OVERVIEW

• Published scholar, essayist, and poet; 54,000-word historical biography in circulation
• Summa cum laude English literature graduate with an MFA in creative writing   
• Co-founder of successful educational business designing and facilitating experiential literature workshops and "teach the teacher" guides
• Winner of numerous critical and creative writing awards
• Highly commended language arts teacher and tutor 
• Founder of interior design firm and publisher of decorating newsletter
• Independent, reliable, perfectionist worker
• Contractor who developed and launched SJSU Writing Center

EDUCATION

 M.F.A., Creative Writing (Creative Nonfiction), San Jose State University
               Graduating December 2017; GPA 3.97
B.A., English, San Jose State University
               Graduated summa cum laude with departmental honors, May 2006

SKILLS

Writing              

• Historical book/thesis about Maria Zacarias Bernal Berreyesa - in circulation
• Literature enrichment curriculum for experiential workshops - ongoing 
• Language arts content for online curriculum provider 
• Published scholarship and essays, poetry 
• Awards for critical and creative writing 
• Completed juvenile novel, To Catch a Keeper

Editing

• Freelance editing service endorsed by SJSU English professors
• Critiqued numerous term papers (MLA style) for other college students               
• Edited university marketing materials 

Project  Management  

• Co-founder and operator of literature workshops business
• Established SJSU Writing Center as an independent contractor
• Wrote, produced and nationally marketed successful independent newsletter
• Completed extensive writing projects, including first novel
• Owned and operated interior design company, managing multiple projects

Teaching           

• Develop and present experiential classic literature workshops for K-12 students
• Write and publish “teach the teacher” literature curriculum for sale
• Tutored K-12 students in writing, language arts, and test prep skills 
• Taught elementary grades as long-term substitutes                                                            

WORK EXPERIENCE

LitWits Workshops, LLC, also dba www.LitWits.com  Santa Cruz, CA   
Aug 2010-Current
 Co-founder and partner  - business owner/operator, workshops presenter, curriculum writer; all administration, marketing, and operational roles

IXL Learning, San Mateo, CA   Mar 2012-2014
Content writer, language arts - part-time contract position for elementary grades

KnowledgeQuest, Inc., San Jose, CA   (408) 323-1544  Oct 2010-Apr 2012
Associate director – part-time administrator and language arts tutor; references available

Stratford Schools, Saratoga, CA  Aug 2009-Jun 2010
Substitute teacher – full-time staff position for elementary grades 

Metaphor Interiors, San Jose, CA  Nov 2007-Aug 2009
Founder and proprietor - interior design services with focus on meaningful, personalized "editing" of small spaces (with small budgets); see portfolio

Masterpiece Editing, www.MasterpieceEditing.com  Jul 2006-Aug 2009
Freelance copy editor 

San Jose State University, San Jose, CA  Nov 2006-Mar 2007
Project Manager – independent contractor reporting to the dean

Minutes & Pennies, San Jose, CA 1992-1995
Owner, writer/editor, publisher - interior design newsletter by subscription, with focus on small spaces, tight budgets, and fast fixes - recognized by The Oprah Winfrey Show

PUBLICATIONS

Please see clips and information about work in process on this website.

Sample selections:

• Academic article, “Strange Showes:  Spenser’s Double Vision of Imperial and Papal Vanities,” Studies in Philology, Vol. 105 (2008)
• Travel Essays, “Missing Pieces," BBC Travel (2014), "Love in Venice,” Gadling (2010) 
• Personal Essays, “Remains,” Written River (2012),  “Seasons,” Reed Magazine: A Journal of Poetry and Prose (2006)
• Poetry, “Convergence,” Ancient Paths (2009), “Degeneration,” Porter Gulch Review (2010)
• Newsletter, Minutes & Pennies (1993-1995)
• Novel, To Catch a Keeper, agent-represented and currently in circulation 

HONORS

Graduate: SJSU, 2010-2017

• Bonita M. Cox Award for Medieval and Classical Studies
• Ruth MacLean McGee Award for Outstanding Achievement in Creative Nonfiction
• 3 Phelan Literary Awards for excellence in travel and fiction writing
• Bonita M. Cox Award for Creative Nonfiction 
• Marjorie McLaughlin Folendorf Award for Creative Writing
• SJSU’s creative nonfiction nominee for the national 2012 AWP Intro Journals Award 

Undergraduate: SJSU, 2003-2006

• 12 Phelan Literary Awards for excellence in critical/creative writing, SJSU (2005-11)
• James O. Wood Shakespeare Award, SJSU (2006)
• Bonita Cox Creative Nonfiction Award, SJSU (2006, 2011)
• Dorrit Sibley Poetry Award, SJSU (2006)
• Josephine Chandler Humanities, SJSU (2005)*
• Catherine Urban Scholarship for excellence in writing, SJSU (2005)
• Robert Holloway Undergraduate Award for excellence in writing, SJSU (2005) 
• Two Olympiad of the Arts writing awards, WVC (2003)
• English Department Honors Program, SJSU (2003-06) 
• Dean’s Scholar, SJSU (2005-06)

         *Top award given within the College of the Humanities and Arts  

AFFILIATIONS

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society (2004-06)
Golden Key International Honour Society (2004-06)
International Reading Association (current)
Santa Cruz County Reading Association (current)
California Pioneers of Santa Clara County (current)

REFERENCES

Available by request:  Letters of recommendation regarding my academic abilities, writing/editing skills, and project management experience from the dean, the director of the honors program, and my notoriously particular grammar professor at SJSU.  

Employer and personal references also available upon request.  For interior design references, please see my decorating portfolio.