As a journalism and graphic design teacher at Everett High School and LCC, I’ve spent nearly three decades helping students design, refine, and promote their work. I advised the award-winning yearbook and newspaper, moving from teaching students how to manage a darkroom in the ‘90s through how to manage a website today. In the years before I had children, I worked as a freelance designer for a number of mid-Michigan companies. Writing, content and design is in my DNA. I use Adobe design software daily, I know my way around a press release, and am adept at coverage and promotion via social media.
While most of my time as a teacher is spent editing someone else’s writing, I still take opportunities to cover events when I can. I travelogue when I’m on a hiking trip, I interview community leaders when I’m attending events, I post photo galleries and video pieces. I hope you have a moment to check out some of my work here.
As a designer, I’m drawn to the mid-century modern aesthetic. I realize this makes me what my students who call “basic.” But if respect for clean lines, readable type and simple communication make me basic, then I’m guilty as charged. One of my favorite projects during the pandemic was hosting a weekly Facebook Live game show. Each week featured a different theme, which gave me an excuse to create custom art for each Event. Check out the game show art here, and more of my design work here.
Finally, I love to make fun events happen. For many summers, I taught in Gifted & Talented programs that allowed me the chance to create interactive, hands-on approached to learning. For over 25 years, I worked with the MIPA Summer Journalism Workshop at Michigan State University as an instructor, Assistant Director and Director. As Director, I was responsible for managing a $200,000 budget; recruiting, hiring and evaluating instructors; planning an engaging, educational and fun-filled week; and promoting the event nationwide. It taught me how to manage the many moving parts of an organization. It also was the most fun job I’ve ever had. You can get a taste of what the workshop was like here (our theme that year was “True Colors”).