EDUCATION

  • Master of Arts, Creative Writing | Ball State University • 2015

  • Master of Library Science | Indiana University (IUPUI) • 2013

  • Bachelor of Arts, English, Theater | University of Texas-Pan American • 2008

Certificate: Social Media Marketing, HubSpot, 2023

Certificate: UX Design, General Assembly, 2018

40+ credit hours towards M.A. degrees in mental health and school counseling, with 150+ direct service hours in elementary school counseling.

Real Estate License, Indiana.

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Empathetic, enthusiastic marketing professional and copywriter with 15 years’ experience in copywriting, content marketing and strategy, digital marketing, brand messaging, storytelling, plus UX (product interface) writing and social media marketing certifications. Experienced in project management, creative operations, editorial calendar development and management, SEO, social media, email, inbound marketing, and growth.

EXPERIENCE

Freelance Marketing Coordinator, Writer, Content Creator
Self-Employed | 2010 to Present

  • Work with clients to design content, strategize, and provide project management and organizational support to achieve digital marketing, growth, brand reputation, and creative goals on schedule or earlier. Past clients include Survey Monkey, The Home Depot, Wag.com, and Priceline, in addition to a number of tech startups. (I was at the acclaimed 500 Startups!)

  • Provide creative services, especially: copywriting, design, social media and blog content creation, social media and blog management, email (copy, strategy, and management), paid ads, pitch decks, and brand development projects.

  • Oversee production of creative and digital marketing campaigns; develop and review creative briefs; delegate tasks and provide timely feedback.

  • Craft compelling, story-driven marketing content that engages audiences while aligning with SEO and business objectives.

  • Develop and execute SEO-driven content strategies for clients across industries, blending data-backed insights with creative storytelling to increase visibility and organic search traffic.

  • Write and optimize SEO blog content, email campaigns, and other marketing assets, balancing search performance with narrative depth and audience engagement.

  • Apply a critical and analytical approach to content strategy, identifying gaps in messaging, refining brand voice, and ensuring that marketing materials connect meaningfully with target audiences.

  • Build and manage editorial workflows using Asana, Trello, and Monday, ensuring content production aligns with broader business and brand storytelling goals.

  • Oversee website content updates, maintaining brand consistency, clarity, and conversion-driven messaging across platforms.

Marketing Communications Specialist
Indiana Professional Management Group | 2023 to 2024

  • Developed, wrote, and managed content workflows to ensure consistent publishing and audience engagement.

  • Led marketing coordination efforts, aligning campaigns, outreach, and communication workflows across teams.

  • Maintained and optimized the company blog to enhance brand visibility and audience retention.

  • Designed, wrote, and distributed a monthly newsletter reaching nearly 10,000 subscribers, including board members and key stakeholders.

  • Created marketing collateral, social media content, annual reports, and internal/external communications to support organizational growth.

Communications Manager & Lead Copywriter
GivingAssistant.org | Jan 2019 - Nov 2020

  • Built and led a team of 12-15 freelance SEO writers and content specialists, driving a 4000% increase in organic traffic within six months.

  • Managed editorial strategy, scaling the blog into a primary driver of inbound traffic and contributing to a $1M+ increase in revenue, with nearly half directly tied to content performance.

  • Played a key role in the development and launch of Giving Assistant’s SaaS fundraising solution, designed to help companies enable their customers to donate to any US nonprofit through shopping cashback and round-ups.

  • Wrote the pitch deck and web content for the SaaS sales pitch to Priceline, which resulted in adoption of the platform. My copy was featured within the SaaS interface itself, as well as in all consumer-facing marketing materials and web content.

  • Partnered with Classy to support their efforts in marketing their fundraising SaaS through strategic blog content that aligned with nonprofit fundraising trends and donor engagement strategies.

  • Wrote and optimized content across multiple channels, including blogs, email campaigns, UX copy, and social media.

  • Established a content production workflow, ensuring consistent publishing, brand alignment, and strategic messaging across all content initiatives.

  • Developed and wrote the company’s first Brand Story, and set of Core Values

  • Created and launched Coffee With Nonprofits, a content initiative featuring blog interviews and internal publications that highlighted nonprofit leaders and their impact.

  • Wrote UX copy for Giving Assistant’s browser extension (for consumers) and fundraising software (for nonprofits), working closely with product designers and software developers to ensure seamless user experiences. Used Figma, InVision, and Miro to collaborate on design iterations and optimize user flows.

Lead Copywriter, Strategist
GivingAssistant.org | Sept 2016 - Jan 2019

  • Met company-wide copy needs: email, UX/product, internal communications, executive pitch decks, landing pages, and more; collaborated with design teams to support creative and sales funnel strategies.

  • Created company's first official brand voice guidelines; wrote a brand story that made the CEO cry (in a good way).

Instructor: Rhetoric, Composition, Research
Ball State University | August 2013 - May 2015

  • Developed syllabi, lesson plans, and taught two courses in freshman rhetoric, composition, and research per semester to approximately 25 students per course.

  • Worked 1:1 tutoring students in our award-winning writing center.

  • Assisted department chair in managing social media accounts, editing and designing alumni newsletter, and composing articles for department blog.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Editor, Graduate Assistant • The Teacher Educator • 2021-2022

Editor • Cause Hack (Content Marketing Agency) • 2021

Writer, Editor • Inbound Back Office (Content Marketing Agency) • 2020-2021

School Counseling Practicum • Longfellow Elementary • 2021-2022

Content Creator, Creative Talent Sourcer • Keva Dine Agency • 2021

Youth Services Librarian • Muncie Public Libraries • 2015

Owner, Photographer • Melissa Glidden Photography • 2011 - 2013

High School Teacher (Texas and Indiana) • 2008 - 2011

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Content Marketing, Copywriting, & SEO Strategy

  • Marketing Coordination & Project Management

  • Editorial Workflow & Content Operations

  • Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Blog Management & Brand Messaging

  • Audience Engagement & Email Marketing

  • Social Media Strategy & Digital Campaigns

  • Stakeholder & Client Communication

  • Website Content & Digital Strategy

  • Education (public K-12 and higher education)

  • Mental Health and Psychology

  • Arts and Humanities Education

OTHER SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

  • Copywriting, content creation, digital and print marketing creative

  • Web and UX/UI design; HTML and CSS

  • Graphic design and photography (esp. Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Canva)

  • Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Suite, Google Suite

  • MailChimp, HubSpot, Wordpress, Asana, HootSuite, and other content and project management platforms.

  • Digital growth and visibility; SEO/SEM, Google Analytics, PPC

  • Information architecture

  • Research, journalism, and PR writing

  • Spanish proficient