Qualifications:

-Experienced in teaching children, adults, and mixed age groups in non-traditional education settings.

-Excellent communication and problem solving skills via phone and in person; trained in customer service techniques formally as well as on-the-job.

-Comfortable with organizing multifaceted activities and presentations alone or within a working group, remaining within time, staffing and budgetary constraints.

-Proficient in use of digital and traditional methods of historic and social research.

-Use of Microsoft Office Suite and Open Office for writing and editing of research and presentation documents. Working knowledge of HTML, CSS, Wordpress, Blogger, Livejournal, Vox and numerous Internet social media sites.

 

Education:

The Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg                                                                         Middletown, PA December 2008      

Masters of Arts, American Studies.

  • Thesis investigating role of women in subculture society of ice hockey, “Talk Hockey To Me: The Sociology of Women Who Watch Men’s Ice Hockey”
  • Museum Education Intern, Army Heritage Education Center, Carlisle PA.
  • Presenter, Mid Atlantic/Great Lakes American Studies Association Conference on American Play
  • Cumulative GPA 3.92

Coursework: History and Sport in Society, Gender and Culture, Public Heritage, Matter, Culture and Folklore, American Expressive Forms.

 

The University of Puget Sound                                                                                                       Tacoma, WA May 2007

Bachelor of Arts, History.

·         Senior Thesis, “What Clothes Make the Man: Costuming and Gender in Medieval Passion Plays”

  • Cumulative GPA 3.07, Major GPA 3.07
  • Stage managing scholarship, UPS Theatre
  • Resident Community Coordinator in charge of 5 house ‘community’ of 27 students.

Coursework: Doing History, Goddesses and Power, Staging Gender, Disability and Power, Social Psychology, Birth of Europe, Age of FDR, Industry and Reform.

 

The Williams Mystic Program                                                                                                        Mystic CT, Spring 2006

Semester long interdisciplinary maritime program of Williams College and Mystic Seaport.

  • Policy Project: “Makah Nation Whaling, Protected or Illegal?”
  • History Project: “The Captain is In: Injury, Illness and Treatment on Selected Whaleships from 1821-1938”
  • Oceanography Project: “Chemical and Biological Analysis of a Sewer Outfall in the Mystic River”
  • Literature Project: “Last Stitch through the Nose: The Use of Gore and Destruction in Maritime Literature”
  • Member of “Demonstration Crew” educated in historic interpretation techniques used on the museum grounds.
  • Cumulative GPA 3.42

 

Employment:

Capitol Visitor Center: Visitor Assistant                                                                                       Washington DC, 2009-Present

  • Offer information on Capitol, Capitol Hill, Capitol tours and surrounding areas of Washington DC, tourist attractions, transportation options, restaurants, location of bathrooms as needed/required
  • Line guests up for tours and count them, greet them once inside theatre and introduce film, explain tour process. 
  • Problem solve with visitors throughout building, escalate problem to supervisor when needed.

 

CloseUp Foundation: Program Instructor/Georgetown Liaison                                   Washington DC, Winter 2009

  • Led groups of 25 high schoolers around city of Washington DC
  • Taught concepts of citizenship using monuments and landmarks of the city as “living classrooms” (eg, starting student discussion of  what is a just war while visiting  WW2 memorial, Vietnam Wall, and Korea memorial)
  • Trained for week to work with Native American students, using the same curriculum but integrating the way they are dual citizens of their tribe and of the USA.
  • Organized student doctor’s appointments/supervised student transportation to and from Georgetown Medical Center

 

Educator/Cabin Steward: Schooner Mystic Whaler                                                                  New London, CT, Summer 2006

  • Organized and explained line handling work done by students to raise sail and launch trawl net, sang work chanties as needed
  • Took students through basic fish identification flowcharts and discussed what made fish adapted for different environments based on what we caught in the trawl net
  • Discussed w/students vegetation of the Hudson valley region, landslides, rainfall, human impact, talked about water chemistry and PH.
  • Discussed w/students basics of maritime navigation/navigation tools and how to read charts and maps.
  • Taught history of the Hudson valley region using large tactile timeline.

 

Day Camp Recreation Leader: Thurston County Parks and Recreation                                Olympia, WA,  Summer 2005

  • Developed activities for 6-12 year olds to do during 8 hours at camp (art projects, science projects, group projects, etc) that fit “theme” of the week
  • Supervised campers on playground, during field trips, during swimming times, ensured camper safety throughout camp
  • Gave information on activities, upcoming activities, potential camper disputes to parents
  • Relayed information between camp and main office, main office and parents.

 

Lifeguard/Instructor: Hershey Rec Center, Beaverton Swim Center.        Hershey, PA 2007-2008, Beaverton, OR 2000-2004 

  • Ensure patrons follow pool rules/explain pool rules to patrons breaking them to ensure patron safety
  • Teach all levels of swim lessons, from three and four year olds (bubble blowing and back floats) to early teens (stroke refinement/diving).
  • Teach developmentally delayed/physically limited lessons to students with autism, cerebral palsy, amputations, etc.
  • Assist patrons with getting correct swimming equipment, helping them get into correct lanes for lap swim.

 

Volunteer:

Counselor in Training:                                                                                                                   Fossil, OR Summer 2001    

  • OMSI Hancock Field Station Resident Camp, high desert environment.
  • Assisted with numerous camp education periods, teaching everything from desert survival skills to lapidary use.
  • Lived in cabin with campers to ensure safety, compliance with camp rules.

 

Rising Stars Program:                                                                                                                  Portland, OR Summer 2000                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

  • Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) run program
  • Six hours/week in customer relations class.
  • In-museum time spent in Early Childhood Education, Roving Science Education , Visitor Services, Program Development.