I remember the exact moment I realized what I wanted to be when I grew up. I was standing in a crowded conference room at the ad agency where I worked while the creative team showed off their latest TV spots. They were for the Michigan Dental Association and featured (wait for it) werewolves.
At the time, I was gainfully employed as a PR person—and was pretty good at it. But the things I wrote had to be factual, newsworthy, and never, ever featured fairy tale creatures.
Clearly I was in the wrong profession.
Right then and there, I decided I was going to be a copywriter, come hell or high water. And there were a lot of hellish moments over the next year or so, but in the end, I got my wish. I was a fully anointed copywriter—and had the business cards to prove it.
That was the beginning of what’s been a pretty crazy journey. I never could have predicted the twists and turns that were coming my way—but I don’t regret a single moment of it. And even better, I can’t wait to see what comes next.
Read on to see the nitty gritty details in resume form.
Work Experience
IU Studios, Bloomington, Indiana—Content
April 2012–present
While I have worked for the same division for the last nine years, my path has been one of constant evolution. Highlights include:
- Managing a lean team of creatives
- Playing a key role in the first ever university-wide branding effort
- Working on branding efforts for a number of key schools, units, and programs, including MoneySmarts, the IUPUI Division of Student Affairs, the IUPUI School of Engineering and Technology, and the Jacobs School of Music
- Playing a key role in the development of our division’s use of content strategy
- Assisting in the creation of the first version of the web framework the university still uses
IU Studios—Creative Leader
June 2021–present
As one of two leaders for our brand team, I manage six creatives while still functioning as a core writer for the studio. My responsibilities include:
- Coaching team members to do their best work
- Working with brand leaders and university partners to intake projects and see them through to completion
- Managing capacity for everyone on the brand team
- Assisting in the development of processes and procedures to make our organization run more smoothly
- Writing for the brand team on a variety of projects
IU Studios, Regional Brand Team—Content Specialist
August 2020–June 2021
As the content specialist for the regional team, I worked on a variety of strategic initiatives for our regional campuses designed to increase enrollment and raise awareness of their brands. Projects I have worked on include:
- Creating the content strategy for and helping to execute a multi-campus CRM recruiting effort including email, landing pages, digital ads, and more
- Creating a recruitment campaign for IU Northwest
- Email and marketing material audits for all campuses
IU Creative and Web Studio, Special Ops Web Team—Content Specialist
June 2019–August 2020
I was part of a small team of creatives entrusted with providing customized web solutions for the university’s highest priority schools, units, and departments.
Key accomplishments included:
- Reimagining a 1,000+ page behemoth for the Jacobs School of Music as a 125-page, mobile-friendly website in 12 weeks flat.
- Building a brand new website (900+ pages) for the IUPUI School of Science that created a cohesive brand for the school and all nine departments within it in less than a year. The project started with extensive research, and included content strategy, detailed website planning, and execution.
IU Communications—Content Specialist
April 2012–July 2019
In this role, I created a wide variety of advertising and marketing materials for the university and its schools and units, including websites; content strategies, messaging strategies, and social media plans; and digital, print, print and broadcast materials. I also played a key role in the creation of the university’s first branding effort.
The Media School, Bloomington, Indiana—Adjunct Faculty
January 2017–May 2019
I taught advertising-related courses to undergraduate students, including a 400-level copywriting class and a 400-level advertising ethics class.
Finelight, Bloomington, Indiana—Copywriter
December 2005–April 2012
I specialized in direct response copywriting for digital, print, and broadcast media, as well as blogging, social media, and SEO and SEM campaigns for a variety of healthcare and higher education clients.
GJP Advertising, Cincinnati, Ohio—Copywriter
September 2004–December 2005
I functioned as the lead writer for the Cincinnati Bell direct mail program and was tasked with increasing revenue in both the residential and business segments.
SMZ Advertising, Troy, Michigan—Copywriter
August 1998–September 2004
I created print, broadcast, and outdoor materials for a variety of retail and B2B clients, including the Michigan Lottery, Great Lakes Crossing, LP Siding, and The Wellness Plan.
You made it through that slog. How ’bout some fun facts?
- I am an honest-to-goodness published romance novelist. In 2014–15, Harlequin published two of my books (yes, they are steamy, and no, you shouldn’t read them).
- I had a “mommy blog” from 2008 to 2014 with a few thousand subscribers. It was lots of fun, but as my daughter got older, it didn’t seem cool to write about her anymore.
- I have a certificate from Second City that proves I graduated from their comedy writing program in Detroit.
- I have four cats. Yes, four. I blame the pandemic.