Abilene Christian University | Abilene, Texas

Communications Coordinator, Advancement | August 2015 – October 2020

• Oversaw the comprehensive strategy and implementation of ACU's advancement communication needs, including alumni and donor relations, solicitations, and event marketing and management.

• Wrote, edited, and oversaw creative direction for content both in print (publications, invitations, postcards) and digital (graphics, emails, registration pages, UX writing, blogs, social media, website material, videos) formats.

• Assisted with strategy and wrote the first draft of case statement for university’s upcoming comprehensive campaign, in addition to other campaign collateral.

• Chief writer for advancement-related material in the university magazine ACU Today and The ACU Foundation’s Legacy newsletter.

• Helped build the university’s award-winning Day of Giving annual fundraising event.

• Served as creative lead for other major university events and campaigns.

• Created and operated ACU Alumni Instagram account and oversaw content for geographically targeted Facebook pages.

• Ran weekly team meetings with content creators and data analysts to determine and manage ACU's editorial calendar.

• Led the creative process for Alumni & Friends website redesign and maintained its creative content.

• Oversaw hiring of Communications Specialist.

Freelance Features Writer | 2005 – 2008

• Researched and wrote four feature stories for the university magazine, ACU Today, on a variety of topics, from a group of Malagasy students who came to Abilene to study to alumni making their way in the worlds of music and media.

Abilene Scene | Abilene, Texas

Freelance Writer | January 2017 – July 2019

Wrote a variety of features, including several cover stories, and columns for Abilene Scene, the city’s culture magazine.

Wells Fargo | San Antonio, Texas

Procedure Writer | July 2013 – August 2015

• (Classified as Business Process Analyst after five months.) Responsible for completing process analysis, evaluations, and implementation of process improvements for Wells Fargo's Consumer Lending Group.

• Acted as liaison to business lines to ensure new products and services were compatible with current processes and designs.

• Redesigned processes to adapt to product, service, or technology changes and to ensure compliance with corporate standards.

• Created and published process workflows and web content.

Loan Servicing Specialist, Customer Support | March 2012 – July 2013

• Responsible for responding to written inquiries from customers, title companies and attorneys regarding loans.

• Handled elevated inquiries for the Office of the President.

• Created and updated Loan Servicing department policy and procedures, working alongside Technical Writers and Customer Contact Change Management team members.

• Led training sessions with team members on updated policies and procedures, in addition to offering floor support throughout each work day.

• Awards earned: Employee of the Month, January 2013; Team Member of the Month, January 2013.

• Promoted from Level II to Level III in less than a year.

TimesDaily | Florence, Alabama

Features Staff Writer | November 2009 – January 2012

• Helped oversee daily content of Lifestyle section, writing feature stories and columns, and designing and editing the section.

• Crafted stories with an eye for community outreach, online accessibility, and keyword optimization.

• Scheduled and posted local and wire stories for online publication with a focus on driving traffic.

Media Desk Editor | May 2008 – November 2009

• Designed the front page and local section and sport section fronts — as well as inside pages — daily.

• Edited copy, wrote headlines, and selected art with a focus on grabbing digital and print readers.

• Ran the media desk and performed end-of-night press check when in charge of 1A section.

• Filmed, edited, and uploaded videos for TimesDaily.com.

Abilene Reporter-News | Abilene, Texas

Copy Editor and Features Writer | May 2006 – April 2008

• Edited copy and wrote headlines for the Life sections with a focus on optimizing readers across platforms.

• Wrote feature stories related to arts and entertainment as well as the local art scene.

• Co-created weekly entertainment section and crafted content for it.

• Co-wrote the instruction manual and trained colleagues on new printing operating systems.

• Served as Acting Online Editor from October 2007 to April 2008, balancing digital content with user needs with a focus on SEO.

Special Correspondent | May 2004 - June 2004

• Reported from Washington, D.C., as part of an internship program with the Summer Institute of Journalism. Events covered include the dedication of the National World War II Memorial and President Reagan’s funeral.

Pajiba.com

Staff Writer, Television Critic | Fall 2008 - Spring 2017

• Wrote television reviews and critical essays for Pajiba.com. Covered the SXSW Film Festival for multiple years.

International Justice Mission | Washington, D.C.

Communications Intern | June 2005 - August 2005

• Crafted and edited creative projects and cultivated media relations. Crafted content for global news bulletin with more than 25,000 subscribers. Prepared agency attorneys for congressional hearings.

Paul Quinn College | Dallas, Texas

Adjunct Instructor, Fundraising and Philanthropy | August 2020 – December 2020

Taught asynchronous online course in Alumni and Donor Relations.