Writing Samples

While completing coursework at the University of Missouri, I also had the opportunity to work part-time as a writer for various entities such as the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), the Missouri School of Journalism and The Maneater (MU’s student newspaper). Along with those experiences, I interned for The Missouri Review literary magazine where I learned about several aspects of publishing, read poetry submissions, interacted with contributing authors and promoted content on the magazine’s social media website.

Along with over eight years of writing experience, I have three years of experience working in a marketing and communications position; four-plus years experience of clerical work and social media management; and several years of customer service experience.

To learn more about these experiences, please visit my LinkedIn page.

Below are links to my author profiles to three online publications. Following those links will give you complete access to every article I’ve authored for the news website, blog and student newspaper.

Below is a collection of stories I’ve hand-picked to demonstrate my writing skills. For more specialized examples, please see my other posts on my writing.

Stories from the Columbia business Times:

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION: SEARCHING FOR A CURE

I wrote this piece about the Alzheimer’s Association and their mission to help those diagnosed with the disease in 58 counties in Missouri. I spoke with Executive Director Jessie Kwatamdia and board member Dr. Joel Shenker, associate professor and director of the neurology residency program at MU.

FAMILY HEALTH CENTER: COLUMBIA’S SAFETY NET

I had the opportunity to explore the services and mission of the Family Health Center in Columbia. I interviewed physicians in pediatric dentistry and clinical health to learn about the doctors and report on how they serve the Columbia community. I also had the opportunity to speak with Gloria Crull, CEO of the organization.

Stories from CAFNR News:

A Craving for Research

I wrote this piece about a generous alumnus of the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, his memorable professor and the young business owner/master’s student who is the first to benefit from the Milton Bailey Graduate Student Support Fund. This story was featured for a while on the main Mizzou page, missouri.edu.

Cultivating Futures

Roger Gardner, vice president and chief cultural communications officer at Learfield, recently visited CAFNR as a Robert O. Reich Executive-in-Residence. I had the opportunity to interview Roger during his visit and talk to his wife about the couple’s creation of a scholarship fund in honor of their father’s, both alums of the College.

Three’s Company

I had the opportunity to tell the story of an immigrant family moving to the United States and working their way into owning their own farm and sending their children off to college. Three of the five Yang siblings chose to receive a CAFNR education, and they shared how family, farming and hard work helped them succeed.

Stories from the Journalism Graduate Studies News Blog:

The Story Behind Alexey Furman’s Portrait of the Year

Alexey Furman is a Ukrainian photojournalist and master’s student at the Missouri School of Journalism. His portrait of a woman after the massive shelling of a small town in Ukraine won the Picture of the Year International’s award for Portrait of the Year.

Master’s Student Outmatches Competition in 2015 Running of the Interns

Master’s student Lauren Languille, CNBC intern, won the 2015 Running of the Interns, delivering the Supreme Court’s opinion for the affordable care act and marriage equality. Langille first interned in Washington, D.C. through the Missouri School of Journalism’s professional program. She shared highlights of her time in D.C. and how she was able to outmatch her competition.

Comic Journalism: A Unique Niche

Journalism master’s student Blake Nelson created his online comic Pilgrim with some of his former students in Guatemala. Drawing has allowed him to maintain relationships with people from other countries, and he did a presentation on how comic journalism has the potential to attracting audiences that may not regularly read news stories.

Stories from The Maneater, MU’s student newspaper:

Columbia unites to honor Mike Brown

Students at the University of Missouri and members of the Columbia community gathered at Speaker’s Circle to honor Mike Brown, a black teenager killed by police in Ferguson, Missouri. The peaceful event raised awareness of inequality and police brutality and acted as the start of a movement.

Inside Ragtag’s Passport X

Chris Boeckmann, associate programmer at Ragtag Cinema, discussed the selection process for the theater’s annual Passport X series. The series features films from around the world and invites members of the Columbia community from the film’s region to share their take on the movie. The event allows mid-Missouri residents to learn about other cultures and and the way film portrays them.

MU School of Journalism dean inducted into Iowa School of Journalism Hall of Fame

The University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication inducted Dean Mills, dean of the Missouri School of Journalism and Iowa alum, into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2013. Mills was one of two inductees chosen that year and joins former J-school deans Earl English and Frank Luther Mott.