St Louis, Missouri, United States
As a PhD in literature, I know how stories and language work, and I’m passionate about using them to change lives and change the world. I help nonprofits tell their stories to secure mission-critical funding. As a grantwriter and grants consultant, I weave an agency’s history, qualitative and quantitative data, and tales of overcoming challenges into grant proposals and reports that build relationships with funding organizations. I use my development experience at both large and small organizations to guide nonprofits toward successful grant seeking strategies and efficient practices. At Liberal Christian Mom, my website and accompanying newsletter, I explore the intersections of Christian theology, progressive politics, and modern motherhood. A new essay every month aims to reach out to readers who don’t fit into the stereotypical mold of “Christian” in American culture. I seek to publish writing that falls outside the scope of Liberal Christian Mom in websites and literary journals. Finally, as a PhD who forewent the academic job market in favor of stability and a steady income, I welcome opportunities to advise recent doctoral graduates on finding fulfilling employment outside of academia. I have spoken at conferences, on YouTube, and one-on-one with new PhDs about my experience in forging a new career path and how they can do the same.
Let’s Build Hope established the Grants for Growth (formerly GrantsPLUS) program in 2021 to respond to a widespread need for expertise in grant funding among local nonprofits. As a Grants for Growth consultant, I do much more than write grant proposals (although crafting persuasive asks is a critical part of my role). I also help nonprofits evaluate their current grants strategy; research, cultivate, and steward new and lapsed prospects; and implement plans of action to increase their annual grant revenue and improve funder relationships.
As a freelance writer and editor, I use the skills I've gained working in both academic and nonprofit spaces to help others put their best foot forward. Whether writing a grant proposal or editing a dissertation, I collaborate with clients to craft final products that proudly tell their stories and meet their goals.
I managed a portfolio of corporate and foundation prospects and worked with departments and centers across campus to match their vision with the priorities of organizational funders. I collaborated with the university's talented faculty and staff to craft their important work into compelling stories which, in the form of proposals and final reports, inspired both local and national funders to support the UMSL mission.
As part of the Corporate and Foundation Giving team, I wrote proposals, abstracts, and reports to help The Field Museum continue its mission of "exploring the Earth and its people." I regularly interviewed Field Museum scientists, researchers, and community outreach professionals to better communicate the Museum's activities and goals.
Since passing my comprehension examination, I have worked on an extensive research project examining the effects of the Victorian religious crisis on the emerging genres of fantasy and science fiction during the nineteenth century. This dissertation required me to set a schedule and stick to it, balance my writing goals with teaching duties and other demands on my time, and receive and incorporate constructive criticism from my advisor. I have analyzed vast amounts of data from both primary and secondary sources and acquired expertise in Victorian culture, fantasy and science fiction literature and criticism, and the place of religion in Western popular culture.
I taught 2-3 sections of The Interpretation of Literature per year, a required course for all non-English majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. From 2009-2011, I taught introductory, required courses in the Rhetoric department. For all of these courses (sixteen so far), I have designed a syllabus, given lectures, facilitated classroom discussions, met with students individually to improve their writing, and provided highly individualized feedback on both oral and written work. In my time as an instructor, I have helped over 300 students improve their writing, editing, and oral communication skills!
I submitted abstracts and was accepted to six academic conferences at both the regional and national levels. I presented original research and answered questions from experts in the field, while also gathering feedback for future forms of that research, some of which I used to support my dissertation.