Hello, I'm part...
Writer+Designer.
Teacher+Researcher.
WHO AM I?
I received my BA in print journalism with a minor in creative writing in 2012 from Troy University. Recently, I earned my MA in English from Auburn University, where I focused on creative writing and dabbled in rhetoric and composition.
I'm a dedicated worker who is passionate about the doing and devouring of writing. I consider myself well-versed in a number of styles of writing–having spent time in the fields of journalism and public relations as well as academia. While my background is a unique one, I believe that it has given me keen insight into the overlap between my many interests and strengthened my work ethic, ability to collaborate, and willingness to productively take and give feedback.
This e-portfolio represents a culmination and overlap of all of the elements that have defined me as a professional, teacher, and student; however, in the effort to show that those elements are bound together by my love of writing and creative nature, I've chosen to present the bulk of my work on a single webpage. While I have many interests, in the future, I hope to work in a field that allows me to engage with writing studies, communication, and new media.
On a more personal level, I'm a fan of fitness, video games (don't get me started on the term "gamer girl"), and bookstores of all shapes and sizes. It's possible I can't start my day without freshly ground coffee and half an avocado.
WHAT HAVE I DONE?
Education
Master of Arts in English
Auburn University, 2012 – 2014
Bachelor of Science in Print Journalism
Troy University, 2008 – 2012
Work Experience
Xbox Insiders Program Program Manager
Microsoft via Murphy & Associates, April 2017 - present
Xbox Ambassadors Comms Lead
Microsoft via Affirma Consulting, April 2016 - April 2017
Xbox Feedback Analyst
Microsoft via Affirma Consulting, July 2015 - April 2016
Community Support Analyst for Xbox Community Support
Microsoft via VMC Consulting, January 2015 - July 2015
Assistant Magazine Editor for Lake, Lake Martin Living, & Elmore County Living
Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., July 2014 - December 2014
Graduate Program Assistant for the Southern Humanities Review
Auburn University, August 2012 – July 2014
Graduate Teaching Assistant – Teacher of Record, ENGL 1120
Department of English, Auburn University, January 2013 – May 2014
Freelance Features Writer
Gameranx, July 2013 - May 2014
Graduate Teaching Assistant – Teacher of Record, ENGL 1100
Department of English, Auburn University, August 2013 – December 2013
Summer Fellow for the Office of University Writing
Auburn University, May 2013 – July 2013
Various editorial positions, Troy University’s student newspaper, the Tropolitan
Troy University, 2008 – 2012
Communications Intern at PowerSouth Energy Cooperative
Andalusia, April 2010 – July 2010
For more, view full RESUME or CV.
“Writers know words are their way towards truth and freedom, and so they use them with care, with thought, with fear, with delight. By using words well they strengthen their souls.”
ON WRITING:
Click the images below to access various writing samples:
Here, you'll find a document written for my final creative portfolio in graduate school. It acknowledges themes I explore in my writing as well as the authors who inspired me most. (Password protected).
This portfolio consists of pieces that have all been workshopped and revised multiple times. They explore themes of loss, recovery, and middle classism. (Password protected).
In these freelance online articles, I primarily explore issues of gender, identity, and genre in videogames. I enjoy combining my academic knowledge with my experiences as a gamer.
I've also studied and worked in print journalism, communications, and public relations. These pieces are from two newspapers and PowerSouth's in-house PR magazine and newsletter.
On Teaching:
As a teacher, it seems especially important to remain adaptable and pertinent to the times. In teaching my students, I aimed to learn from them and from my successes and failures so that my classes – functioning as a knowledge-driven community – could strive for greater possibilities and levels of engagement. Lastly, I hoped that, with my guidance, students undergoing first year composition would come to the conclusion that they were born and always have been writers.
Because of these beliefs, I strove to design curriculum that allows students to form their own community. They engaged with one another both in and outside of the class through the use of course management software, learning to write and communicate their opinions about language and the writing process effectively.
On research:
During my time at Auburn University, I found myself drawn to the overlap of popular culture and academia. This spoke to personal interests that had previously inspired and contributed to my creative work, widening my scope of study. It also allowed me to engage with rhetoric and new media used for a variety of purposes.
Taking classes from Contemporary Drama to Theories of New Media, I researched the differing attitudes toward Matt Stone and Trey Parker's works South Park and The Book of Mormon as well as co-authored a multimodal paper that uses Collin Gifford Brooke's research on the rhetorical canons in the Digital Age as a lens for exploring video game consoles and the types of rhetoric used in their design and marketing. This sort of work not only benefitted me as a scholar but allowed me to further hone my writing and increase my understanding of marketing within the entertainment industry.
Click below for samples and other works:
Here you'll find a co-authored multimodal project that aims to assess the rhetorical strategies found throughout the design, marketing, launch, and use of Sony and Microsoft's next-gen consoles. The study determines that these consoles adhere to a remediated canon that allows for greater levels of interactivity and fan authorship.
Proposal Accepted by Computers and Writing: Jan. 31, 2014
This paper explores the polar critiques of both South Park and The Book of Mormon. It examines similarities in production and thematic strategies as well as the dichotomy of the critical reception of these works, attempting to surmise from where the differing attitudes stem. This case study culminates in the examination and consideration of the nature of audience and importance of accessibility, economics, and form.
Presented at College English Association in 2013
In fall of 2013, I was tasked with interviewing a scholar in the field of rhetoric and composition, specifically one who focused on some outlet of new media. I chose James Paul Gee, a professor at Arizona State University and researcher known for his book What Videogames Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy. I conducted the interview via Skype, which I transcribed for use in the project, and created an accompanying wiki page.
This blog features responses written during my first year of graduate school for ENGL 7040 "Issues and Approaches to Pedagogy." I explore a variety of different teaching strategies and work toward the discovery of my interest in new media and open source tools. This blog also functioned as a project in community, as you'll see me interact with a number of classmates.
Blog project completed: Nov. 5, 2012