I’ve been freelance since 1999. My current clients:
Robb Report magazine, contributing writer on aviation topics.
Robb Report online, New & Noteworthy, aviation.
AVweb.com, contributing writer (weekly news reporting and special-event coverage).
Cosmos, Australia’s science magazine, contributing writer.
Rhode Island Monthly, contributing writer.
Rhode Island College, adjunct professor of geography.
Northeastern University, adjunct instructor of earth science (online).
A quick overview of my work history.
1990-92… Rhode Island Sea Grant publications office, science editor.
1988-90… National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., book editor.
Some awards my stories have won.
2007: “The Bay is Their Oyster,” a story about aquaculture in Rhode Island, won First Place – Business Story in the Rhode Island Press Association 2006 Editorial Awards. The story ran in the April 2006 issue of Rhode Island Monthly.
2006: “Dying for a drink,” a story about why Rhode Island has the nation’s worst rate of drunk-driving deaths, won the 2006 MADD National Media Award in the Magazine category. The story ran in the October 2005 issue of Rhode Island Monthly.
2006: “Don’t Mess With Our Brook!,” a story about a grass-roots effort to protect a fish run from pollution, won First Place for Reporting about the Environment and Science, in the Rhode Island Press Association 2005 Editorial Awards. The story ran in the April 2005 issue of Rhode Island Monthly.
1999: “Their Dreams Took Wing,” a feature about five diverse women who chose to become pilots, won the Max Karant Award for Excellence in Aviation Coverage, first place in print media, from the Airplane Owners and Pilots Association. The story ran in Hers, a women’s magazine in the Providence Journal.
Some of my credentials.
Master’s degree in geography, from University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Bachelor’s degree in geography, from Rhode Island College (transferred after two years at University of Rhode Island).
From the FAA: Private pilot certificate, Airplane Single Engine Land. Commercial pilot certificate, hot-air balloons. Advanced ground instructor certificate.
A brief bio.
Rhode Island, born and raised.
College — University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College –started as an English major, then discovered geography. College took a while — I was self-supporting and took time off to work, fly, sail, and travel (mainly U.S. and Canada, by car). Sailed Newport to Norfolk as a cadet aboard brigantine Black Pearl in a Tall Ships race.
Flying — First aviation job was at the Providence airport as a dispatcher, in trade for flying lessons. FedEx hired me as one of their first female workers, in 1979. Full-time for a year then back to school, loading freight at night. Flew many trips around the country in B-727 and DC-10 cockpit jumpseats, always overnight via Memphis. Started to train in hot-air balloons.
Exploring — After graduation, I moved to Fort Lauderdale to finish private-pilot training in Cessna 172s. Spent a summer backpacking Europe. Back in Florida, worked as a flight-school dispatcher and hot-air balloon crew. Scored a fellowship at the University of Hawaii. Spent two years there – studied tropical ecology and geography, taught labs and ground school for private pilots.
Traveling — To San Francisco, finished hot-air balloon training, wrote a manual for the Balloon Excelsior flight school (still in print), taught ground school. Then University of Colorado gave me a fellowship to study for a doctorate. Only stayed one semester, though, because National Geographic gave me an internship and I moved to Washington, D.C. Stayed at NGS another year to work on their first-ever National Parks guidebook.
Working –In 1990, hired as science editor at URI’s Sea Grant Program. Started teaching part-time at Rhode Island College. Taught Marine Geography aboard the Tall Ship Rose. From 1993-99, worked full-time as a desk editor at The Providence Journal, a daily metro newspaper. Left in 1999 to pursue a freelance career.
Freelancing — In 2008, I am a regular contributor to Robb Report magazine, Robb Report online, Cosmos and G (Australian magazines), Rhode Island Monthly, and AVweb.com (an aviation news service). I also teach part-time at Rhode Island College and Northeastern University (online), and run the Natural News Network Web site.
