Article: "Information Overload: Why Americans Are Avoiding the News" (Strixus Magazine)

In which I describe the reasons Americans give for avoiding the news, and I argue that the reasons given are manifestations of political polarization: https://strixus.com/entry/information-overload-why-americans-are-avoiding-the-news-16967.

Article: "Open Letter to Fun Bosses: Your Fun May Not Be Our Fun" (Strixus Magazine)

In which I tell three stories that together suggest a coherent perspective on the fraught relationship between work and fun: https://strixus.com/entry/open-letter-to-fun-bosses-your-fun-may-not-be-our-fun-16913.

This was my first paid writing gig with a byline.

Writing Portfolio

Links to some writing samples of mine:

Embedding Coaching at a (Suddenly, Temporarily) Online Community College

This short article describes a set of workplace changes that my former employer made in response to COVID. I write this in response to a call for papers from an academic blog that specializes in college writing center work. Demonstrates clear descriptive prose.

Thinking Rhetorically About Ronald McDonald, the Hamburger Happy Clown

A blog post describing the academic definition of "rhetoric" for undergraduates and apply that concept to an old McDonald's advertisement. I wrote this for an English professor friend of mine, and she assigned it in a her college class. Demonstrates strong voice and clear exposition of difficult concepts.

Letter to the Editor: Vaccines Work—Here's How 

A letter to the editor of my hometown newspaper in which I attempt to demystify COVID vaccines by explaining how they work in simple terms. Demonstrates research and clear exposition of technical details.

How Email Works

A video lesson written for undergraduate students in an introductory cyber security course at Iowa State University. Adapted from the course textbook. Demonstrates clear exposition of technical details.

Oscar Pays to Play

A video intended to be a discussion starter to be used at the beginning of cyber security lessons. My boss wanted to be able to use this discussion-starter in undergraduate classes or in talks with the general public. Demonstrates playful voice and clear exposition.

Letter to the Editor (The Chronicle): Vaccine Math

In which I explain why, due to basic probability math, an effective vaccine administered to many people may result in more infections among vaccinated people than among unvaccinated people: https://www.chronline.com/stories/letter-to-the-editor-cooties-comparison-illustrates-effectiveness-of-vaccine. This was published in The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington), October 15, 2021.

I wrote this more quickly than the others letters I've written so far, and I think it shows. Oh well. It was a good idea for a letter, anyway!

The only issue here I won't claim responsibility for is comma errors. They edited this for AP style before publishing it, and when they did, they introduced some comma drama.

Letter to the Editor (The Chronicle): How COVID Vaccines Work

In which I describe how the COVID-19 vaccines work: https://www.chronline.com/stories/letter-to-the-editor-vaccines-works-heres-how,274124?. This was published in The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington), October 1, 2021.

The goal here is to demystify the COVID vaccines, which I hope will make them seem less scary.

Letter to the Editor (The Chronicle): COVID Vaccines Rewrite the Odds for the Pandemic

"Portrait of a Man Writing in his Study" by Gustave Caillebotte, 1885.

In which I explain that COVID-19 vaccines are good because they reduce the odds bad COVID outcomes: https://www.chronline.com/stories/letter-to-the-editor-daydreaming-about-changes-at-the-chronicle,269944?. This was published in The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington), September 17, 2021.

Best line:

Thanks especially to my grandparents’ generation, we’ve beaten smallpox, measles, and many others. Smallpox was an absolute monster, and measles is much, much more infectious than even the delta variant of COVID. But thanks to vaccines, smallpox was eradicated in 1977 and measles outbreaks are rare today.

We can do it again, but only if we seize our opportunities to rewrite the odds.

Letter to the Editor (The Chronicle): COVID-19 Vaccines are Safe and Effective

"Portrait of a Man Writing in his Study" by Gustave Caillebotte, 1885.

In which I praise COVID-19 vaccines because they work: https://www.chronline.com/stories/letter-to-the-editor-in-rotten-pandemic-vaccine-is-a-rare-win,272532?. This was published in The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington), September 13, 2021.