At the heart of my skills are
these two things
Curiosity
Between paying for two obscure documentary streaming services, following etymology TikTok, and absorbing corners of my clients' expertise for the last two decades, it's easy to see that I am propelled by curiosity.
There’s nothing I love more than digging deep into a new subject, learning everything I can, and then finding relatable and compelling ways to explain it. The more technical, the better.
After years of experience communicating about STEM research, I know how to ask the right questions and find the right angles.
High-Level
Pattern Recognition
If I can get a high-level view, I can make connections, see patterns, start conversations, build roadmaps, and understand exactly how to explain your complicated, world-changing ideas to the people who need to understand them.
During any given meeting, I’ll probably draw you at least one chart and explain something by way of metaphor.
I ask a lot of questions:
What does that mean?
Tell me more. Why?
(and occasionally worn hardhats and waded into rivers)
For the last twenty years, I've refined my curiosity and high-level pattern identification skills in business, STEM, and higher ed, where I have:
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Marketed STEM programs and professional development courses.
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Rebranded financial planning firms.
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Launched online courses.
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Rebranded coaching content for split audiences.
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Wrote about research to the media, prospective students, donors, government entities, and public stakeholders.
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Nourished relationships with corporate and individual donors.
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Helped launch a new academic degree and headed the celebrations for a centennial anniversary of a program that helped knit the fabric of the state.
I hold a Master of Professional Writing degree from the University of Oklahoma and a BBA in Business Communications from Baylor University.
My work has resulted in stories in national publications like Vox, Forbes, and WealthManagement.com.
INDUSTRIES + EXPERTS I'VE WORKED WITH
Engineering
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Aerospace Engineering
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Big Data
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Biomedical Engineering
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Engineering Physics
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Chemical Engineering
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Civil Engineering
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Computer Science
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Information and Systems Engineering
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Mechanical Engineering
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Residential Construction
Energy
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Blower Door Testing and HERS® Scores
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Blue Hydrogen
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Carbon Capture, Sequestration, and Storage
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Energy Transition
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ESG
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Geothermal Energy
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Geological Engineering
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Natural Gas Engineering
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Petroleum Engineering
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Renewable Energy
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Solar Energy
Science
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Environmental Science
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Construction Science
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Tornado-Resilient home design
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Geology
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Geophysics
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Hydrology
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Induced Seismicity
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Machine Learning
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Meteorology
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Paleontology
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Planetary Geology
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Seismicity
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Scanning Electron Microscopy
Medicine
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Autism Spectrum Disorder
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Biomedical Engineering
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Dyslexia
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Postpartum Mood Disorders
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Hearing Loss
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Stroke And Neurology
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Intersection of Engineering and Medical Imaging
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Workers' Compensation
Business
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Accounting
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Business Academia
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Business Thought Leadership
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Finance
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Financial Planning
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MBA Programs
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Real Estate
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Training and Internship Best Practices
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Startups
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Wealth Management
Higher Ed
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Admissions Coaching
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Med and Law School Admissions
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Continuing Education (CE) Courses
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Diversity and Inclusion
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Donor Stewardship
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Fundraising
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Research and recruiting at the Tier-One Level
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Professional Development Courses
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Student Scholarships and Financial Aid
Misc.
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Animal Behavior
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Audiobook Narration
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DJs
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China (as in the fancy dishes)
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Expert Witnesses
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Home Builders
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Florists
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Hair Care Products
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Legal Practices
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Publishing
More about me.
I know a little bit about a lot of things. Want proof? The books in that picture are all from my bookshelves. My personal life revolves around my family, including my physics teacher husband, two young boys, and one standard poodle. Also a novelist, I can be found most mornings at sunrise typing away at my favorite dog-friendly coffee shop in Norman, Oklahoma.
PERSONALITY
ENFP and Enneagram 3w4
HOBBIES
PLACES I'VE LIVED
Along with Oklahoma, I've also called Texas, California, Colorado, New Zealand, and Holland home.
English horseback riding and gluten-free cooking.
STRANGEST PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Either arguing with a film director in a river because he wanted to shoot water samples being collected incorrectly or asking the governor to wear closed-toe shoes.
MOST LIKELY TO STEP ON AT NIGHT:
MOST MEANINGFUL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
A young researcher came to me after winning a prestigious national award and had been asked to provide a lay-person description of his research. It took us several passes of me asking questions, him answering, me writing, him correcting, but we finally got it. Several days later, he stopped by my office uncharacteristically emotional, and said: “I sent this to my parents. They finally know what I do.”
Lego bricks...so many Legos.
DUMBEST THING I'VE EVER DONE
FAVORITE WRITING AND BUSINESS BOOKS
Executive Presence, Range, David and Goliath, Burnout, Start with Why, On Writing Well, The War of Art, and Bird by Bird.
In college, I jumped out of an airplane because a guy I liked asked me to. Did I mention I'm afraid of heights and small planes? Oh, and the guy chickened out at the last minute. I was fueled by spite more than bravery.
PROBABLY DRINKING
Plain latte, if it's the morning. Sparkling water, if it's the afternoon. Lambrusco or sauvignon blanc, if it's after 5. Highland scotch finished in a sherry cask, if it's a special occasion.
OFFICE HELPER
I work out of a historic 1930s post office that has all the vibes. Sometimes Georgie serves as my assistant.
Serif+Sway
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, ANYWAY?
serif
Serifs are the little tails and strokes in typefaces like Times New Roman. While they may seem strictly decorative, serifs are bossy little marks.
Like tiny typographical arrows, serifs prompt your eyes to physically move from one letter to the next.
There are a lot of “serifs” required for effective communication . Clarity, accuracy, and strong calls to action are signposts that guide your audience where they need to go.
sway
At the same time, it is impossible to truly spread your message without subtle, persuasive nuance. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the business of composite materials or finance or you teach ballet classes. Your stakeholders must be swayed.
That can be accomplished with well-chosen words, the best phrases, compelling graphic elements, and strategy that's as smart as it is emotionally intelligent.
When you think of Serif+Sway, you could also think:
HEAD + HEART
INFORM + INSPIRE
KNOW + BELIEVE
CONVINCE + CONVERT