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Curriculum Vita

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Background

Passionate writer and teacher, employing decolonial and transnational feminist pedagogies to teach creative and expository writing with a focus on amplifying marginalized voices and inspiring social change through impactful written communication

Skills

Social Media

CRM Management

Higher Education Administration

Non-Profit Administration

Education
Indiana University of Pennsylvania

2019 - Present

PhD in English, Composition and Applied Linguistics

  • Focus on decolonial pedagogy, tranlingual frameowkrs, and first year composition courses

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Naropa University

​2015-2017

MFA in Creative Writing and Poetics

  • Professional specialization in Writing Pedagogy​

  • Masters Theses:

    • "Against the Violence of Silence: Enacting Visible Community in Queer Literary Circles," advised by Sarah Richards Graba, MFA

    • "Heliophiliac," advised by Mairead Case, MFA, PhD

 

Colgate University

​2006 - 2010

BA in Political Science and History

  • “Graduated Magna Cum Laude​

  • ​Undergraduate Theses:

    • “Our Cause is Your Cause, and Your Cause is Our Cause: The Uprising of the Thirty Thousand, the Triangle Waist Company Fire, and the Formation of the Female Suffrage-Labor Coalition Across Class Lines in the Progressive Era United States,” advised by Dan Bouk

    • “Australia’s Stolen Generation,” advised by Ellen Percy Kraly

    • “Volunteering and Cultural Exchange in Costa Rica,” advised by Ann Landstrom 

Languages

Fluent English

Advanced Spanish

Beginner Arabic, French, German, and Portuguese

Current Projects
Assistant Editor, Writing Spaces

Aug. 2019 - present​

  • Edit author submissions, write calls for proposals, liaise with managing editors, authors, and copy editors

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Marketing and Development Specialist, collective.aporia

May 2019 - present

  • Write and edit grant applications and marketing and social media copy pro bono for a grassroots arts activism organization

 
Writing Coach, meganheise.com

Jan. 2019 - present​

  • Coach diverse graduate school applicants on brainstorming, writing, and revising admissions essays, resumes, and statements of purpose

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Communications Consultant, Youth UnMuted

Jun. 2018 - present

  • Provide pro bono writing, editing, and grant research for international NGO working to elevate the voices of refugee youth through storytelling

Professional Experience
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Guest Instructor, Metropolitan State University

​Oct. 2018

  • Planned and facilitated creative writing and critical discussion on place and displacement in writing for 20 students in 2 sections

  • Highlighted work by contemporary refugee and immigrant writers

 

Managing Director Assistant, Summer Writing Program

Jun. 2018

  • Assisted the director of the Summer Writing Program during a three-week intensive academic and experimental writing festival for 270 participants from around the world

  • Liaised with faculty, students, and other staff for smooth operations

  • Anticipated and solved problems in a warm and prompt manner

  • Promoted, ran, and emceed student events

 
Adjunct Faculty, Naropa University

​Jan. 2017 - May 2018

  • Instructed Naropa undergraduate sections of 5-15 students each, in critical reading, rhetoric, argument, research, and writing skills

  • Designed syllabus, lesson plans, and assignments

  • Graded, evaluated, and gave feedback on assignments

  • Implemented and evaluated student assessments for grade reporting

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Staff Writer, Cross-Cultural Solutions

Jul. 2017 - Mar. 2018

  • Galvanized volunteer and donor engagement for Refugee Relief Program in Greece by creating compelling and action-inspiring web, email, and social media copy

  • Created and implemented social media strategy, and tweeted daily

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Youth Engagement Space Volunteer, Lighthouse Relief

Aug. 2017 - Dec. 2017

  • Helped facilitate a safe drop-in space for over 30 youth ages 15-24 living in a refugee camp in Greece through designing and leading creative workshops including photojournalism, poetry, and graphic narratives

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Associate Editor, Something on Paper

Nov. 2015 - Dec. 2017

  • Assisted in the creation and publication of local poetics journal

  • Interviewed writers, edited essay submissions, and wrote book reviews

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Head Writing Fellow, Naropa Writing Center

Aug. 2016 - Jul. 2017

  • Managed daily operations and administration of the NWC

  • Assisted director of the NWC with designing and facilitating ongoing professional development, formal observations, and in-service trainings; managed and mentored 15 Graduate Instructors and Writing Fellows

  • Collected data to update resources and  implement changes

  • Created NWC schedule each semester

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Writing Fellow, Naropa Writing Center

Aug. 2015 - May 2017

  • Assisted students, alumni, and staff with creative and expository writing projects in one-on-one sessions focusing on brainstorming, thesis, audience, order, organization, cohesion, coherence, grammar, revision, research, and citations and style.

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Graduate Teaching Assistant, Naropa University

​Aug. 2016 - Dec. 2016

  • Collaborated with lead instructor to teach Naropa graduate students various pedagogical theories and implementations

  • Co-planned lessons and coursework

  • Assessed student work and provided feedback and coaching

 

Student Coordinator, Fluent City

May 2013 - May 2015

  • Provided customer service to over 2,000 foreign language students in 7 different cities; responded to current and potential student inquiries in a warm, personable, and timely manner via email, phone, and in person

  • Set, planned and reached weekly and monthly sales goals

  • Customized, implemented, and trained team on integrating Salesforce CRM software

  • Managed private lesson sales and coordinated lesson scheduling; helped tailor lessons to private students; managed professor calendars and scheduling; liaised between professors and students

  • Oversaw and trained other members of the operations, sales and customer service team

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Program Site Specialist, Cross-Cultural Solutions

Jan. 2011 - Apr. 2013

  • Prepared over 2,000 participants to volunteer abroad in 12 countries; provided prompt and friendly assistance and service to volunteers pre-departure via phone, email and in person; trained staff members on Brazil, Costa Rica, Ghana and Peru programs

  • Liaised with diverse global staff on program operations; traveled to program sites to train and volunteer with local sustainable organizations

  • Created and co-led “Country of the Month” committee; planned and implemented cultural activities  to engage and connect with global staff

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