EDUCATION
SUL ROSS STATE UNIVERSITY, ALPINE, TX
Currently pursuing M.S. in Biology, GPA: 4.00
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AUSTIN, TX
Graduate work in Journalism, Fall 2004 - Spring 2005, GPA: 4.00
RICE UNIVERSITY, HOUSTON, TX
B.A. IN ANTHROPOLOGY, CUM LAUDE, JANUARY 2004, GPA: 3.79
Jameson Fellowship in American Decorative Arts; Vice President’s Appreciation Award for Community Service; President’s Honor Roll
WORK EXPERIENCE
FREELANCE WRITER, Alpine, Texas
August 2008 – present
Contributed articles to Salon.com, mental_floss magazine, Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, the Big Bend Gazette newspaper, and other publications.
BIG BEND SENTINEL/PRESIDIO INTERNATIONAL, Marfa, Texas
General Assignment Reporter, August 2006 – July 2008
Wrote news and features for small-town weekly newspapers. Covered everything from local government and schools, to international trade corridor La Entrada al Pacifico, state health department clinics cutting local birth control programs, and the sale of public lands in the Christmas Mountains. Awarded first place in Texas Press Association news-writing competition for article on local reaction to border wall in Presidio. Also assisted with editing, layout, and advertisement design.
KRTS-FM, MARFA PUBLIC RADIO, Marfa, Texas
Intern, June 2006 – August 2006
Reported and produced news stories. Edited audio and created promos for weekly shows, including Voices of the Big Bend, a regional oral history program and Rambling Boy, a series of essays by a local historian. Assisted with recording of live performances and interviews. Updated station website and developed online schedule and photo galleries.
AUSTIN GROUPS FOR THE ELDERLY, Austin, Texas
Development & Communications Associate, July 2005 – January 2006
Developed, designed and wrote annual campaign brochure, which generated a threefold increase in contributions. Planned, wrote articles and designed layout for newsletter. Wrote and distributed press releases for events.
TEXAS MONTHLY, Austin, Texas
New Media Department Intern, Fall 2004
Edited documents for publication on Texas Monthly and LA Magazine websites. Wrote cookbook review for Texas Monthly website. Assisted with formatting and maintenance of website advertisements.
CELEBRATE AUSTIN MAGAZINE, Austin, Texas
Contributing Writer, Summer 2004
Researched and wrote several feature articles and event listings for regional travel and relocation magazine.
CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY (CSES), RICE UNIVERSITY, Houston, Texas
Assistant to the Directors, Summer 2003 – Summer 2004
Produced CSES and Lowrey Arboretum newsletter and other publications. Maintained CSES website. Acted as teaching assistant for environmental issues course. Wrote educational materials about urban heat islands for high-school students.
ACTIVITIES & INTERESTS
Marfa Public Radio – contributor to Nature Notes natural history program
Texas Master Naturalists– Tierra Grande Chapter member
COMPUTER SKILLS
Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign; Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, Access; HTML; CSS; PHP; MySQL; Macromedia Dreamweaver, Flash; Adobe Audition; Sony Sound Forge; Windows Movie Maker