Education
Master of Arts, Writing, May 2013
Technical and Professional Track,
Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
Final GPA: 3.98
Bachelor of Arts, English: Creative Writing, May 2011
Minors in Chinese and History
Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
Summa Cum Laude in the Honors College, GPA 3.90
China Study Abroad Program, Spring 2010
Intensive Language Program (Mandarin)
Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
Software Skills
- Familiarity with SnagIt, Camtasia, Captivate, RoboHelp, Notepad++, Microsoft Office Suite, and Adobe Creative Suite CS6 (Photoshop, InDesign, Adobe Acrobat X Pro).
eLearning/Web Experience
Orchard Software Corporation, Carmel, IN
Multimedia Specialist, February 2017-Present
Personal Experience
Writer and Designer, October 2011-Present
- Used WordPress to design and write my own portfolio website (www.katherinewertz.com).
Missouri State University Graduate Writing for the Web Class, Springfield, MO
Writer, August 2012-December 2012
- Designed, built, and wrote content for an interactive résumé, a small website on DITA, and a 20+ page portfolio website using HTML5 and CSS3 via Notepad++ and Photoshop CS6 (all of which can be found at www.katherinewertz.com/testportfolio).
Missouri State University Graduate Professional Writing Class, Springfield, MO
Writer, August 2011-December 2011
- Researched and wrote promotional web copy, brochure copy, and a blog entry for the Cabool, MO, website.
Documentation Experience
Orchard Software Corporation, Carmel, IN
Technical Writer, June 2013-February 2017
Missouri State University Graduate Writing for the Computer Industry Class, Springfield, MO
Writer, January 2012-May 2012
- Used RoboHelp to write procedural documentation for Sonar3, a publication submission management software program (available at www.katherinewertz.com/sonar3help).
- Used RoboHelp and Captivate to write a tutorial on how to use Word 2010 to create a booklet (available at www.katherinewertz.com/word2010tutorial).
- Used Microsoft Publisher to create a quick reference guide on using Sonar3.
Missouri State University Graduate Document Design Class, Springfield, MO
Writer, January 2012-May 2012
- Worked as a part of a group creating a collaboration tool via Mindjet Connect Action (a free online project management program) to improve the communication between Rebuild Joplin and the Long Term Recovery Committee as well as writing, editing, and designing task-oriented documentation for Mindjet Connect Action.
- Collaborated on an accompanying Camtasia video based on our user guide.
- Interviewed, along with my classmates, by MSU’s College of Arts and Letters.
Marketing and Design Experience
Anaphora Literary Press, virtual
Editorial Intern, May 2012-August 2012
- Designed press releases and book signing fliers using Publisher (working with Chuck Schultz).
- Helped design and develop a marketing contact list (group project with Kelly Meany, Alecia Nichols, and Haley Hepburn).
- Interviewed a film director for a Q&A article published in the Summer 2012 issue, Volume IV, Issue 2, of the Pennsylvania Literary Journal.
- Reviewed/examined books.
- Edited the Anaphora website.
Missouri State University Graduate Writing in the Health Professions Class, Springfield, MO
Writer, January 2012-May 2012
- Collaboratively wrote, designed, and edited exercise and physical therapy pamphlets geared towards senior citizens for use in SHU (Senior Health University) workshops.
General Writing Experience
Missouri State University English Department, Springfield, MO
Graduate Teaching Assistant, August 2011 – May 2013
- Taught Writing I (freshmen composition)
- Acted as a monitor for the Recent and Relevant section of Technical Communication under Dr. Gattis, August 2011 – May 2012
- Collected abstracts from journals related to technical communication
- Edited submitted abstracts for format, grammar, and content
- Worked as a Missouri State University Writing Center Writing Consultant, August 2012 – May 2013
Metropolitan Bride Magazine, Springfield, MO
Contributing Writer, October 2010
- Interviewed newlywed couple and wrote a published article about their wedding
Editing Experience
Technical Communication, Springfield, MO
Recent and Relevant Monitor, October 2008 – May 2011; August 2012 – May 2013
- Acted as a monitor for the Recent and Relevant section of Technical Communication under Dr. Gattis, August 2011 – May 2013
- Collected abstracts from journals related to technical communication
Missouri State University Writing Center, Springfield, MO
Writing Consultant, October 2008 – May 2011; August 2012 – May 2013
- Helped hundreds of students develop and polish research papers and writing assignments
- Aided many international students from all around the world (including China, Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, etc.) with expressing their thoughts on paper, focusing in particular on organization and clarity
- Guided students through the writing and revision process
- Explained proper citation procedure
Missouri State University Practicum in Teaching Composition Class, Springfield, MO
Compositor, January 2012-May 2012
- Helped compile the 2012-2013 freshmen composition anthology, “Access” as a part of my ENG 703: Practicum in Teaching Composition class (a class for first-year freshmen composition graduate teaching assistants).
- Helped write pedagogy questions for a reading in the book.
Missouri State University Writing Center, Springfield, MO
Editor, Spring 2011
- Edited the Supplemental Instruction Faculty Guide using the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Levels of Edit
Professional Affiliations
- Member, Society for Technical Communication, 2011-2015
- President, Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society at Missouri State University (Delta Nu chapter), 2012-2013
- Member, Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society at Missouri State University (Delta Nu chapter), 2011-2013
Activities
- Subject of an English department blog post.
- Another graduate assistant wrote about my presentation in the Graduate Interdisciplinary Forum.
- Interviewee, Missouri State University College of Arts and Letters, June 2012
- Interviewed , along with my classmates, about the documentation project for Rebuild Joplin and the Joplin Area Long-Term Recovery Committee (LTRC).
- Volunteer, Ozarks Writing Project, Youth Writing Conference, May 2012
- Assisted volunteer teachers in the classroom.
- Poster Presenter and Participant, Society for Technical Communication 10th Annual Regional Student Conference at Missouri State University, April 2012
- Presented ENG 700 Poster on my ENG 700 paper, A Study of the Issues in Technical Writing E-Collaboration and Methods to Enhance Collaborative Cooperation with a Focus on Global Collaboration.
- