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Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
(Paid all own educational and living expenses)
Ongoing Self-Study in Web Production
Fall of 2001 - present
- Gained high proficiency with numerous software applications including;
- HTML (programming language)
- HTML Help Workshop (help manual compiling software)
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Contribute (content management system)
- Dreamweaver (web authoring application)
- Fireworks (image creation and mangement application)
- Flash (animation authoring applicaiton)
- Freehand (vector creation and management application)
- Photoshop (image creation and management application)
- Apple Safari (Internet browser)
- Google
- Chrome (Internet browser)
- Earth (global mapping application)
- Joomla (content management system)
- Microsoft Office
- Word (word processing application)
- Excel (spreadsheet application)
- FrontPage (web authoring application)
- Internet Explorer (Internet browser)
- PowerPoint (presentation application)
- Publisher (layout application)
- Mozilla Firefox
(Internet browser)
- Netscape Navigator (Internet browser)
- Opera (Internet browser)
- QuarkXPress (layout and web authoring application)
- Learned basic computer networking concepts.
- Learned about pop-up blocking, spyware and firewalls.
Master of Arts in Geography and Environmental Studies (with Honors)
Awarded May 1996
Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Recommendation letter from Department Chair, Graduate Advisor and Thesis Committee Chair
- Cumulative grade point average 3.82/4.00.
- Ninety percent of tuition waived by merit-based tuition waivers.
- Member of Gamma Theta Upsilon, the Geography Honor Society.
- Coursework included extensive study of environmental issues, environmental education, environmental ethics, environmental decision-making, resource management and statistics.
- Participated in a co-operative program at Argonne National Laboratory.
- Wrote extensive qualitative research paper entitled The Relationship of Science and Art in American Nature Writing and the Implications for Environmental Issue Resolution.
- Invited to participate in the 4th Annual Student Research and Creative Activities Symposium. Received Award for Merit in Recognition of Outstanding Research.
- Wrote extensive quantitative research paper entitled The Effectiveness of the HazTranz Package.
One Trimester of Earth Science - Geology
Summer 1992
Governors State University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Classes held at Camp Sagawau, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.
GRE Score (Taken with 100 degree fever)
Verbal 510 (59% below)
Quantitative 590 (57% below)
Analytical 650 (81% below)
Bachelor of Arts with an English Major and an Art Minor
Awarded May 1991
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, USA
- Cumulative grade point average 2.55/4.00.
- Member of the Society for Technical Communication (Northern Illinois University Chapter).
- Coursework included extensive study of English literature, composition, one year of foreign language (French), several third year biology courses, all in addition to standard general education courses.
- Color Guard (rifle) member in the Huskie Marching Band.
Associate of Science (with Honors)
Awarded May 1989
College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, USA
- Cumulative grade point average 3.45/4.00.
- Coursework included on year of foreign language (French), macroeconomics, drawing, art history, animal care, and an introductory environmental studies class.
Two Semesters of Photography coursework
Fall 1987 thru Spring 1988
Columbia College, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Cumulative grade point average 3.50/4.00. Included on Dean's List for Fall of 1987 4.00/4.00.
- Nominated by professors for a Fall 1988 Kodak Professional Scholarship Award - $2,000.
- Coursework included photographic technique, photographic history and an animal behavior class.
ACT Score
Composite - 25 (86th percentile)
English - 22
Math - 25
Social Studies - 24
Natural Sciences - 27
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Work Experience
Part-time Adjunct Faculty
Benedictine University
Lisle, Illinois, USA
January 2009 to present
- Taught multiple sections of Environmental Biology.
- Taught Research Writing for the Sciences.
- Developed and taught an American Nature Writing course.
Part-time Adjunct Faculty
College of DuPage
Glen Ellyn, Illinois, USA
January 2007 to present
- Taught multiple sections of Environmental Biology.
Part-time Adjunct Faculty
Waubonsee College
Sugar Grove, Illinois, USA
January 2008 to May 2008
- Taught Environmental Biology.
