JOURNALISM
Independent Journalist, various publications, May 2006 to Present.
Specializing in stories about health, communities of color, science, education, food, and travel. Full-time freelance journalist since September 2009. Credits include:
  • Consumer magazines: Latina, New Jersey Monthly, South Jersey Magazine, ColorLines, KoreAm Journal, Latino University
  • Newspapers: Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, Newsday
  • Online publications: NJ Spotlight, The Crime Report, AlterNet

Contributing Editor, CBS Interactive website SmartPlanet, February 2010 to Present.
Specializing in Q&As with environmental experts, technology innovators, entrepreneurs, scientists, doctors, and thinkers. My articles have been picked up by commentator Andrew Sullivan, Fox News, Gawker, and other national media.
Interview subjects have included: Travel expert Pauline Frommer, Mythbusters TV star Grant Imahara, former rap artist MC Hammer, and philanthropist Jean Case.

Staff Reporter, Newsday, June 2007 to August 2009.
As a municipal government and education reporter for the Long Island daily newspaper, I broke news and published front-page features. While covering health, science and the environment, I wrote a Sunday feature about Washington’s controversial vaccine court. That piece was featured in the news summary of the Casey Journalism Center on Children and Families among the best coverage of children and family issues. Some of my work appeared on Newsday’s cover and was published in other newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times.

Intern, various publications, June 2004 to May 2007.
  • Columbia Journalism Review (January 2007 to May 2007): Wrote commentary for CJRDaily.org, a real-time outlet for journalism critique run by the Columbia Journalism Review. Performed fact checking, research and administrative tasks for the media magazine.
  • The Burlington County (N.J.) Times (May 2005 to August 2005): Wrote two front-page stories covering the suspension of a local superintendent, along with other news, features and entertainment stories covering various towns in the 450,000-population county.
  • The Baltimore Sun (February 2005 to May 2005): Wrote news stories and features covering Baltimore and Harford Counties, including a long, narrative feature about a local man who worked in Russia as a missionary.
  • The Gloucester County (N.J.) Times (June 2004 to August 2004): Won the New Jersey Press Foundation scholarship for work as a feature reporter for the weekly NOW teen section. Wrote the lead story for a package on the youth vote, as well as other news and feature stories.

TRADE, CUSTOM, AND SPECIALTY PUBLICATIONS
Freelance Writer, various publications, September 2009 to Present.
Specializing in articles about health and education, my writing combines technical material with human interest stories.
  • Health articles published in Plastic Surgery News (newsletter of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons), Prison Legal News (an independent magazine) and Action (magazine of the United Spinal Association).
  • Education articles published in University of Delaware’s Messenger (the college’s alumni magazine) and trade publications Diverse: Issues in Higher Education and Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education.

Writer, University of Delaware Agriculture Communications office, September 2004 to May 2006.
Wrote news releases, informative articles, and feature stories for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Articles published in University of Delaware’s Messenger; Garden Check Newsletter; Horizons, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Internet magazine; and released to 68 media outlets, including newspapers, industry magazines, television, and radio.

TEACHING
Adjunct Instructor, Rider University, January 2012 to Present.
Teach News Reporting & Writing, a journalism course focused on government coverage. Students cover crime, courts, municipal government, schools, and state Legislature.

Adjunct Professor, Villanova University, August 2010 to Present.
Develop curriculum for and teach upper-level journalism practices and feature writing courses for communication students. While learning and practicing news reporting and writing, students also critique news stories, study journalism ethics, and closely monitor news events. Also taught journalism course held online.

EDUCATION
  • M.S. Journalism, print concentration, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, 2007. Major coursework: Covering immigration.
  • B.A. English, journalism concentration, political science minor, University of Delaware, 2006 (cum laude).

SKILLS
Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft PowerPoint, LexisNexis, Factiva

HONORS & ASSOCIATIONS
  • MetLife Foundation Journalists on Aging Fellowship, 2010
  • Hindery Fellowship, Columbia University, 2007 (Received a full scholarship for tuition to Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism.)
  • Ross Mayhew Scholarship, University of Delaware, 2005
  • New Jersey Press Foundation Internship/Scholarship, 2004 and 2005
  • Association of Health Care Journalists
  • Society of Professional Journalists
  • National Federation of Press Women