resume

Freelance Journalist

· Regular bylines in publications such as The New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, The Athletic, Charlotte magazine and others on a variety of topics. Specialize in profiles and features on complicated issues or unique angles. 
· Contributor work for The Athletic as general assignment reporter assisting with Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets and college basketball coverage.
· Wrote main feature story for debut of Ink, The Athletic’s longform vertical.
· Established contributor for Associated Press, primarily focusing on Charlotte Hornets coverage.
· Regularly wrote longform features for Arizona State’s GlobalSport Matters, a publication that is a joint initiative between the Global Sport Institute and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
· Worked as contractor for Pace Communications; generated marketing content and revamped Choice Hotels websites.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer

Sports features and enterprise reporter

• Wrote regular in-depth stories on local and national sports figures and issues.
• Also served as back-up Cavaliers beat writer 2010-11 and 2012-14. Covered home and road games and regularly wrote NBA column about league issues.
• Recognized as top 10 for explanatory writing in 2012 by Associated Press Sports Editors for a story about two Akron football players who overdosed after becoming hooked on painkillers they received from the school.
• Earned APSE 3rd-place recognition for project reporting in 2009 for four-part series about how 8th grade football players decide which high school to attend.
• Responsible for generating all story ideas and organizing coverage plan.
• Named 2006 honorable mention Best Sports Writer by Associated Press Society of Ohio.
• Named runner-up for 2005 Associated Press Society of Ohio Best Sports Writer.
• Cited for notable writing in 2005 and 2007 editions of Best American Sports Writing.
• Regularly Tweeted, blogged and recorded video (as both subject and recorder) for cleveland.com.
• Training in digital sound editing.

The Dallas Morning News

Sports Features Writer - Oct. 2002 - Feb. 2003

• Wrote in-depth profiles and enterprise pieces.

Dallas Mavericks Beat Writer - April 2000 - Oct. 2002

• Covered all home and road games as primary beat writer of Dallas’ NBA franchise.
• Initiated daily coverage, generated ideas and worked independently.
• Cultivated thriving relationships with variety of NBA personalities — including Mavericks owner Mark Cuban during his first two seasons in the league.
• Juggled multiple assignments – including Internet and cable TV requirements — and regular travel with nightly deadlines. Consistently broke news on competitive beat.
• Organized playoff coverage by brainstorming ideas and assigning stories to reporting team.
• First woman to cover Mavericks beat in organization’s 20-year history.

SMU Beat Writer, July 1998 - April 2000

• Covered all college sports, with emphasis on football and men’s basketball.
• Investigated and unearthed football recruiting violations while maintaining daily coverage. Earned Associated Press Sports Editors honorable mention recognition for investigative work in 1999.
• Helped with coverage of all major Dallas pro teams, including entire 1999 Dallas Stars playoff run and Stanley Cup Finals.

The Kansas City Star

High schools sports reporter - Nov. 1997 - June 1998

• Responsible for coverage of all high school sports within area of suburban Kansas City.
• Earned backup Kansas City Royals duties that included development of weekly Royals page.

The Detroit Free Press

General assignment sports reporting intern - June 1997 – Oct. 1997

• Covered everything from Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions games to Harlem Globetrotters.
• Assisted with coverage of Fab Five investigation that earned APSE honorable mention in investigative reporting.

The San Bernardino County Sun

Sports reporting intern - June 1996 – Sept. 1996

• Covered Class-A San Bernardino Stampede as a beat for the summer, reporting on all home and road games as the team played in the Cal League.

Lexington Herald-Leader

Reporting and editing intern - Sept. 1995 - Dec. 1995

• As part of Northwestern University's Teaching Newspaper program, spent a quarter as a reporting and editing intern.
• Spent time reporting for city/state, business, features and sports departments, and worked as an editor on the sports copy desk.

Cleveland State University

Instructor, August 2007 - Dec. 2011

• Taught Media Writing, an introductory journalism course that emphasizes basics of news writing and reporting, as well as AP Style.