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A Brief History of Excellence through Adaptation

Why Sandstone? Why Not Bedrock?

We know the bedrock on which we stand. From the philosophical rhetoric of Thales and Anaximander to the inquiries of Socrates, the formalism of Plato, the narrative histories of Herodotus, the structural rhetoric of Aristotle, and the persuasions of Cicero, our footing on the bedrock of written expressions of the human experience is firm. With the printing press came the Chancery Standard, and we can cite modernity's great-grandchildren, The Chicago Manual of Style and The Elements of Style, and the AP, APA, and MLA manuals as if they were verse. But language is porous and business and media needs are everchanging, and what we understand best is that great content is aesthetically shapely and functionally shapeshifting. Language, above all, is adaptive. 

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For thirty-seven years, my professional life has been defined by two parallel drives: an exacting love for the written word and an insatiable curiosity for the languages of new fields—be they technical, visual, or theoretical. From managing a successful editing firm to teaching college-level writing and navigating the complexities of a PhD, I have treated every project as a rigorous field of study.

 

I believe that professional agency is not found in the specific task assigned, but in the attitude one takes toward ensuring a positive outcome. I am as comfortable in the weeds of production as I am in the heights of project leadership. I thrive in environments that prize quality over speed, where research and refinement are seen as essential rather than optional.

 

Whether working on-site or remotely, I value a work culture of synchronicity, where diverse minds come together to make the world more legible and accessible. I am a firm believer that an inspired innovator can elevate an entire team, and I am committed to being that presence. Whether working independently or across borders, my goal remains the same: to bring out the most valuable qualities in an idea, a product, or a student.

Education & Awards

Doctorate (2021) and MFA (2003) from University of UTah

Cosgriff-Dahl Scholarship

Earl and Ida David Scholarship

First place in novel and book-length work from Utah Arts Council for The Arc and the Sediment (published 2007)

Phi Beta Kappa (interdisciplinary honors society)
Sigma Tau Delta (English honors society)

Floyd O’Neil American West Center research award

University of Utah Writing Program Excellence in Teaching Award

 

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Software

MS Word and PowerPoint Expert

LLMs from Google, Microsoft, ChatGPT
LMS systems (various)
Adobe Photoshop, PicArts
Adobe Premier and Rush, Splice
Sharepoint
HTML certified

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