Seasonal Naturalist and Volunteer
Willowbrook Wildlife Center - Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Glen Ellyn, Illinois, USA
August 2006 to present
- Coordinated and implemented outdoor environmental education programs for 6-12 year olds.
- Developed interpretive displays to announce and welcome new exhibit animals (Sandhill cranes and a bobcat).
- Also volunteered extensively as an Animal Keeper and a Raptor Handler.
Manager of School Programs
The Morton Arboretum
Lisle, Illinois, USA
April 2008 to May 2010
- Co-supervised twenty Education Program Guides to provide outdoor education to approximately 25,000 K-12 students per year.
- Developed and implemented strategies to maintain K-12 audience despite economic downturn which negatively impacted school budgets.
- Extensively expaned, edited and maintained school section of organization's web site. Tutored colleagues in basic web authoring tools.
- Expanded and enhanced internal and external relationships.
Freelance Writer/Web Producer
Chicago, Illinois, USA
July 2006 to present
Please see Web Production Portfolio for details on various web production projects.
- Built effective relationships with clients to develop, maintain and revise their websites.
- Learned new software applications as needed to complete projects.
(Break from employment for international and domestric travel from March 2006 to July 2006.)
Freelance Writer/Web Producer
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
June 2003 to January 2006
Please see Web Production Portfolio for details on each web production project.
- Built effective relationships with clients to develop, maintain and revise their websites and software help manuals.
- Learned new software applications as needed to complete projects.
- Met long-standing professional goal of building strong computer and web production skills.
- Clients included:
English Teacher
AEON Corporation
Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan
August 2002 to June 2003
Recommendation letter from Corporate Headquarters
- Taught English grammar to Japanese adults while immersed in Japanese culture.
- Reviewed scientific research papers and presentations.
- Facilitated weekly discussions for advanced students.
- Met personal goal of living and working in a foreign culture for a significant amount of time.
Editor/Administrator
Manpower, Inc.
Oak Brook, Illinois, USA
March 2000 to August 2002
- Provided editing and administrative services to a variety of corporations including.
- Majority of assignments were at McDonald's Corporate Headquarters in the human resources, legal, marketing and other departments as needed.
- Edited an extensive office procedures manual for McDonald's architectural department. Recommendation letter from Architectural Department Manager .
- Met family caregiving obligations during this time.
Director of Conservation Programs
The Conservation Foundation
Naperville, Illinois, USA
August 1996 to February 2000
Recommendation letter from Director of The Conservation Foundation
- Coordinated several river and watershed protection programs.
Recommendation letter from Teacher who participated in river programs
- Facilitated strategic planning sessions for the Education Team as it developed its portion of the DuPage River Watershed Plan.
- Facilitated strategic planning sessions for the implementation of the DuPage River Watershed Plan. Participants included local government representatives, watershed protection volunteers, community organizations, classroom teachers and interested citizens.
- Chaired River Sweep committee, an annual river cleanup program. Involved numerous partnerships with community organizations, local government agencies, and corporate representatives. Average of ~10 tons of trash removed each year.
- Led the expansion of River Sweep into neighboring counties.
- Presented at the Des Plaines River Watershed conference to share tips on how to organize stakeholders in a watershed.
- Represented the organization at the Illinois Association for Floodplain and Stormwater managers to accept an Award of Excellence.
- Chaired meetings of the Education Team of the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership and presented its recommendations to the Steering committee.
- Partnered with the DuPage Forest Preserve in the management of Rivercare, a mini-grant program for 4th-6th grade teachers wanting to start or enhance a stream monitoring program at their school.
- Coordinated annual award dinners for Rivercare teachers.
- Coordinated program for volunteers who stenciled message 'Dump No Waste, Drains to River' near storm drains.
- Presented at various local government board meetings to gain municipal support of the the storm drain stenciling program.
- Coordinated annual Tributes to the DuPage River in partnership with the Naperville Park District.
