EXPERIENCE
State of Minnesota | June 2023 - Present
Communications Officer
· Wrote and edited internal and external documents (including best practice guides, bulletins, fact sheets, GovDelivery newsletters, letters, manuals, memos, and reports) for the Child and Safety Permanency division at the Department of Human Services.
· Wrote articles on current events and departmental news for DHS Today.
· Ensured all communications were accurate, error-free, accessible, and used person-first plain language.
· Created a division-wide publication guide to ensure uniformity across communications.
· Consulted with document owners on project parameters and provided recommendations for successful communications campaigns.
· Pioneered strategies to streamline workflow, modernize communication tools, and collaborate more efficiently within and between departments.
· Participated in the Vision for Policy and Equity Subgroup to ensure marginalized voices are heard during the formation of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
Evolve Media | May 2022 - June 2023
Editorial Development Manager
· Identified opportunities to adjust content strategy, leverage current content, and scale new content.
· Onboarded, mentored, and coached team of freelance writers.
· Fine-tuned freelancer pitches and assigned short- and long-form articles.
· Edited a high volume of content for accuracy, flow, and continuity as well as for style, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
· Optimized content using best practices in tagging, keywords, headline creation, and SEO.
· Led company-wide AI initiative.
· Restructured DogTime's freelance team to better align with editorial goals and budget.
· Collaborated on overhaul of DogTime's 500+ dog breed pages.
· Updated style guides, created training videos, and onboarded freelance writers.
· Used tools like Notion, Trello, and Slack to communicate and collaborate with freelance team and leadership.
Evolve Media | Aug. 2015 - May 2022
Senior Editor
· Curated content for Mandatory, a lifestyle site aimed
at a male, millennial audience.
· Edited up to 50 articles per week in
accordance with AP style.
· Wrote over 20 articles per week across food, pop culture, entertainment, life hacks, and relationship verticals.
· Selected Getty images, created GIF
slideshows, and embedded videos to enliven content.
· Corrected HTML errors, added internal links,
enhanced metadata, and improved SEO.
· Co-managed a team of up to 12 freelance writers.
· Trained writers on a WordPress CMS.
Star Tribune | April 2013 - April 2020
Freelance Writer
· Reported on arts, music, and design for Star
Tribune cover stories.
· Wrote long-form stories for City Pages covers.
· Interviewed artists, authors,
comedians, and musicians for the Star Tribune, City Pages, and Vita.mn.
· Previewed and reviewed concerts and art
exhibitions.
Minnesota Business Magazine | Aug. 2013 - Aug. 2015
Features Writer
· Interviewed entrepreneurs for print
features.
· Covered current events in the business world for
blog.
· Wrote the magazine's most-read
article of 2014.
The Daily Meal | Jan. 2013 - Dec. 2013
Food Writer
· Wrote food content for slideshow and listicles.
· Created a restaurant guide specific
to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
· Contributed original food
photography to site.
KFAI Radio | Jan. 2012 - Aug. 2012
Music Blogger and Booker
· Launched and created content for
the Live From Studio 5! blog.
· Booked bands for in-studio performances.
· Interviewed musicians on air.
· Reviewed concerts.
· Promoted upcoming guests on social media
and wrote band bios.
Gannett Media | Feb. 2011 - Dec. 2011
Metromix Content Writer
· Interviewed actors, artists, and musicians.
· Reviewed and photographed
restaurants and concerts.
· Created the ‘11 Guilty Pleasures’ feature.
· Entered calendar events into CMS.
Penguin Group | May 2008 - Oct. 2010
Book Author
· Authored the memoir Insatiable:
A Young Mother’s Struggle With Anorexia.
· Made appearances on television and
radio to promote published work.
· Granted interview requests to
websites and print publications.
· Lectured
at Macalester College about eating disorders.
Self-Employed | Sept. 2006 - Feb. 2011
Freelance Writer
· Wrote personal essays for, and published
a novel with, Thought Catalog.
· Published essays in the Voices
of Breast Cancer, Tattoo Series, Let Them Eat Crepes, and Gotta
Have It anthologies.
· Wrote week-long diary for New York magazine.
· Reviewed fiction, non-fiction, poetry,
children's, and self-help books in English and Spanish for Kirkus Reviews.
· Read
at Hamline University and Common Good Books to promote published
material.
EDUCATION
Macalester College | St. Paul, MN
Bachelor of Arts
Google
Foundations of Digital Marketing and E-commerce Certificate
Bethel University | St. Paul, MN
Certificate in Addiction Studies