Professional Experience
Director, The Incline March 2019-present
Food and Culture Editor, The Incline June 2017-March 2019
Author, "100 Things to Do in Pittsburgh Before You Die," Reedy Press May 2018-present
Assistant Director of Marketing, Carnegie Science Center Feb. 2016-June 2017
Collegiate Experience
Editor-in-chief, The Daily Collegian at Penn State, circulation: 20,000 May 2009-May 2010
Education
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park Class of 2010
Journalism major, Women’s Studies major. 3.62 GPA; Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society.
Awards and Recognition
Volunteer and Philanthropic Work
Speaking engagements
Skills and Expertise
Strategic communications, writing, editing, management, leadership, teamwork, working on deadline, Associated Press style, media relations, social media platforms and paid social media campaigns, web analytics, Microsoft Office suite, Web content management systems, graphic design and layout, capturing and editing audio, photos, and videos, gender equity and inclusion.
View writing samples.
Director, The Incline March 2019-present
- Leading the content and direction of TheIncline.com, a digital journalism start-up.
- Running TheIncline.com, writing a daily newsletter, and managing the brand's social media.
- Serving as the public face of The Incline, online and in person.
- Writing and editing articles about everything from restaurants to public art to government.
- Scoping out trends before the competition, identifying gaps in coverage and finding fresh angles.
- Planning and running Incline events, such as happy hours and trivia nights.
- Establishing relationships with community partners and sales clients.
- Driving web traffic with compelling coverage and social media engagement, doubling web traffic within one year.
- Grew Instagram followers 53 percent, paid memberships 50 percent, and newsletter subscribers 8 percent.
Food and Culture Editor, The Incline June 2017-March 2019
- Wrote and edited articles about everything from restaurants to public art to fashion for TheIncline.com, a digital-first news start-up.
- Scoped out trends before the competition, identifying gaps in coverage, and finding fresh angles.
- Helped to lead TheIncline.com and its daily newsletter.
- Drove web traffic with compelling coverage and social media engagement.
- Recruited and overseeing freelance writers.
Author, "100 Things to Do in Pittsburgh Before You Die," Reedy Press May 2018-present
- Researched, wrote, and edited "100 Things to Do in Pittsburgh Before You Die," a Pittsburgh bucket list book and my book debut.
- Hosting book signings, speaking to community groups, and leading tours of Pittsburgh.
- Marketing and promoting the book through social media and media interviews.
- Hosting "100 Things Pittsburgh," a TV show on PCTV, Pittsburgh's community access station.
- Helped to lead TheIncline.com and its daily newsletter.
- Drove web traffic with compelling coverage and social media engagement.
- Recruited and overseeing freelance writers.
Assistant Director of Marketing, Carnegie Science Center Feb. 2016-June 2017
- Developed strategic communications and marketing strategies for Carnegie Science Center’s Chevron Center for STEM Education and Career Development, including ads and publications.
- Crafted public relations campaigns, speeches, and messaging related to the Science Center’s research on STEM education; serving as media liaison and spokeswoman.
- Helped to plan and lead meetings of the STEM Center’s Advisory Board.
- Wrote, edit, and oversaw design of Science Impact, reporting on STEM efforts.
- Promoted professional learning opportunities to educators across the region through digital and print.
- Strategized the STEM Center’s web and social media presence.
- Studied and implemented strategies for inclusion through the Peer Alliance for Gender Equity, a National Science Foundation-funded initiative hosted at Science Museum of Minnesota.
- Developed strategic communications and marketing plans for Pittsburgh’s most-visited museum.
- Led Carnegie Science Center’s social media presence: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube accounts. Developed social media voice, strategy, and policies and monitored post analytics. Within one year: Grew Twitter following by 40 percent and Facebook following by 43 percent.
- Managed web communications, including two monthly e-newsletters and all web content.
- Drafted and approved ads for print, radio, television, social media, and online sources.
- Wrote news releases and distributed them to media; served as a media liaison and spokeswoman.
