant positions for courses on magazine editing, the history of American journalism and a writing intensive honors course.

Before starting my graduate work in journalism, I completed an English literature degree with a minor in writing that deepened my love for books and the complexities of words. I believe in the power of language to build connections and depict our collective humanity in compelling and deeply personal ways.

Education

  • University of Missouri (M.A.)

    2020 – 2022

    Master’s degree, Missouri School of Journalism

    Focus on Magazine Editing

    Summa Cum Laude

  • Andrews University (B.A.)

    2016 – 2020

    Bachelor’s degree, School of Arts & Sciences

    Major in English literature, minor in writing

    Summa Cum Laude and J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar

Experience

Communications Specialist

October 2022 – Present | Athens, Georgia

As the communications specialist in the University of Georgia Office of the Provost, I create a variety of content across mediums including news releases, social media, website content, email newsletters and printed materials. I am the office’s communications liaison to the UGA Arts Council and lead a monthly meeting with UGA arts communicators. I also create and execute the communication and promotion efforts for the annual Spotlight on the Arts Festival.

 

Online editor

January 2022 – May 2022 | Columbia, Missouri

As the online editor at Vox Magazine, a local award-winning city magazine, I collaborated with the print editorial team and edited all online-only content for the publication’s website. In this role I also supervised and mentored student writers and editors as they pitched, reported, edited and produced Vox’s digital content for its website, social platforms and newsletters.

 

Staff editor

August 2021 – December 2021 | Columbia, Missouri

During my time as a staff editor for Vox Magazine’s Arts & Culture department, I pitched, edited and fact checked department stories and features for the magazine’s print publication. For each story, I worked with writers and the editorial and creative teams to shape the story from an idea to the final printed version.

 

Assistant city editor

May 2021 – August 2021 | Columbia, Missouri

In this role at the Columbia Missourian, I assigned stories to a team of general assignment reporters and worked with them to refine and polish their stories during the editing process. I also helped the city editors by keeping an eye out for breaking news, monitoring local news outlets, answering reader questions and requests for information and listening to the local police and EMS scanner.

Digital editor

January 2021 – May 2021 | Columbia, Missouri

As a digital editor for Vox Magazine’s Arts & Culture department, I worked to produce content for the publication’s website and social platforms. This involved pitching, reporting and writing online-only stories, gathering content for newsletters and developing posts, stories and videos for Vox’s Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok. I also monitored analytics for the website and social platforms and produced reports with recommendations to improve engagement and growth.

 

Copy editor

May 2021 – August 2021 | Columbia, Missouri

During this role at the Columbia Missourian, I worked closely with the news editors to copy edit the newspaper’s print and digital content for proper grammar, usage and local and AP style. I also pulled and edited wire stories and wrote social posts for the Missourian’s Twitter and Facebook.

 

Staff reporter

August 2020 – January 2021 | Columbia, Missouri

For six months, I reported on K-12 and higher education in mid-Missouri for the Columbia Missourian. This involved writing over 35 stories including breaking news stories, profiles of local educators, centerpiece features and extensive coverage of the local school board.

 

Teaching assistant

August 2020 – December 2021 | Columbia, Missouri

During my first year and a half in graduate school, I worked as a teaching assistant for two Missouri School of Journalism courses on magazine editing and the history of American journalism. As the magazine editing teaching assistant, I graded copy editing and proofreading assignments and taught a weekly 50-minute discussion session to explain key concepts, answer questions and review graded work. For the history of American journalism course, I graded student writing for historical accuracy in fact and context and the clarity of the argument.

 

Student writer

August 2017 – August 2020 | Berrien Springs, Michigan

While completing my undergraduate degree at Andrews University, I worked as a writer for the Office of University Communication. In this role, I wrote press releases, features and profiles of university alumni, faculty, staff and students for the university’s news site and alumni magazine. I also produced and managed content for the university’s events calendar and social media accounts.

Skills

  • Copyediting, AP style, proofreading, grammar and usage, digital literacy, news judgement, press release writing, SEO and headline writing.

  • Social News Desk, Mail Chimp, TweetDeck, Google Analytics, Parse.ly, Wordpress, Squarespace, BLOX CMS, GAIL, Modern Campus CMS, HTML, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok.

  • Leadership, attention to detail, organization, problem-solving, punctual, reliable, teamwork and collaboration, innovative, self-starter, strong interpersonal communication and adaptable.