Professional Experience
Employment
Editor/Grant Writer, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 2025-present
Supports faculty in the Departments of Medicine and Surgery as a member of the Editorial and Grant Writing Services team. Creates and maintains work plans for federal and foundation grant proposals and edits all grant components. Edits, coordinates, and submits grant applications and manuscripts to journals under tight deadlines. Works closely with physician-scientists and other research staff to ensure timely, high-quality submissions. Drafts letters of support for grants and letters of recommendation for service chiefs.
Research Writer, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 2022-2025
Collaborated with cancer researchers and investigators at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute to write, edit, and format all components of grant applications and manuscripts in a way that best highlights the strengths of their ideas and expertise for a variety of federal, state, and institutional funding sources, journals, and other appropriate publications. Served as a primary writer for the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Center Support Grant, which bestows NCI designation on approved cancer centers for an expansion of resources and center support. Maintained a consistent list of National Cancer Institute funding opportunities for Cancer Institute members. Managed and edited Cancer Institute website content. Wrote magazine articles for the annual Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Magazine. Created monthly upcoming conferences newsletter. Maintained an advanced understanding of the American Medical Association Style, advanced grammar, and accurate medical and scientific terminology. Applied accessible health literacy techniques for publications disseminated to lay audiences. Attended meetings with researchers across the Cancer Institute’s research programs, shared resources, grand rounds, open forums, and cancer administration.
Freelance Science Journalist, 2019-present
Writes essays, articles, feature stories, profiles, and other non-fiction prose on the environment, health, and other scientific concepts involving interviews, research, and the translation of technical scientific data into accessible stories for a lay audience.
Freelance Manuscript Editor, 2015-present
Reviews literary manuscripts, screenplays, dissertations, and other writing projects for grammatical and mechanical errors, craft development, and coherence with the prospective audience in mind. Assists with manuscript and graphic formatting, pitches and queries, and other needs determined for publication.
Grant Specialist, Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, 2020-2022
Served as the primary grant writer and editor for grant proposals and grant documentation in the pre-award stage; served as the primary contact for subaward contracts. Assisted with the submission and management of grants in a variety of grants management systems, such as eRA Commons, Grants.gov, JUSTGRANTS, GrantSolutions, Amplifund, and others. Improved the way staff capture, access, and use grant-making information to enhance programmatic and operational decision‐making, produced accurate reports of grant-making results, enhanced grantee/grant seeker relationships, and enabled learning. Assisted in the development and ongoing maintenance of a system to track and report grant performance measures to funding bodies, leadership, or other parties as directed. Maintained the necessary records, files, reports, databases, and resource materials pertinent to grant activities to ensure effective Grants Department operation and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. Researched funding agencies and opportunities for future grant applications. Assisted with budgets that are included in grant applications and grant reports.
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Grant Writer, Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, 2019-2020
Prepared compelling grant proposals to local, state, and federal agencies that demonstrate the need for financial support. Collaborated with program staff, fiscal staff, and Grants Director to formulate and complete narrative needs statements, goals and objectives, work plans, evaluation components, required charts and tables, and budgetary elements to ensure sustainability. Assisted with grant modifications and contract renewals, including rewriting and updating narrative components and grant renewal budgets. Identified and gathered information on potential projects. Maintained current records in a database and in paper files, including grant tracking, and assumed other tasks and responsibilities as assigned by the Grants Director. Project areas of note are Indian Child Welfare, domestic violence, the tribal health care system, the tribal courts system, and the tribal police department.
Science Writer, Health Science Beauty, LLC, 2019-2022
Writes and edits science- and medical-related content, including blogs, product descriptions, web content, and training/research writing for aesthetics/dermatology professionals on a freelance contract basis.
Medical Writer and Editor, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 2019
Ensured grant proposals (or manuscripts) adhered to the application (or journal) guidelines and were responsive to the goals and review criteria of the funding agency and/or award mechanism. Electronically formatted text and figures. Edited text for style, grammar, and content. Worked collaboratively with investigators to produce compelling applications that highlight the strengths of their ideas and proposed research by editing substantively for clarity, persuasiveness, and logical flow, particularly in scientific rationale and experimental design; clarifying and refining the presentation and bases of hypotheses and specific aims, often with suggestions for graphics to enhance understanding of complex processes and procedures; and evaluating document organization and suggesting revisions to improve clarity and logical flow.