- Coordinated a series of workshops to educate landowners on how they can avoid soil erosion and protect streams that run along their property.
- Primary author of Early Citizen Involvement: Vital for Effective Planning, an article for Illinois Parks & Recreation magazine.
- Wrote articles and served as editor for Currents, a bi-annual newsletter about protection of the DuPage River and its watershed.
- Wrote press releases for each program. Developed strong relationships with local media representatives by giving interviews and appearing on a local cable television program to promote River Sweep program.
- Developed an in-house brochure about river and watershed protection programs.
- Generated a personalized thank you letter for each volunteer and partner involved in every program.
- Coordinated trail advocacy and clean up programs.
Recommendation letter from Trails Project volunteer Co-Chair
- Co-Chaired the Trails Project volunteer meetings as they worked to develop and enhance trails and bikeways in DuPage County.
- Partnered with DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference to develop Trails & Bikeways: Valuable Assets for Vibrant Communities, a highly successful trail advocacy packet for municipalities wanting to start or expand their community's trail and bikeway system. Extensively edited content and secured funding for printing and distribution of packet.
- Facilitated annual strategic planning sessions to priorities goals action plans.
- Assisted in the co-ordination of annual trail clean ups and National Trail Day events.
- Wrote press releases for each program. Developed strong relationships with local media representatives by giving interviews.
- Developed an in-house brochure about the trail advocacy programs.
- Generated a personalized thank you letter for each volunteer and partner involved in every program.
- Appointed by Mayor to serve on the Darien Environmental Concerns committee to develop a trails and bikeway plan for the community.
- Coordinated classroom programs.
- Coordinated annual Envirothons in partnership with The Morton Arboretum, YWCA Camp Tu-Endie-Wei, and the Kane County Soil and Water Conservation District. Program is similar to a science bowl where teams of high school students compete in the areas of aquatics, forestry, soil, wildlife and environmental issue resolution.
- Supported the expansion of Envirothon into neighboring counties.
- Wrote successful grant proposals to secure funding for Envirothon from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and BFI.
- Presented tips on how to fund raise for environmental education at the 1999 Illinois State Environmental Leadership Clinic.
- Partnered with The Field Museum to expand the Mighty Acorns program into DuPage county. Mighty Acorns provided outdoor education to under-served classrooms.
- Partnered with Lucent Technologies' Environmental Club to coordinate the Little Prairie by the School program for teachers wanting to start or enhance a school prairie. Led the coordination of a prarire restoration workshop and granting program.
- Coordinated a leadership clinic for high school environmental club presidents and sponsors.
- Coordinated an art contest for K-6 grade students.
- Wrote press releases for each program. Developed strong relationships with local media representatives.
- Generated a personalized thank you letter for each volunteer and partner involved in every program.
- Coordinated public outreach programs.
Recommendation letter from German friends who volunteered and participated in outreach programs
- Coordinated bi-annual canoe trips.
- Coordinated annual visits to Midewin Tallgrass Prairie.
- Coordinated tours to Indiana Dunes State Park, Lake Renwick Rookery and Nachusa Grasslands.
- Coordinated a series of walks through forest preserves in DuPage County that were established because of the organization's historical efforts.
- Coordinated an outdoor photography workshop.
- Coordinated a wilderness skills workshop.
- Assisted in the coordination of open space forums.
- Wrote press releases for each program. Developed strong relationships with local media representatives by giving interviews.
- Generated a personalized thank you letter for each volunteer and partner involved in every program.
- Assisted in the general promotion of the organization.
- Wrote articles for the organization's general newsletter and the annual report.
- Served as historian for the organization. Generated an in-house brochure about the 25 year history of the organization.
- Presented at numerous community organization meetings.
- Represented the organization at Conservation Congress sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
- Represented the organization in the DuPage Environmental Awareness Consortium.
- Attended all board meetings. Observed extremely good role models within the board.
- Attended career days at various junior high schools and high schools.
- Coordinated logistics and funding for a workday involving approximately 250 volunteers from Arthur Andersen.
