Special Skills
See below for more detailed information on my experience.
Writing, Editing, Content Strategy
As the editor-in-chief of The McDaniel Free Press for two years, I managed and oversaw an editorial staff through a global pandemic, a presidential shift on the national and campus wide scale, and so much more. In addition to writing countless stories, I managed editorial operations, including creating and maintaining a print schedule, assigning and editing stories, and working with contributors and staff reporters to develop their reporting and writing skills. I worked with budding staff reporters and offered support in the form of weekly meetings, editor office hours, and AP workshops. I wrote and submitted a financial budget for the 2022-2023 school year, and adjusted advertising rates accordingly to reflect covid-19. In the way of advertising, I became comfortable reaching out to community partners and college administration to purchase advertisements in our print issues and on our website. I became proficient in Adobe InDesign, the program used to format our monthly print issues, as well as multiple Outlook programs, which I used to communicate with and give feedback to writers. I also led an initiative to increase engagement by revamping the outdated logo, purchasing a new banner to hang over the office door, and improving our social media presence.
As an editorial intern for i+D Magazine, the official bi-monthly publication for the American Society of Interior Designers, I got a special glimpse into the inner workings of a small publication during a complete print issue cycle. Reporting directly to the editor-in-chief, I got to work with and learn about the various responsibilities of the editorial team, receive feedback on my work, and write two pieces for the July/August print issue.
Contract and Grant Writing
As a writing intern for the Carroll County Habitat for Humanity Restore, I assisted the ReStore as they geared up for their grand opening. I wrote the facility rental policy for their Innovation Class and Conference room, as well as wrote and researched multiple ‘green’ grants to fund the replacement of the store’s fluorescent lights with LED lighting. I also worked on a social media campaign for International Women Build Week, and led a presentation raising awareness on the impacts of housing insecurity for women to a panel of stakeholders and community members.