PROFILE

Veteran Writer/Editor/Reporter with Public Relations Experience: Extensive expertise in journalism as a freelance writer/reporter whose articles have appeared in seven publications, including The Philadelphia Inquirer. Experienced writer/editor who launched an award-winning internal newspaper. Media relations professional with successful placements of news stories and features in local and regional media. Other writing experience includes open letters and speeches for two university presidents and promotional copy for print and broadcast. Familiar with Associated Press and Chicago style. Experienced in all major desktop publishing applications on both Macintosh and Windows platforms.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Launched the Penn Current, an internal newspaper for faculty and staff at the University of Pennsylvania; the publication won six CASE awards for excellence from 1998 through 2002
• Developed, researched and wrote more than 250 articles on a wide variety of subjects, including basic science research, medical research, arts and culture, social sciences, law and politics, human interest and human resources
• Supervised work-study students and advised them on ways to improve their writing and research skills
• Designed the Penn Current Web site and revised it twice, including the current version
• Managed publicity for a news conference involving Penn President Judith Rodin and Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell that publicized an expanded scholarship program for city high school graduates; the event improved Penn's standing with community leaders and garnered favorable coverage on three major broadcast outlets, the Inquirer and Daily News and more than a dozen neighborhood newspapers across the city
• Organized photo opportunities and publicized events involving President Rodin that improved Penn's image in its home community of West Philadelphia
• Placed multiple stories highlighting Penn's involvement with its community, research in the Engineering School and other subjects in local and regional media
• Developed relationships with local reporters and producers that resulted in coverage of Penn events
• Wrote speeches and letters for senior Drexel University administrators and letters to the campus community from senior Penn administrators that addressed important campus issues

SELECTED WORK HISTORY

2005

MBNA America Bank, N.A.
Position Held: Copy Editor (contract position)

Responsibilities: Reviewed all written and oral communications from MBNA to its customers, potential customers and staff for accuracy, completeness and consistency with corporate style. Reviewed and revised corporate style book. Researched and fact-checked documents under review. Worked with internal clients to resolve content and style issues.

2004

Office of University Relations, Drexel University
Position Held: Director of Publications (temporary replacement for permanent position holder on leave)

Responsibilities: Speechwriting for President Constantine Papadakis and other administrators; draft official letters for Papadakis; write advertising and brochure copy for print and broadcast; manage ad placements and insertions in local media.

1993-2004

Office of University Relations/University Communications, University of Pennsylvania
Promoted to positions of increasing responsibility: Managing Editor, Penn Current (2000-2004); Web Editor (1999-2001), Associate Editor, Penn Current (1998-2000), Community Editor (1997), News Officer (1995-97), Administrative Assistant (1993-95)

Responsibilities:
As News Officer: identified stories suitable for outside media coverage; worked with faculty and administrators to publicize research, service and other projects in local, regional and national media; placed stories highlighting Penn's involvement with its community, research in the Engineering School and other subjects in local and regional media; designed and placed advertising for community programs in local newspapers; produced two newsletters, Community Union and Penn Parents.
As Associate Editor: Developed, researched and wrote stories on Penn people and their work; wrote headlines; copyedited stories written by colleagues and work-study students; compiled and wrote events calendar; proofread final production copy.
As Managing Editor: All duties performed as associate editor, plus: assigned freelance photographers and selected photos for publication; managed circulation database; conducted readership surveys; supervised work-study students; performed final pre-press revisions of copy using Quark XPress and Adobe InDesign; worked with outside printer to resolve print quality and production issues.
As Web Editor: Worked with campus-wide Web Steering Committee to set policy for the University's main web site; wrote copy for top- and second-level web pages and selected items to feature on Penn's home page; worked with outside designers to produce web sites for University Relations and the West Philadelphia Initiatives
As administrative assistant: monitored news clippings for mentions of Penn and Penn faculty; compiled momthly News Digest of Penn mentions in the press; designed and produced Penn Parents and Community Union newsletters; composed correspondence.

1987-1993

Graduate Division, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania
Position Held: Administrative Assistant to Associate and Assistant Dean

1985-1987

Chemistry Department, University of Pennsylvania
Position Held: Administrative Assistant

FREELANCE EXPERIENCE

Wrote fortnightly column ("Cityscape") for The Item, Allston-Brighton (Boston), Mass., March-Aug. 1984.
Other freelance articles have appeared in: The Philadelphia Inquirer; Philadelphia Style; Philadelphia Gay News; Welcomat (now Philadelphia Weekly); Bay Windows (Boston, Mass.)

COMPETENCIES

Experienced with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, QuarkXPress, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe PageMaker, Macromedia Dreamweaver, FileMaker Pro and HTML; some familiarity with Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia Fireworks, Microsoft PowerPoint. Basic knowledge of JavaScript.

EDUCATION

B.A. in Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

References and writing samples available upon request.