cv >
CV A staircase in a dorm at Bennington College, where I did my graduate work.

- - - - - - -

education

M.F.A., Nonfiction Writing and Literature, Bennington College, Bennington, Vt. / June 2002 Thesis: Media Boy: Uncovering the Blurring Lines Between Our Culture and Ourselves, a collection of creative nonfiction, personal essays, and literary journalism about media, culture, and technology.

B.S., Journalism, Stetson University, DeLand, Fla. / May 1999
Thesis: “Digital Neighborhoods: Online Discussion Areas and the Changing Notion of Community.” An analysis of how online discussion spaces are altering our understanding of community. Minors: Political Science, Religious Studies.

- - - - - - -

teaching experience

Lecturer, Stetson University / Aug. 2002 to present Teaching multiple sections of first-year English, journalism, and communication studies courses at the liberal arts university. Promoted to lecturer from adjunct lecturer after the 2002-2003 academic year, with a split appointment between the English and Communication Studies departments.

Instructor, Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth / summer 2003, 2004, 2005
Teaching writing for seven hours a day to verbally talented teenagers as part of the Center’s summer program.

- - - - - - -

courses taught

Literary Journalism A cross-listed English and journalism course I created that focused on using the techniques of fiction and poetry to craft engaging true stories about the world.

Magazine Writing
Another cross-listed English and journalism course I created that explored writing for different types of periodical publications.

Research and Argumentation
Analytical Writing and Reading (themes: What is Real?; The Unknown; Winners and Losers)
Research and Argumentation, the introductory course in the first-year English sequence at Stetson, focuses on written argumentation and the craft of researched academic essay writing, while the final course in the sequence emphasizes analysis of literature and other texts and written and oral argument. The second course, Analytical Writing and Reading, has different instructor-selected themes that serves as a framework for the examination of ideas and the construction of written criticism.

New Media and Digital Journalism
An elective course I created to offer the Stetson journalism program’s first survey of the online journalism landscape.

Writing the Expository Essay
Building from the foundations of creative and expository writing, this Johns Hopkins CTY course explores language, organization, audience, persuasion, and other elements of cogent, compelling, and lively nonfiction.

The Critical Essay: Cinema
A Johns Hopkins CTY writing course that introduces literary analysis using films as texts.

Gender and Communication
Editing and Publishing
Public Speaking
Interpersonal Communication

- - - - - - -

readings and guest lectures

  • MIT Media in Transition 5: Creativity, Ownership and Collaboration in the Digital Age, "The Death of the Link: Does Attribution Still Matter? " / April 28, 2007
  • Conference of English Teachers, Seminole Community College, "American Ideal: Using Popular Culture to Teach English and Engage the Reluctant" / Keynote speaker / Oct. 20, 2006
  • "The Great Debate: Heads vs. Feds" / debate moderator / Sept. 20, 2006
  • Atlantic Center for the Arts / Read from work in progress / Feb. 16, 2006
  • Factual Entertainment Forum and RealScreen Summit / Panelist / Jan. 30 and 31, 2006
  • MIT Media in Transition 4: The Work of Stories, "Once Upon Right Now: The Transformation of Disney Theme Park Narratives" / May 8, 2005
  • Stetson University, Sigma Tau Delta induction guest speaker / Feb. 12, 2004
  • Florida Communication Association conference, "Public Confession: Weblogs and the Effects of Pseudo False Intimacy" / Oct. 17, 2003
  • University of the Arts, "The New Narcissism: Weblogs and the Construction of the Media Self" / March 5, 2003
  • Stetson University, Sullivan Endowment for Writing fall readings / Oct. 16, 2002
  • Bennington College, "Exposing Yourself Online" / June 16, 2002
  • Bennington College, graduate readings / June 21, 2002
  • Stetson University, "Introduction to the Personal Essay" / Oct. 2001
  • Northwestern University, "News and New Media: Writing for the Web" / Oct. 2000
  • Loyola University, "Job hunting on the Web" / March 2000
  • Stetson University, commencement address / July 1999
  • Congressman Porter Goss (14-FL), Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Dinner / Dec. 1998
  • presenter, "Interactivity in online newspapers," ACP National Media Convention, Kansas City / Nov. 1998


- - - - - - -

selected publications


journalism


essays


criticism


- - - - - - -

work experience

Contributing Writer and Columnist, MSNBC / October 2004 to present
Write essays, feature stories, a weekly Q&A column, and television criticism for the entertainment section of MSNBC.com, the Internet’s most popular news web site.

Columnist, RealScreen magazine / June 2006 to present
Writing a topical column for the monthly nonfiction film and television industry magazine.

Nonfiction Editor, The Bennington Review / Spring 2002
Edited nonfiction selections for the semi-annual journal of graduate student work; also designed the entire book.

Editor and Publisher, reality blurred / July 2000 to present
Applying the popular but generally personal weblog format to a single topic news structure, created and designed reality blurred, the first publication dedicated to chronicling the reality television phenomenon. The site has received international media attention and accolades. In April 2002, as part of reality blurred, launched exposed, an online journal that chronicles hyperreality in our culture via periodic essays.

Television Critic and Contributing Writer, Student.com / 1998 to 2000
Wrote television reviews, features, and weekly TV highlights.

Freelance Writer, various publications / 1996 to present
Contributed features, essays, reviews, commentary, and interviews to publications including Salon, The Advocate, Orlando magazine, U. The National College Magazine, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Ironminds, Tribune’s College Press Service, and The Slant.

Producer and Writer, BrassRing, Chicago, Ill. / January 2000 to August 2002
Began as community producer for a Tribune recent college graduate-focused web site, serving in an editorial role while building a community section and other features, including newsletters. Later served as a producer and writer for the parent company’s production and user interface team.

Managing Editor and Director of Communications, Hazlitt Foundation, Chicago, Ill. / 1999
Responsible for managing 12 editors, daily editing, and communications materials.


- - - - - - -

conferences attended


- - - - - - -

awards and honors

Outstanding Young Alumni award, Stetson University / 2005

Great American Think-Off, second place / June 2000.
One of four national finalists in the “annual sports-like philosophy competition” sponsored by the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center in Minnesota. Participated in a moderated debate broadcast live on C-SPAN and advanced to the final round.

Social Security Challenge, national finalist / July 1998
One of two members of the southeast team in the national competition sponsored by Americans Discuss Social Security.

Josephine Field Davidson Award for Integrity in Journalism, Daytona Beach News-Journal / May 1998