About meHaving recently earned master's degrees in public relations and business administration with extensive experience as a journalist, I continue to work as a communicator who wants to meet people where they are.
I consider myself a storyteller at heart and an accomplished collaborator who is a fair, curious, respectful and enthusiastic storyteller, no matter the format or style — social media, multimedia or print — focused on both strategic and tactical goals. Find out more about my skills in writing, social media and event planning and promotion. |
Megan Harris of WESA-FM's The Confluence interviews me on Feb. 8, 2019, about a story in The Incline on the closing of an LGBT bar and its effect on the community.
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Professional experience
Writer for Carnegie Mellon University Communications & Marketing from December 2023 – present
- Write and edit research feature stories, student and faculty profiles and other content elements for the central University Communications and Marketing division to raise the visibility, reputation and societal impact of the university.
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Copy Desk Chief for the Chautauquan Daily (Chautauqua Institution) from June 2023 – August 2023
- Read and edited copy for a 12- to 32-page broadsheet newspaper six days per week for nine weeks working closely with editors; wrote at least one feature story per week.
- Closely mentored copy editing intern while also teaching and mentoring nine reporting interns giving guidance on clarity, grammar, accuracy, AP style and house style.
Senior Account Executive for Red Havas from June 2021 – April 2023
- Contribute creative and strategic thinking for client accounts such as Project HOPE, Merck Life Sciences and Gout Education Society, focusing on communications strategy, written assets and media relations with 12 major placements in 2021 and 19 major placements in 2022 in trade and mainstream outlets.
- Serve as co-lead for bimonthly Future Leaders Forum facilitating feedback between agency CEO and about 30 junior team members.
- Work with executive vice president of corporate communications to market agency through media relations.
- Earned IncREDible Work Award (Employee of the Month) in August 2021 for “thorough and thoughtful” work “immediately ready for clients’ eyes” and in December 2022 for thought leadership.
- Chosen for featured in public-facing blog series "Getting Real with a REDster" to highlight agency employees in October 2022.
Communications Intern for Mindful Kreative from May 2020 – November 2020
- Worked remotely with agency team to serve multiple clients such as Gateway Health, Guardian Storage and Mainstay Life Services on various projects including:
- Developing social media content and calendars
- Writing, editing, designing and contributing to content and concepts for internal and external communications
- Pitching story ideas for media placements
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For more about my experience creating engaging content, visit my social media page.
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Public Relations Intern for Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon from May 2019 – August 2019
- Developed story ideas for PR pitches, prepared briefing books for faculty speaking with media, compiled competitor analyses
- Drafted and wrote social posts, recorded social media KPIs, acted as production assistant on video shoot; planned, shot and edited video about entrepreneurship for social media
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Freelance Writer and Editor for various publications from August 2018 – present
- Work with clients like Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science, Pittsburgh International Airport's Blue Sky News, Edinboro University, Pittsburgh magazine, WQED, Trib Total Media, The Incline, Pittsburgh Business Times
- Pitch and report stories on a variety of topics, including one picked up by Associated Press that ran on 23 outlets' websites
- Edit and proofread copy; contribute design, content and strategy ideas to long-term contracted projects
- Promote work through social media and traditional media channels, representing client outlets
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Graduate Assistant for Point Park Center for Media Innovation in Pittsburgh, Pa., from August 2018 – May 2021
- Manage, write, design and publish social media and other marketing collateral for the Center, leading to a 14 percent increase in Facebook followers
- Conceptualize, design and compile monthly email newsletter with average 32 percent open rate in first five months.
- Manage brand guidelines and graphic design projects for social media voice, developed with management of undergraduate practicum students.
- Teach educational hour-long workshops for high-school and college students on the basics of journalism and media literacy; 20 completed so far.
- Plan and promote events for professionals, current and potential Point Park students, including biannual high-school conference with 250 attendees.
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Want me to teach your group media literacy basics ("What is news?", facts vs. opinions and "fake news")? Contact me.
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Digital Producer for Pittsburgh Business Times in Pittsburgh, Pa., from September 2017 – August 2018
- Edited copy and published reporters’ content; designed engaging slideshows using data; used news judgment to write stories, aggregated others and ranked twice daily email working closely with managing editor.
- Lead daily pitch meeting when necessary, worked with reporters to meet daily digital deadlines.
- Monitored analytics and developed strategies to hit monthly goals, post and schedule social media, and engage with readers.
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For more about my Facebook Live videos for the Pittsburgh Business Times, visit my social media page. |
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Production Desk Editor for Beaver County Times in Beaver, Pa., from November 2015 – September 2017
- Published content and designed graphics for social media platforms using metrics, best practices and strategies.
- Pitched, planned and wrote stories, and produced or worked collaboratively on additional multimedia elements.
- Worked with management and staff to ensure consistent workflow between day and evening shifts.
- Edited copy for print and online elements, proofread pages and aided in page design to meet publishing deadlines and ensure accuracy, timeliness and completeness.
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For more about my #ThrowbackThursday Instagram posts for the Beaver County Times, visit my social media page.
For more about my reporting, visit my writing page. |
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Staff Reporter for Trib Total Media in Greensburg, Pa., from January 2010 – November 2015
- Created content spanning several topics and timeframes for Tribune-Review, developed source relationships.
- Collaborated with editors to plan two weekly sections, often pitching and revising stories from concept to publication.
- Managed production of weekly editions as acting editor at various times, interacting with staff and leadership.
other related experience
Contributor for LGBTQ-focused monthly Equal Magazine in Pittsburgh, Pa., from January 2013 – November 2014
Reporting Intern for The Chautauquan Daily in Chautauqua, N.Y., from June 2009 – August 2009
Editorial Staff Intern for Gateway Newspapers, Monroeville, Pa., from June 2008 – August 2008
Reporter and Copy Editor for The Daily Collegian, State College, Pa., from July 2006 – December 2008
Reporting Intern for The Chautauquan Daily in Chautauqua, N.Y., from June 2009 – August 2009
Editorial Staff Intern for Gateway Newspapers, Monroeville, Pa., from June 2008 – August 2008
Reporter and Copy Editor for The Daily Collegian, State College, Pa., from July 2006 – December 2008
Awards• Renaissance Rising Star Award in January 2020 — Selected as a young professional with outstanding potential in public relations field through nomination process by PRSA Pittsburgh chapter. Watch the award acceptance video.
• Community Partner Award in October 2019 for West Newton Avenue of Flags — Recognized for efforts in community service through Downtown West Newton Inc. and the Mon Valley Initiative. Read event coverage from the Washington Observer-Reporter and see the Facebook post about my accepting the award. • Beaver County Times Employee of the Month in June 2017 — Recognized for creating initiatives and promoting Beaver County Times, willingness to volunteer for new projects, application of training knowledge, and positive attitude. • Pennsylvania Women's Press Association awards — First place rookie reporter (2012), first place general news (2012), first place religion (2016), second place profile (2017) |
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...When I'm not busy with public relations & Journalism
Apart from all this cool public relations, social media and journalism work that I've done, I love vinyl records and rock climbing. Because of my love for Halloween, I'm also a haunt actor at the ScareHouse, including one season as the Zombie Pickle!
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