I’ve been designing websites since 1996. While working as a part-time office assistant at Labyrinth Solutions – a local ISP I developed a personal website. When the teenager they had hired to do web design insulted one customer too many, I was asked to take over designing for clients. I started designing sites for local small business and my career path was set. Even though I hold a “day job” working for WVU, I also do freelance web design consulting, teach for the WVU School of Journalism and am slowly working on my Masters in Journalism.
Straight out of college, I started working at WVNET first as a Help Desk Consultant and the last 4 years there a Web Developer (1998-2003). From Aug. 2003 to Nov. 2005, I worked as a Program Manager (web development and public relations) at the WVU Center on Aging. In Dec. 2005, I moved back into web development full-time at the WVU Office of Information Technology.
I have an extensive web design portfolio including sites designed for small businesses (Allegheny Treenware, LLC, Things Gone By Antiques), colleges and universities (Fairmont State Community & Technical College, WVU Center on Aging, WVU Office of Information Technology), conferences (WVNET 2000-2002 conferences), state organizations (WV Statewide Addressing and Mapping Board), historical sites (Morris-Jumel Mansion in New York City), programs and special projects (West Virginia Celebration 2000, West Virginia’s Veterans History Project).
I am also the chair of the Statewide Internet Group – a committee of West Virginia state web developers.
In April 2004, I was inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha a college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication. I am writing my masters thesis on how aging populations interact with the Web and how to design sites that better suit their needs.
I teach public relations editing and design for the WVU School of Journalism.
Specialties:
website usability, layout, accessibility, writing for the web, public relations, branding and identity, graphic design, logo design