WORK EXPERIENCE
Natural Resources Conservation Service, Jackson, Miss. — January 2011 until present: Intern for the agency’s public affairs office. I also worked with NRCS on several projects related to urban conservation.
The Clarion-Ledger and Rankin Ledger, Jackson, Miss. — May 2008 to January 2011: Beat writer for three municipalities, Rankin County government and law enforcement. I also cover urban planning and environmental issues in Mississippi.
The Modesto Bee, Modesto, Calif. — May 2007 to August 2007: Interned on the business, news and features desk in a 10-week program. Served as cops reporter for two weeks.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
My work has also been published in numerous newspapers in Mississippi, the USA Today and Planning magazine.
SKILLS
Spanish — Fluent in Spanish; more than seven years of study.
Computer Programs — Adobe Flash (Web interactive graphics), Adobe Photoshop, Quark XPress, Avid (video) and iMovie.
EDUCATION
Jackson State University, Jackson, Miss. — Pursuing a master’s in urban and regional planning. My graduation date is summer 2011.
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La. — Graduated in spring 2008 with a BA in mass communication with a concentration in print journalism and a Spanish minor. While at LSU, I served as editor-in-chief of The Daily Reveille (Circulation: 14,000/day) and its Web site (Web impressions: 25,000/day on average). The newspaper’s Web site won the Editor & Publisher magazine’s award for best collegiate news site that year.
Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina — July 2005 to December 2005: Completed one history course and two Spanish courses.
OTHER EDUCATION
American Planning Association-Mississippi Chapter’s Annual Conference, Ocean Springs, Miss. — November 2010: Attended the planning society’s annual conference, which focused on designing livable communities. I also presented a poster on the effects of sedimentation of the Ross Barnett Reservoir and won second place.
National Conference of Legislators Coastal Policy Summit, New Orleans — October 2010: Summit of state leaders from around the South on dealing with environmental issues.
American Planning Association’s Annual Conference, New Orleans — April 2010: Attended the national planning conference that spotlighted planning for cities in coastal environments.
American Planning Association-Mississippi Chapter’s Annual Conference, Hernando, Miss. — November 2009: Attended the planning society’s annual workshop.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Fellow, Narragansett, R.I — Participated in a one-week workshop held by the Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting, a program of the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography.
Reporting award, Jackson, Miss. — Recognized for “Outstanding Media Assistance in Promoting Conservation of Natural Resources” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service.
Leadership LSU, Baton Rouge, La. — Member of the class of 2008.
Journalism Scholarships, LSU Manship School of Mass Communication — Tiger Athletic Foundation Scholarship (2007), Melvin and Charlotte Shexnayder Scholarship (2006), Tiger Athletic Foundation Scholarship (2005) and Walter Hitesman Scholarship (2004).