- Coordinated a series of workdays at the McDonald Farm which houses the organization's offices.
- Coordinated work days to support a successful open space referendum.
- Assisted in the coordination of member appreciate events.
- Assisted in the coordination of quarterly luncheons for members.
- Generated a personalized thank you letter for each volunteer and partner involved in every program.
- Member of various professional organizations.
- International Association for Facilitation
- National Association for Interpretation
- Environmental Education Association of Illinois
Freelance Writer and Facilitator
Chicago, Illinois, USA
October 1994 to July 1997
- Chicago Wilderness, Education and Outreach Team - June 1996 to July 1997
Recommendation letter from Environmental Program Manager at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Assisted in the planning of a Biodiversity Conference for Educators.
- Maintained organization for the conference planning committee by developing timelines, task lists, meeting minutes and correspondence.
- Developed conference registration packet, audience analysis, confirmation packet and other materials.
- Managed registration and confirmation of conference participants.
- Assembled and edited conference proceedings entitled Tools for Teaching Biodiversity. These proceedings took the form of numerous classroom activities.
- Illinois Environmental Education Advancement Coalition -
August 1994 to June 1996
Recommendation letter from the National Environmental Education Advancement Project
- Facilitated annual strategic planning sessions to determine goals, action plans, strategies and timelines. Committee organization was based on highest priority goals.
- Managed committee chairs to maintain adherence to timelines.
- Drafted a white paper to incorporate environmental education into preservice teacher education requirements.
- Led successful effort to interview representatives from all fifty-two colleges and university in Illinois that offer preservice teacher education programs.
- Represented the organization at a leadership clinic sponsored by the National Environmental Education Advancement Project.
- Represented the organization at several local, state and regional conferences.
- Developed exhibit and informational brochures to display at several local, state and regional conferences.
- Assisted in the development of successful grant proposals from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Environmental Education Advancement Project.
- Wrote articles for various newsletters.
- Wrote press releases as needed.
- Maintained effective communication among member organizations though monthly mailings.
- Managed finances (including tracking of in-kind donations) and financial reporting for grantors.
- Human Development Institute - November 1994 to June 1995
- Drafted an environmental ethics education curriculum entitled "Thinking Critically about Environmental Issues," based on a conceptual template from Lawrence Kohlberg's research on moral development.
- Worked in collaboration with psychology researchers.
- Presented curriculum at a local environmental education conferences.
Research Associate/Editor
Argonne National Laboratory/Division of Educational Programs
Argonne, Illinois, USA
January 1992 to October 1994
- Led the collaborative efforts of teachers and scientists to develop various environmental education curricula.
- HazTranz: a boardgame that teaches about the packaging and transport of hazardous materials.
- Landfill!: a series of activities that teach about the design and construction of landfills.
- Teens Urging Responsible, Feasible Environmental Restoration (T.U.R.F.E.R.s): a series of outdoor activities that teach about environmental assessment.
- Environmental Careers: information about various environmental career opportunities and their educational requirements.
- Contributed extensively to the writing and editing of the curricula.
- Coordinated review of curricula by Argonne technical staff.
- Co-authored a paper entitled Raising Students' and Educators' Awareness of Radioactive Materials Transport Through Creative Classroom Materials and Exhibits.
- Presented at the 5th Annual International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas, NV.
- Presented at the Annual Conference of the National Science Teachers Association in Anaheim, CA.
- Assembled Environmental Education for Chicago Area Students, a comprehensive list of environmental education opportunities available to classrooms in the Chicagoland area.
- Served as founding member of the Illinois Environmental Education Advancement Consortium.
- Coordinated annual earth day poster contests for K-6 grade students. ANL Scientists served as judges.
- Position held while completing graduate coursework for a Master of Arts degree in Environmental Studies at Northeastern Illinois University.
Temporary Office Worker
Manpower, Inc.
Oak Brook, Illinois, USA
May 1986 to December 1991 (intermittent during undergraduate studies)
- Provided administrative support to numerous companies.
