Your Partner in Higher Ed Communications
Hi, I’m Samantha. I’m a California-based higher education writer and editor with more than 20 years of experience, including time on staff as editor of an alumni magazine.
If you’ve got a magazine feature, an important donor interview or website copy that needs revamping, I’m here to help.
Over the years, I’ve interviewed hundreds of students, alumni, faculty, and administrators in the higher ed space. I’ve also managed all aspects of magazine production, from article and photo assignments to editing, writing captions and final proofing.
Experienced in Higher Ed
I understand the nuances of working within the higher ed environment, which means you can hand off that project to someone who gets it.
Someone who’s experienced working with constituencies at all levels, from students, faculty, administrators, donors and more.
Someone who’s skilled at navigating the complexities inherent in a college environment.
And someone who meets deadlines. Always.
About Me
After earning a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, I started my writing career in newspapers. My first beats were education, including covering the local university.
Right away, I loved the energy and vitality inherent in education, and I still do today.
I later joined the University of San Francisco on staff, first as campus news editor and then as editor of USF Magazine, the university’s alumni publication. Now I work with colleges and universities across California and beyond as their go-to freelancer, ready to help tell their story.
Newly Published!
Check out some of my latest work:
Alum profile for UC Santa Barbara Magazine
Multiple articles for Samuel Merritt University Magazine (p. 6, p. 20 and p. 26)
Feature Articles
Sacred Spaces, Healthy Places. SMU Magazine article highlighting the university's work with faith communities to improve health.
Someone Like Me. Article for SMU Magazine about work to diversify the nurse anesthetist field.
For these alums, it's personal. Article for USF Lawyer magazine about alumni efforts to address inequality and injustice.
Beyond the Music (p. 24). Article for USF Lawyer magazine about alumnus on the cutting edge of entertainment law.
Food as Justice. USF Magazine article focused on student efforts to tackle food insecurity.
IP Support Network. Article focusing on USF School of Law students' ability to file patent applications for clients.
News Articles (campus research, donor and alumni profiles, and more)
Announcing New Foundation Board Members
USF Grad Finds Hope in Frog Research
Sell food. Support farmers. Feed children. Repeat.
Bringing More Women to the Table
Students Deliver Food Justice in the City
SMU College of Podiatric Medicine Receives $1 Million Donation
California School of Podiatric Medicine Returns to its Roots
Articles Focused on Health Sciences
After His Mother Was Injured, Pablo Tavares Saw a Need for Better Physical Therapists
Health Disparities, a Two-Tiered System
Solving the Nurse Shortage and the Nurse Faculty Shortage
When Theresa Cordova Cares for Veterans, She’s Helping Heroes
Webpages
New content for About pages for WVMCCD: Bond Projects, History, Service Area
Editing
I’ve written and edited Institutional Self-Evaluation Reports (and midterm reports) required by ACCJC. I’ve also written a client's Aspen Prize application and written, edited and project-managed self-studies needed for NASAD and NASM accreditations.
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Samantha can take on any type of writing assignment – from a profile to a press release to a magazine feature story - and deliver top-quality writing while meeting even the tightest of deadlines. She has the unique ability to adapt her writing to the voice of diverse publications, she is skilled at engaging her interview subjects, and is incredibly organized. I always know that she will deliver on time and in tune.
— Angie Davis, Asst. VP (former), USF Office of Marketing Communications
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Samantha’s professionalism, willingness to get it right, commitment to excellence, thoughtful reflectiveness, and consistent sense of humor made it possible for us to not only complete the self-study but to complete it early. Her ability to translate fragmented ideas and evolving thoughts into a cohesive and interesting document is impressive. She always met her deadlines and I was never left emptyhanded when the due date arrived. This was a true partnership and we are better off for having gone through it with Samantha.
— Andrew Chandler, Dean (retired), Cilker School of Art and Design at West Valley College