Biography
In my second semester at CMU, I continue to fine-tune my skills as a writer while building on the varied interests I’ve cultivated throughout my undergraduate and postgraduate career. During the first few months of the MAPW program, I've adapted technical articles for general audiences, composed formal research reports for CMU faculty projects, and created an instructional manual designed to help undergraduates lay out their first resumes. As a technical editor for the Usable Privacy and Security Lab and Adjunct Professor Sarah Spiekermann, I've learned to convey complex messages in a way that appeals to the reader.
I received my Bachelor’s degree in Media Studies from Penn State, with minors in Sociology and English. During my senior year, I conducted a textual and political economic analysis of professional wrestling programming that served as my Honors Thesis. In the time between undergraduate and graduate school, I worked at Advantage CCS, a non-profit financial counseling company. There, I counseled clients on a variety of financial concerns including bankruptcy, credit card debt, and foreclosure prevention. Earlier, an interest in film, new media, and screenwriting was bolstered by an internship with Shoreline Entertainment, a film company specializing in production and exhibition. As an Acquisitions Associate, I tracked film festivals, attended premieres, and contacted producers with the goal of viewing, evaluating, and acquiring both screenplays and finished films.
This summer, I'll be moving to San Jose for a six month co op with IBM. There, I hope to capitalize on my current education while gaining a great deal of technical hands-on experience. When I return for the final semester of the MAPW program, I look forward to sustaining my evolving interests and expanding my knowledge of principles in the fields of media, technology, and design.
Education
- MAPW (2009)
- Carnegie Mellon University
- B.A. in Media Studies (2006)
- Pennsylvania State University