- Managed production of Science Center publications, including two quarterly magazines and promotional brochures, from writing copy to proofreading.
- Ensured brand and voice consistency in all Science Center publications.
- Photographed and videoed Science Center events.
- Wrote about Pittsburgh’s best and most under-appreciated places for a national travel publication.
- Published 10 articles each month for an audience of Pittsburgh locals and potential Pittsburgh visitors, from brainstorming ideas to interviewing sources to writing to self-editing and posting.
- Posted articles and photos to the travel section of About.com through a content management system.
- Reported on education, municipal government, crime, breaking news, and Marcellus shale drilling.
- Tweeted breaking news and interesting Pittsburgh-related stories; encouraged dialogue with readers.
- Employed database journalism to cover Census trends and to contribute to a statewide AP project.
Collegiate Experience
Editor-in-chief, The Daily Collegian at Penn State, circulation: 20,000 May 2009-May 2010
- Managed the 200-member news division of Penn State’s independent, student-run daily newspaper.
- Led the newspaper from ideas to final product; held responsibility for all content.
- Worked with Board of Editors on staff initiatives, such as website, blog, and reporting improvements.
- Debuted Collegian social media accounts; trained editors to use social media to break news.
- Served as a member of the Collegian Board of Directors; reviewed and approved a $1.6 million annual budget. Restructured newsroom operations to weather a $30,000 budget decrease.
Education
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park Class of 2010
Journalism major, Women’s Studies major. 3.62 GPA; Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society.
Awards and Recognition
- 40 Under 40 in Pittsburgh, 2019.
- Golden Quill award in lifestyle reporting for this story, 2018.
- Golden Quill award for editing Four One Brew, a continuing blog, 2018.
- Golden Quill nomination in history reporting for this story, 2018.
- Hearken Champion of Curiosity Award for "biggest blockbuster story," 2018.
- The Incline’s Who’s Next in Communications, 2016.
- State’s “Rookie Reporter” – Pennsylvania Women’s Press Association, 2013.
- Pennsylvania’s Emerging Journalist – Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, 2011.
- State’s “Rookie Reporter,” second place – Pennsylvania Women’s Press Association, 2012.
- Keystone Press Awards in spot news, second place, and in news feature, second place, 2012.
- Golden Quill awards in health/medical reporting and in science/technology reporting, 2011.
- Golden Quill nominee in education reporting, 2013.
- Robert L. Vann Award of Excellence in newspaper features, honorable mention – Pittsburgh Black Media Foundation, 2012.
- Katey Lehman Creative Writing Award in Journalism, 2009.
Volunteer and Philanthropic Work
- Serving as a a director/president of The Daily Collegian Alumni Interest Group, planned a 200-person alumni reunion that raised $7,000 for student scholarships. Working on communications, fundraising and events. Debuted and run group's Twitter account. Aug. 2011-Spring 2018.
- Mentor for Pa. Women Work’s “Three Cups of Coffee” career empowerment program, Fall 2016-present.
- Southwest district director of Pennsylvania Women’s Press Association, May 2013-April 2014.
- Member of Women’s Press Club of Pittsburgh; built club’s first website and helped to launch its Twitter/Facebook accounts, April 2013-present.
- Judge for Pennsylvania student Keystone awards through Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.
Served as a judge for 2011, 2012 and 2013 student journalism contests. - Counselor at Penn State’s Institute for High School Journalists, summer 2007.
- Earned Girl Scout Gold Award (equivalent to Boy Scout Eagle Scout), summer 2006.
Speaking engagements
- Pittsburgh Black Media Federation Frank Bolden Urban Multimedia Workshop panel, 2019
- Duquesne University student media panel, March 2019
Skills and Expertise
Strategic communications, writing, editing, management, leadership, teamwork, working on deadline, Associated Press style, media relations, social media platforms and paid social media campaigns, web analytics, Microsoft Office suite, Web content management systems, graphic design and layout, capturing and editing audio, photos, and videos, gender equity and inclusion.
View writing samples.
