I am an award-winning educator and communication specialist with over a decade of experience teaching others how to craft compelling, persuasive messages. I am a lifelong learner and creative problem solver who thrives in fast-paced, collaborative, diverse environments. In October 2020, I began working as a freelance copywriter and content marketer working directly with clients on building copy for their websites, researching and writing blog entries, and helping small business build relationships with customers that lead to persistent engagement. While my teaching specialties involve persuasion, public speaking, and social influence, I am committed to helping learners from all backgrounds achieve educational, professional, and personal success by reinforcing the importance and applicability of effective communication. I have leadership, budgeting, and event planning experience, all of which were utilized as Chair of the Speech Communication Colloquium Speaker Series at Oregon State University. In this role, I budgeted, scheduled, planned, and executed six research talks per academic year. I am proficient in navigating databases and translating information to diverse audiences. I am also an experienced presenter and have presented original research to both professional and public audiences. I have also worked with United Academics of Oregon State University as a communication specialist. There, I was part of a team writing opinion pieces for local newspapers, crafting targeted letters to the community, and helping manage our active Twitter account. As a member of our Activist Council, I visited with faculty members to hear concerns, recruit members, and contribute to successfully achieving our first contract. Prior to my time at Oregon State, I worked at Haskell Indian Nations University as an Instructor, and at the University of Kansas as first a Graduate Teaching Assistant and Instructor following the completion of my Ph.D.. Before entering academia, I worked for the Campbell County Public Library in Cold Spring, Kentucky as a Children's Programmer responsible for events catering to children and their families, and at the Cincinnati Museum Center as an Education Specialist designing interactive learning opportunities for the Museum of Natural History and Science. I obtained my Ph.D. in Communication Studies from the University of Kansas, my Master of Arts in Communication from Northern Kentucky University, and my Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology from California State University, Northridge.