My Resume

My Resume Here

EDUCATION
Master of Science- Technical Communication May, 2009 NC State University Raleigh, NC

Selected, Relevant Graduate Coursework and Projects
Advanced Typography: seminar on advanced principles of applied typography; major project focused on typography, the tagging of artifacts and the proper contextual selection of fonts

Usability Studies for Technical Communicators: major projects included two (2) usability studies: the first examined the usability of SnagIt and the second tested the usability of an online newspaper site

Visual Rhetoric: a seminar covering the use of images in communicating; major project examined the impact of visual imagery in web-based interfaces.

Human Computer Interaction: a computer science course studying the relationship between computers and human users. My major project examined the usability of a museum collections database, with recommendations for improvements.

Publications Management for Technical Communicators: major project was the creation of a project management notebook

Online Information Development & Design: major projects included a rhetorical analysis of a physical, public space and the creation of an online portfolio

Managing the Digital Enterprise: a course examining the management of the technological workplace in light of rapid technological developments

Edward Tufte Seminar: an eight hour seminar with noted information and graphic design specialist Edward Tufte covering principles of the proper display of information


Bachelor of Arts in History 2002 NC State University Raleigh, NC
Recognized for best presentation and project at the 2001 NCSU Undergraduate Research Symposium

TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE AND PROFICIENCIES (EXPERT OR SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE WITH ALL OF THE FOLLOWING)
Software: Adobe Technical Communication Suite (CS2, CS3), PageMaker, InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat/PDF, Go Live, Dreamweaver, RoboHelp and Flash, Macromedia Fireworks, Visio, Microsoft Office Suite, Open Office Suite, Quark, Omnigraffle.
Multimedia tools: Apple QuickTime Pro, Digital photography and digital video including all major formats and codices.
Operating systems and platforms: MAC OS, Linux, Windows 2000 Server, 2003 Server, XP, and Vista.
Languages and protocols: XML, HTML, XHTML, CSS, XSLT, DHTML, DOM, UML, XUL, JavaScript (Scriptaculous, Moo Tools, Prototype, Jquery and others), PHP, ASP, MySQL.
CMS systems: Expression Engine, Wordpress, Textpattern, Joomla and Drupal.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
 Dedicated, self-motivated communicator with over 10 years experience combining technology, written language and visuals to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds.
 Proven, successful writer with extensive experience creating and delivering content with a wide variety of media, from paper-based grant reports, annual reports and newsletters to dynamic, database-driven websites.
 Innovative problem solver with a thorough knowledge of harnessing technology to create new information, streamline work flow, secure information and make information accessible.
 Task-oriented, tireless worker with a proven willingness to see a project to its conclusion.
 Over 10 years experience working with an under-budgeted and under-sized staff has instilled in me the knowledge that working as team member leads to completed tasks, even under the most extenuating circumstances..
 Strong, proven problem-solver with the ability to balance a workload and willingness to multitask as needed.
 Demonstrated ability to work and complete tasks in a high-pressure, deadline-driven environment.
 Proven success writing grant proposals. So far, 95 percent of my proposals have been funded.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Registrar/Technology Liaison Gregg Museum of Art & Design at NCSU Raleigh, NC 2000-present
 Conceptualized, designed, wrote the copy for and maintain the Gallery’s database-driven website. The new website has brought a 300% increase in traffic to the site in addition to greatly improved search engine rankings (top 25 in all major, key search word combinations). The Gallery has seen 150% increase in attendance at exhibitions and events since the new site was launched. The site meets all major, federal accessibility standards
 Overcame severe budgetary restraints to transform a collecting museum with over 20,000 objects into a modern, technology-enabled entity by implementing a system of databases and modern cataloging processes.
 Established protocols to ensure a more efficient cataloguing process that facilitates safer preservation of objects and information in addition to improving access to collection objects and other resources for research and academic purposes.
 Single-handedly catalogued, arranged and built the Gallery’s 4000 volume research library. Designed and implemented a searchable interface for locating research materials.
 Personally integrated and maintain a network server on which all departmental digital assets are stored. This includes information on over 20,000 collection objects, over 60,000 digital images and video documenting the collection, exhibitions and events, the department’s website, donor information and other relevant data.
 Integrated a search mechanism allowing visitors to search a large part of the collection database from the website.
 Simplified the Gallery’s development and communication activities by digitizing the organization of donor information.
 Obtained an NCSU LITRE grant for 2005-2007 to study the use of technology in the classroom. Using Apple’s QuickTime technology to create a collection of objects and archive of exhibitions viewable at the Gallery’s website in virtual reality format.
 Granted funding for a technological initiative in an extremely competitive review process allocating student fees for the 2006-2007 academic year.
 Trained interns to properly handle, research and catalogue objects using standards and protocols recommended by the American Association of Museums.
 Presented lectures to both academic and non-academic groups visiting the Gallery.
 Responsible for managing the museum’s financial accounts. The 17 accounts included foundations, state-appropriated, grants, endowments and operating funds exceeding $1.2 million annually.
 Awarded the Division of Student Affairs’ 2003 Technology Initiative Award.
 Currently serving on the University-wide Digital Assets Management Taskforce. The University charged the task force with examining and proposing a solution to enable the consolidation of all digital assets across the entire campus.
 Currently serving on the Division of Student Affairs’ Distance Education and Technology Advisory Group (DETAG). This group functions as a resource to educate Division employees about technology, examine new technologies that may enhance distance education and review departmental requests for Education Technology Fees.

Digitization Technician NCSU Libraries, Digital Libraries Initiative Raleigh, NC 1999-2002
 Contributed to a large project re-cataloging, reorganizing and digitizing a 60,000-item slide library.
 Independently edited information to verify the correctness and integrity of the data.
 Verified source information and located sources when no such information was available.
 Competently digitized and verified the visual integrity of images.
 Conducted training in the proper techniques of digitizing images.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Society for Technical Communication Triangle and NCSU-Student Chapters
Triangle Usability Professionals Association Triangle, NC chapter
Triangle DITA Users Group
International Webmasters Association/International HTML Writers Guild

VOLUNTEER WORK
Newsletter editor for NCSU’s STC chapter 2008-09 academic year

Organizes an annual fundraiser for the Salvation Army, Coats for Kids and other selected charities.
For the past 8 years. these events have been a hugely successful part of the annual holiday season in the Triangle.

REFERENCES
Gladly provided upon request