Curriculum Vitae
Education - Work Experience - Community Involvement - Personal Interests

Master of Arts in Geography and Environmental Studies
Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Awarded May 1996
Click here to read a general recommendation letter from Graduate Advisor

Bachelor of Arts with an English Major and an Art Minor
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, USA
Awarded May 1991

Associate of Science
College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, USA
Awarded May 1989

Two Semesters of Photography coursework
Columbia College, Chicago, Illinois, USA
September 1987 to May 1988

back to top

Work Experience

Freelance Writer/Web Producer (see online Web Production Portfolio)
Salt Lake City, UT
2003 to 2005 (plus non-professional experience since 2001)
Established effective communication with clients to develop, maintain and revise their websites and online help manuals. Wrote and edited content, cleaned up source code, and organized files. Implemented templates, navigation schemes and style sheets. Provided online technical support and customer service. Developed and managed images as needed. Quickly learned project-specific software as needed.

English Teacher
AEON Corporation
Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan
2002 to 2003
Taught English grammar to Japanese adults while immersed in Japanese culture. Reviewed scientific research papers and presentations.
Click here to read a general recommendation letter from Corporate Headquarters

Editor/Administrator
McDonald's Corporation
Oak Brook, Illinois, USA
2000 to 2002
Provided editing and administrative services to human resources, legal and architectural departments.

Director of Conservation Programs
The Conservation Foundation
Naperville, Illinois, USA
1996 to 2000
Coordinated countless conservation programs. Numerous writing projects included newsletters, strategic plans, successful grant proposals, press releases and advocacy materials. Provided group facilitation and leadership to various initiatives.  All duties supported efforts to protect rivers, watersheds, trails and prairies.
Click here to read a recommendation letter from Director of Organization
Click here to read a recommendation letter from a Trails Project Volunteer
Click here to read a recommendation letter from a teacher who participated in river programs

Freelance Writer/Facilitator/Administrator
Chicago, Illinois, USA
1994 to 1996
Provided writing, editing, facilitation and administrative services to a variety of clients including The Illinois Environmental Education Advancement Coalition, the Chicago Wilderness Coalition and the Illinois State Board of Education. Writing projects included strategic plans, successful grant proposals, and conference proceedings.
Click here to read a recommendation letter from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Click here to read a recommendation letter from the National Environmental Education Advancement Project

Research Associate/Editor
Argonne National Laboratory/Division of Educational Programs
Argonne, Illinois, USA
1992 to 1994
Led the collaborative efforts of teachers and scientists to develop various environmental education curricula.  Curricula topics included landfill design, packaging/transporting hazardous materials and environmental assessment.  Contributed extensively to the writing and editing of the curricula.

back to top

Community Involvement

Disaster Services Volunteer
American Red Cross
Chicago, Illinois, USA
March 2001 to August 2002
Responded to local residential fires and provided assistance as needed. Completed a three week volunteer assignment in New York City following the attacks of September 11, 2001. 
Click here to read a certificate of appreciation from the American Red Cross

Color Guard Instructor (paid position)
Benet Academy Marching Redwings
Lisle, Illinois, USA
June 1997 to August 2002
(Bulk of time devoted from August through football season.)
Taught basic marching and flag technique to high school students.  Choreographed and taught routines for field show. 

Volunteer
League of Women Voters
Woodridge, Illinois, USA
June 2000 to December 2000
Working member of the voter education committee for the November 2000 election.  Facilitated the group through a strategic planning process to determine 2001 goals.  Registrar for DuPage County from August 2000 to August 2002.

Volunteer Committee Member
City of Darien Environmental Concerns Committee
Darien, Illinois, USA
February 1997 to July 1998
(appointment discontinued because of change in residence)
Appointed by Mayor of Darien to serve on committee.  Assisted in the development of a community bicycle plan. 

Volunteer
Naperville Humane Society
Naperville, Illinois, USA
August 1991 to January 1992
Assisted in the care and socialization of cats of dogs awaiting adoption.

back to top

Personal Interests

Creative writing, reading, and hiking.

back to top