Writing and Communications Consultant, University of Arkansas at Monticello, 2013-2017
Consulted with undergraduate and graduate students to assist in refining writing and communications projects, aiding throughout every stage of the writing process. Trained new consultants and conducted online consulting services while aiding in the operation and upkeep of the writing center space. Attended academic conferences over writing center scholarship and composed writing workshops and documents.
Education
M.A., Science Writing, Johns Hopkins University, May 2019
Marine Science and Science Writing on the Emerald Isle Graduate Residency served July 2018
B.A., English, University of Arkansas at Monticello, May 2017
Concentration: Creative Writing
Minors: Biology and Communications
Concentration: Professional Writing
Editorships
Associate Editor of The Philological Review, 2015-2017
Student Editor of Foliate Oak Literary Magazine, 2016
Contributing Editor of The Science Writer, 2023
Continuing Education
Understanding Clinical Research: Behind the Statistics, Coursera, Completed 2019
Procurement Standards: Successfully Balancing Efficiency and Risk, Thompson Grants, Completed 2020
Employee, Contractor, or Subrecipient? A Compliance Based Decision Making Process for Non-Federal Entities, Thompson Grants, Completed 2020
Managing Risk in an Age of Uncertainty, Thompson Grants, Completed 2020
Ethics in All Things Grants, Thompson Grants, Completed 2020
Asking Permission vs. Begging Forgiveness: Prior Approval Requirements under the Uniform Guidance, Thompson Grants, Completed 2020
Grant Budget Development that Makes Cents, Thompson Grants, Completed 2020
Indirect Cost Rates for Nonprofit Organizations: Reimbursement of Facilities and Administrative Costs, ML Weekes & Company, PC, Completed 2020
Are You Ready to Flip the Grants Compliance Switch?, Thompson Grants, 1.5 CPE credits, 2020
Grant Dashboards: An Introduction to Program Success Through Metrics and Operations, Thompson Grants, 1.5 CPE credits, 2020
Revised OMB Uniform Grants Guidance: What You Need to Know Now, FEMA, Completed 2020
Preparing Reviewer-Friendly Proposals, Thompson Grants, 1.5 CPE credits, 2020
Covid-19 Grants Management Update, Thompson Grants, 1.5 CPE credits, 2020
Demonstrating Program Impact in Reporting, Thompson Grants, Completed 2020
A Look at the New OMB Revised Uniform Guidance, Thompson Grants, 1.5 CPE credits, 2020
Think Like a CEO and Lead Your Grant Professionals Career, Thompson Grants, 1.5 CPE credits, 2020
Program Goal and Objective Alignment for Recipient and Funding Programs, Thompson Grants, 1.5 CPE credits, 2020
The 2020 Compliance Supplement Update, Thompson Grants, 1.0 CPE credits, 2021
Lessons Learned from CARES Act Administration and Next Steps for Grantees, Crowe, Completed 2021
Building Capacity: Facilitating Compliant & Automatous Project Directors, Thompson Grants, 1.5 CPE credits, 2021
Will OMB’s Guidance Require Your Polices Be Revised and Do We Need a Standard Emergency Policy Framework?, Thompson Grants, 1.5 CPE credits, 2021
What You Need To Know About the Updated Compliance Supplement and Addendum Under the Uniform Guidance, Thompson Grants, 1.0 CPE credits, 2021
How the Uniform Grant Guidance Updates Will Impact Your Post-Award Management, 1.0 CPE credits, 2021
OMB’s New Grants Management Flexibilities: What You Need to Know Now, FEMA, Completed 2021
Nonprofit Accounting and Financial Reporting Update, Thompson Grants, 1.14 CPE credits, 2021
What to Expect in SAM.gov after the Merger of beta.SAM.gov, Thompson Grants, 1.5 CPE credits, 2021
Nonprofit GAAP Accounting for Grants and Contracts – Getting Revenue Recognition Right, Thompson Grants, 1.5 CPE credits, 2021
Grants Management Manual: The Backbone of the Grants Management Office, Thompson Grants, 1.5 CPE credits, 2021
Cash Management Guidelines 2021 Update, Thompson Grants, 1.0 CPE credits, 2021
When Stewarding Grant Funder Relationships: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Make All the Difference, Thompson Grants, 1.0 CPE credits, 2021
Pre-Award Grant Readiness, Thompson Grants, 1.0 CPE credits, 2021
Web-Based Grant Resources: Looking for the Best Fit, Thompson Grants, 1.0 CPE credits, 2021
How to Avoid Common Mistakes Made by Subrecipients and Maximize Grant Partnerships to Achieve Outcomes, Thompson Grants, Completed 2021
The Case Statement and the Grants Calendar: Essential Tools for the Grant Writer, Thompson Grants, 1.0 CPE credits, 2021
Get Your Grants Game in Gear! Time Savers and Organizing Tips for Your Grants Team, Thompson Grants, 1.0 CPE credits, 2021
