Education

University of Maryland, College Park, MD. Majored in English with a concentration in Language, Writing and Rhetoric. Second major in Economics. Graduated summa cum laude in May 2002.

University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, completed first year. GPA: 3.8. Transferred to University of Maryland 6/99.

Honors

• College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Dean's Academic Scholar, 2002
• Department of English Academic Excellence Award, 2002
• Economics Department Scholar, 2002
• Third place, University of Maryland Professional Writing Program "Excellence in Writing" contest, 2001
• Best of Features, Diamondback student newspaper, Spring 2001
• Dean's List, University of Maryland
• Dean's List, University of Chicago

Experience

Writer/Editor, Regulatory Analysis and Development, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737), 8/02-present.

• Write regulations on plant and animal health issues for publication in the Federal Register
• Interact with program contacts to monitor content of regulations
• Track and manage regulations throughout the review process
• Update Regulatory Analysis and Development website
• As part of committee, overseeing the redesign of the Policy and Program Development Division's website
• Serve as IT liaison for the Regulatory Analysis and Development staff

Intern/Contributing Writer, Jazz Times (8737 Colesville Road, Ninth Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910), 8/01-present.

• Provided daily jazz news content for www.jazztimes.com
• Review new releases for magazine
• Write features for magazine
• Initiated new feature, "Almost Jazz News," a satiric take on the jazz world

I became a contributing writer for Jazz Times after my internship expired in December 2001.

Please see samples of my web news here:

Ralph Ellison, Jazz Fan

Norman Granz Dies at 83

Chet Baker Mystery Novel

Pablo to Release Live Coltrane Set

Writer, All Classical Guide (301 E. Liberty, Suite 400, Ann Arbor, MI 48104), 3/00-9/02.

• Write 150- to 500-word descriptions of classical works, and 500-word biographies of performers and composers, for publication in online database

Designated "first-tier" writer, which gives priority for topic selection; called one of four best writers for site by one editor.

Please see samples here:

Igor Stravinsky - Pulcinella

George Tsontakis - Ghost Variations

Gidon Kremer biography

Staff writer, The Diamondback (University of Maryland newspaper), Maryland Media, Inc. (3150 South Campus Dining Hall, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742), 8/99-5/02.

• Write film, music, television, and other reviews under deadline with specific word counts
• Write descriptive feature articles
• Write column for opinion page dealing with economics and business issues
• Helped train new movie reviewers

Please see samples of my Diamondback writing here:

Movies:

Woody Allen interview

Spider-Man review

Classical music writing:

Awadagin Pratt and Zuill Bailey review

Scandal! preview article

Robert Levin review

Happy Birthday, Mozart! review

Economics columns:

Ticket distribution policies

Student credit

Non-monetary benefits

I have many more clips available from all these sources if these pique your interest.

References: Available upon request.

I am available for freelance projects, and for full-time work if the job is an amazing job. I turn everything in on time and without (significant) mechanical errors. I'm especially interested in writing about classical music, jazz, hip-hop, movies, economics, and popular science issues, but I'll write about anything that's interesting and that I can write about well. Write me if you'd like to discuss an opportunity further.

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