- Established and developed computer skills. Gained strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express, Lotus and other applications.
- Success at temporary assignments led to short-term employment at DuPage Machine Products, General Electric, and IBM. (Employers knew I would eventually be going back to school when they hired me.)
- Temporary assignments at Argonne National Laboratory led to a co-operative position.
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Community Involvement
Volunteer Animal Keeper/Raptor Handler
Willowbrook Wildlife Center - Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Willowbrook, Illinois, USA
August 2006 - present
Assisted in the care and release of injured wildlife for four hours each week. Acquired training raptor handling and provided raptor outreach programs to various audiences. Assisted in fund raising efforts. (Also worked as a seasonal employee.)
Color Guard Instructor (paid position)
Metea Marching Mustangs
Naperville, Illinois, USA
July 2011 - October 2011
Taught basic marching and flag technique to high school students. Choreographed and taught routines for field show.
Volunteer Docent
Brookfield Zoo - Chicago Zoological Society
Brookfield, Illinois, USA
September 2007 - April 2008
Participated in an extensive training and mentoring
program to learn how to interpret exotic wildlife and conservation issues to zoo visitors.
Animal Care Volunteer
West Suburban Humane Society
Downers Grove, Illinois, USA
August 2006 - present
Assisted in the care and socialization of cats awaiting adoption for approximately four hours each month.
Volunteer
Natural Resources Management - Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Various sites in DuPage County , Illinois, USA
August 2006 - present
Participated in prairie and forest restoration activities such as weed removal, seed collection and planting.
Dog Training Volunteer
No More Homeless Pets Humane Society
Salt Lake City, Utah , USA
March 2005
Worked with dogs in 'charm school' to improve their behavior, thereby improving their chances of getting adopted.
(Volunteering quickly discontinued by choice - wasn't comfortable with the kill-for-cage-space policy.)
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.
(Volunteering discontinued when I left the US to work in Japan.)
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. (Involvement discontinued when I left the US to work in Japan.)
Volunteer Committee Member
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. (Volunteering discontinued when I left the US to work in Japan.)
Volunteer Committee Member
City of Darien Environmental Concerns Committee
Darien, Illinois, USA
February 1997 to July 1998
Appointed by Mayor of Darien to serve on committee. Assisted in the development of a community bicycle plan. (Appointment discontinued because of change in residence.)
Animal Care Volunteer
Naperville Humane Society
Naperville, Illinois, USA
August 1991 to January 1992
Assisted in the care and socialization of cats of dogs awaiting adoption.
English Tutor
Literacy Volunteers of America
Waubonsee Community College Adult Literacy Volunteers Project
Aurora, Illinois, USA
August 1991 to January 1992
Tutored a Spanish-speaking woman in reading, speaking and writing English.
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Personal Interests
Creative writing, reading, hiking, camping and travel.
Travel experiences include:
- United States (four months from April to July 2006) - Took advantage of being between jobs/projects to drive around the country on my own. Visited family and friends in various cities, car camping and hiking in numerous national parks along the way.
- New Zealand (one month in March 2006) - Took advantage of being between jobs/projects, and drove around the country on my own, car camping and hiking along the way. Wrote an informal blog of my experiences.
- Germany (two weeks in late November/early December of 1999) - Spent the first week in Munich visiting a cousin who has lived there since 1988. Spent the second week in rural Obergrombach visiting German friends who participated in volunteer and outreach programs at The Conservation Foundation. They were very kind to write a recommendation letter for me.
- Sweden (two weeks in July of 1998) - Visited distant relatives I met through genealogy research. Spent one week in Stockholm, and one week in rural Rimforsa.
- Paris, France (one week in December of 1996) - Simply enjoyed Paris as a tourist.
- Jamaica (one week in June of 1991) - Won this trip as a prize in a sales promotion! It made a great graduation gift to myself.
- Mexico (one week in April of 1982) - Made this trip as a member of my high school marching band (color guard).
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