Impact of a Federal Government Shutdown: Being Prepared for the If and When, Thompson Grants, 1.0 CPE credits, 2021
Best Practices for the Grant Professional in Managing the Post-Grant Award Phase, Thompson Grants, 1.0 CPE credits, 2021
The 2021 Compliance Supplement: Best Practices for Internal Control Over Federal Grants, Thompson Grants, 1.5 CPE credits, 2021
Recovering Federal Grant Indirect Costs: A Tutorial for Nonprofit Organizations, FEMA, Completed 2021
Introduction to Breast Cancer, Coursera, Completed 2022
Writing in the Sciences, Coursera, Completed 2023
NCURA Webinar -NIH Data Management & Sharing Policy, Completed 2023
UAMS Grants Management Workshops: Project Management, Completed 2023
UAMS Grants Management Workshops: Subaward Management, Completed 2023
UAMS Grants Management Workshops: Building a Budget for Grants, Completed 2023
UAMS Grants Management Workshops: Account Closeouts, Completed 2023
UAMS Grants Management Workshops: Cost Sharing, Completed 2023
UAMS Grants Management Workshops: Facilities & Administrative Rates, Completed 2024
UAMS Grants Management Workshops: Understanding Recharge-Core Facility Rates, Completed 2024
UAMS Grants Management Workshops: Proposal Submission and Account Set Up, Completed 2024
UAMS Grants Management Workshops: Personnel Management & Effort Certification, Completed 2024
UAMS Grants Management Workshops: Invoicing and Payments, Completed 2024
UAMS Grants Management Workshops: What can I charge to my grant? Completed 2024
NCURA Webinar - When Pre-Award Becomes a Post-Activity, Completed 2024
UAMS Grants Management Workshop: Workday Grants Reporting, Completed 2024
Workshops
Grant Writing Workshop, 2022
Traveled to Monticello, Arkansas, to the University of Arkansas at Monticello during Professional Development Week to train faculty and staff in grant writing from the brainstorming and funding identification stages through submission and post-award implementation. The workshop included a 50-minute presentation and Q&A.
Poetry Workshop, 2017
Traveled to McGehee, Arkansas, to McGehee High School and conducted a poetry workshop in various classes at the local high school, exposing students to various forms of poetry and a variety of poets while sharing my own personal experiences as a poet. Performed both notable and original poems and conducted a poetry activity.
Conferences and Conventions
South Central Writing Centers Association Conference Presenter, 2014
Presented a collaborative paper and discussion alongside fellow UAM writing center consultants and faculty about the recreation of the UAM writing center, discussing the improvements and struggles of evolving the center from a computer lab to an operating writing center, introducing our new appointment system, tutoring practices, and discussing the resistance to change from students and faculty members at the university as well as praise given.
South Central Writing Centers Association Conference, 2016
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Outstanding Tutor Award Finalist
Alpha Chi National Convention Presenter, 2016
Presented a ten-page research paper entitled “Consolidating Sciences in the Writing Center: No More Pickles and Ice Cream” on instituting science writing practices in the university writing center, discussing ways to effectively work with science students on writing projects, as well as personal outreach to faculty members to address the needs of students in the sciences and promotion of writing center services and training.
Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference, 2017
Attended as the selected senior creative writing student for the experience of engaging with fellow creative writers, as well as assisting in the promotion of the University of Arkansas at Monticello MFA program.
Alpha Chi National Convention Presenter, 2017
Presented an original short story entitled “Yellow,” confronting the convention’s theme of “Transcending Boundaries” by approaching suicide and mental illness from a unique perspective.
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Thelma Hall Prize in Creative Writing Winner
Partners for Student Success Conference, 2018
Attended as a professional academic advisor to enrich professionalism and performance within a student services environment on the university campus, participating in panels over growth mindset and positivity in the classroom, identifying and diffusing students with suicidal intentions, and establishing engaging mentor groups for first-time freshmen, with an emphasis on on-campus residential students.
Memberships
American Medical Writers Association, 2019-2020