Curriculum Vitae*
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SUMMARY
I am a dynamic, goal-oriented communications specialist with over ten years of experience in digital communications and over seven years in higher education project management. My areas of expertise include, team leadership, advising and consulting, strategy and process planning, research, project coordination, creative direction, information design and usability, and writing and editing for the Web.
I am a creative thinker and problem-solver whose training, experience and collaborative leadership style, result in highly successful, strategic communications and technical projects.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Expert
- Strategic planning (Web communications)
- Consulting/needs assessment
- Project coordination
- Creative direction
- Visual rhetoric: Design best practices for
Web communications - Content management and training
- Web writing: style, language, and theory
- Usability: testing/implementation/analysis
- Information architecture
- Storyboarding
- Site inventory and analysis
- Card sorting
- Strategic planning (Web communications)
- Consulting/needs assessment
- Project coordination
- Creative direction
- Visual rhetoric: Design best practices for
Web communications - Content management and training
- Web writing: style, language, and theory
- Usability: testing/implementation/analysis
- Information architecture
- Storyboarding
- Site inventory and analysis
- Card sorting
- Accessibility: testing/implementation/
analysis
RELATED PROFICIENCIES
Microsoft Office 2007, Visio, SharePoint, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Contribute, PowerPoint, Extensis Portfolio, Extensis Suitcase, Clients and Profits, Urchin Web Analytics, ANGEL learning management suite, Expressions Engine (blog software), WordPress (blog software), Flash, Illustrator, SwishMax (Flash authoring tool), Camtasia (multimedia presentation software), Survey Solutions, SnagIt (screen capture and editing tool), InDesign, Sound Forge (audio editing tool), DITA Storm (XML editor). I also have comprehensive experience working with Web content management systems.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Michigan State University, Division of University Relations
Web Coordinator; 2002-March 2008.
Promoted: Systems Analyst I (Level 12) to Information Technologist II (Level 13), 10/01/04
Michigan State University, MSU Web Team; Fall 2002-Present
Team member of a multidisciplinary Web development team in partnership with Libraries, Computing and Technology.
Michigan State University, Division of University Relations
Account Manager, MSU Global (70%), Web Developer (30%)
May 2001-October 2002
MATRIX: The Center for Humane Arts, Letters & Social Sciences Online, MSU
Digital Communications Internship: 4.0; May 2000-August 2000.
Conspire: a Journal of Literary Arts
Lead Editor and Web Developer; 1996-2005
VOLUNTEER WORK
Women’s Center of Greater Lansing
Web Administrator (design, development, content management, online marketing and communications);
October 2007-March 2008
EDUCATION
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
MA, Digital Rhetoric and Professional Writing
Expected degree completion: Fall 2010; GPA: 4.0
Academic Portfolio: cktower.com/portfolio_academic.html
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Bachelor of Arts, English; 2001
Cognates in Women Studies and Psychology.
Lansing Community College, Lansing, MI
1996-1998 - Course work completed to transfer
to Michigan State University.
AWARDS
2008
Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Region Five
Silver Medal Achievement: Best Practices in Communications and Marketing
10,000 FTE and up
Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum: Building a World-Class Museum at Michigan State
2007
American Advertising Federation- Sixth District
Addy Award: Interactive Media: virtualtour.msu.edu
2006
American Advertising Federation- Sixth District
Silver Addy Award: Interactive Media: beaspartan.com
Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Region Five
Silver Medal Achievement: Best Institutional Web Site
Michigan State University Homepage
2005
Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Region Five
Silver Medal Achievement: Best Individual Web Site
Michigan State University College of Social Science
2003
Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Region Five
Bronze Medal Achievement: Best Institutional Web Site
Michigan State University homepage
1995
Cranbrook Academy of the Arts Scholarship
Summer writing workshop
MEMBERSHIPS
National Society of Collegiate Scholars, inducted: 1999
PUBLICATIONS
My writing has been published in print and online in more than sixty publications, many of which are international.