OTHER SKILLS
In addition to graphic design and digital storytelling, I possess other complementary skills, highlighted below. I have experience in exhibition curation and education program development, and am also an accomplished researcher, writer, and editor.
While working at the Ray Bradbury Center, I curated a seasonal exhibition called "October Country: The Marvelous and Macabre World of Ray Bradbury." In addition to doing all the research and writing, I also designed the exhibition and graphics, printed facsimiles and created a stand-in for an object due to lack of security, and wrote the script for and performed a Facebook live virtual tour featuring additional materials. You can watch the entire virtual tour at the provided link.
While working for University Collections, our offices were located in a historic building that has been an icon in the community since 1907. Many of our visitors were former students at the school, or had studios in the building in its second life. We wanted to honor that, so I conducted research in the community to inform the creation of three permanent panels that I also designed, honoring the history of the place. You can view the panels at the provided link.
While working at the Ray Bradbury Center, I curated a seasonal exhibition called "October Country: The Marvelous and Macabre World of Ray Bradbury." In addition to doing all the research and writing, I also designed the exhibition and graphics, printed facsimiles and created a stand-in for an object due to lack of security, and wrote the script for and performed a Facebook live virtual tour featuring additional materials. You can watch the entire virtual tour at the provided link.
Exhibition Curation
I have curated two exhibitions from start to finish, from initial brainstorming and research to writing text and designing graphics for installation. One was a seasonal exhibition, and the other a permanent installation.
Education Program Development
I have developed a number of educational programs for both cultural and educational organizations. These programs have been developed for adult professionals, teens, and elementary-age children.
While working for the Ray Bradbury Center, I developed an interactive educational program for teens called "Illustrating the Future," which emphasized the relationship between author Ray Bradbury and illustrator Joseph Mugnaini. The interactive portions included writing a 3-sentence story based on a piece of art, and creating an original piece of art inspired by the program or a Bradbury story.
At the Ray Bradbury Center, I also trained Center staff on preventive conservation. The Center is run by a small staff but contains sensitive archival materials and objects that require proper care, and this program empowered staff to know what they could do to help - and what they should not do. The program included a scavenger hunt I designed to find agents of deterioration, as well as other hands-on learning activities.
While working for Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington, I designed educational programs for the Crestmont Club. I planned field trips and activities, and also invited guest speakers from the community to come teach the Kindergarten through high school kids about civics, careers, healthy lifestyles, and more.
While working for the Ray Bradbury Center, I developed an interactive educational program for teens called "Illustrating the Future," which emphasized the relationship between author Ray Bradbury and illustrator Joseph Mugnaini. The interactive portions included writing a 3-sentence story based on a piece of art, and creating an original piece of art inspired by the program or a Bradbury story.
During my volunteering for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Art Crime Team, I conducted research on sensitive cultural heritage that resulted in successful international and national repatriation. I also monitored the environment for pests and other hazards, and created custom housing for transport over long distances.
In 2021 I presented virtually at the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology conference, and also prepared a poster with a colleague and mentor. We presented on "Hidden Health Hazards: Toxins in Museum Collections" in order to bring awareness to the importance of safe handling of collections due to various hazards, inherent or as a result of now-outdated preservation practices.
My research on narratives and storytelling during my undergraduate education resulted in publication in two research journals, Computer Models of Narrative (2015) and Frontiers in Psychology 9 (2018). You can find links to the publications on the page linked below by searching my name.
During my volunteering for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Art Crime Team, I conducted research on sensitive cultural heritage that resulted in successful international and national repatriation. I also monitored the environment for pests and other hazards, and created custom housing for transport over long distances.
Research
My research skills have resulted in successful international and national repatriation of cultural heritage. I have also presented at an international conference and been published in research journals.
Writing + Editing
Writing and editing are critical skills in my everyday work, and I have been consistently honing them in publications, exhibitions, and more for the past two decades. I even served as editor in chief for a regional magazine issue.
I have written for a variety of publications both as a student and since, but my tenure as editor in chief of the regional magazine 812: The Magazine of Southern Indiana, Winter/Spring 2015 is one of which I'm particularly proud. My co-writer and I also won a national award for our feature story, "Corn-Fed Comedy," which included an interview with a local comedian, information about local comedy venues, tips on how to be funny, and more. You can view the entire publication at the provided link.
I have written for a variety of publications both as a student and since, but my tenure as editor in chief of the regional magazine 812: The Magazine of Southern Indiana, Winter/Spring 2015 is one of which I'm particularly proud. My co-writer and I also won a national award for our feature story, "Corn-Fed Comedy," which included an interview with a local comedian, information about local comedy venues, tips on how to be funny, and more. You can view the entire publication at the provided link.