WORK EXPERIENCE
Broadcast Administrator
Deutschlandradio
April 2019 - Present
Assist broadcast production, interface with editors, producers, technicians to book studios nationally and internationally, organize audio and digital transmission lines.
International Editor
Bastei Lübbe AG Publisher, Germany
April 2014 - Jan. 2019
Scout and support authors for English and German digital book market, edit manuscripts for development and accuracy, calculate cost/benefit for acquisitions, brief market-specific cover designs, hire external editors, proofreaders, and translators, manage English Twitter account.
Journalist / Designer
Freelance
Nov. 2012 - April 2014
Diverse projects with institutions such as Deutsche Welle, DOMiD (Documentation Centre and Museum about the Migration in Germany), Regionalverband Ruhr.
German Chancellor Grant Recipient / Fellow
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany
Aug. 2011 - Nov. 2012
Host Institution: Regionalverband Ruhr, Essen, Germany
Conceptualized and developed interactive documentary project featuring pupils with Turkish heritage. Built relationships, conducted and edited interviews in German, shot and edited photos, designed the web interface. Project showcased on website (in German): zdd.metropoleruhr.de.
Communications Specialist
College of Education, University of Illinois, USA
Sep. 2008 - June 2011
Chief Communication Officer for college at campus level. Wrote features and press releases, managed branding, supervised interns, shot photography, liaised with media outlets, and designed communication materials: posters, flyers, invitations, programs, and college annual profile.
Journalist / Designer
Freelance
July 2007 - July 2008
Designed information graphics for weekly national news magazine, "Stern," in Hamburg, Germany; edited audio interviews and digital portraits of Ruhr Valley citizens to create interactive Flash museum exhibit (in German), Rising from the Rust, for Ruhr Museum in Essen, Germany.
Grant Recipient / Fellow
Robert Bosch Foundation, Germany
July 2006 - July 2007
Host Institutions: Stern Magazine, Hamburg; Fachhochschule Münster
Granted professional work year abroad. Crafted information graphics for Stern Magazine in Hamburg; interviewed and photographed German citizens for interactive website.
Media Director
Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry, Ball State University, USA
July 2005 - May 2006
Promoted center's creative student seminars via press releases and communication design including web, poster, and programs; trained students to use Adobe InDesign software.
Graduate Assistant
Ball State University Journalism Department, USA
Jan. 2004 - July 2005
Designed newsletter for J-IDEAS: Institute for Digital Education Activities and Scholarship.
Art Department Intern
TIME Magazine, USA
June 2004 - Aug. 2004
Attended daily editorial board meetings, worked in Quark design templates, helped in photo selection, shadowed art directors.
EDUCATION
DEGREE: Journalism, M.A.
GPA: 3.80/4.0
2004 - 2005
Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA
DEGREE: German, Journalism, B.A.
Magna Cum Laude with Honors
GPA: 3.80/4.0
1999 - 2003
Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA
STUDY ABROAD:
2002 - 2003
University of Münster, Germany
2001
University of Trier, Germany
Skills
Language: Native English speaker. Fluent in German.
Software: Skilled in Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Audacity, Sound Studio, SoundSlides, MS Office.
Hardware: Nikon with various lenses, Tascam digital recorder, Røde microphone.
Leadership: Led InDesign and Photoshop workshops, supervised student interns.
Awards/Honors
2012
Produced “Education is...“ photo exhibit alongside the Educational Report Ruhr's release
2011
Speaker at the European Union Center Curriculum Development
Workshop: “Teaching about immigration issues through personal narratives”
2010
Exhibit “Rising from the Rust,” unveiled in Ruhr Museum’s long-term collection
Chapter, “Eine Amerikanerin im Ruhrgebiet” for book “Lebenswelten von Frauen und Männern in der Metropole Ruhr” published by Regionalverband Ruhr
2007
“Iraq War Coverage Differs in U.S., German Papers,” co-authored with Vincent F. Filak published in Newspaper Research Journal
2006
Master’s thesis, “A Nation at War Versus a Culture of Restraint” presented at Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) convention
Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Photo layout, 1st place
2005
Associated Collegiate Press
Illustration, 1st place
Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Informational Graphic, 2nd place
AEJMC Best single-issue design, honorable mention, as expo art director
2004
Indiana Collegiate Press Association
Investigative Story, 1st place
Illustration, 1st place & 3rd place
Informational Graphic, 2nd place
Story package design, 2nd place
Feature Story, 2nd place
First-ever winner Hemphill Fellowship
2003
Honors in Writing, Ball State University
Keating Writing Competition winner
1st place on-site story, 1st place overall
2002
Fred Woodress writing award, 2nd place
2001
Kenneth J. Atwell reporting scholarship, Ball State University
Indiana Collegiate Press Association
Best Feature Story, 3rd place
2010 - present
2010 - present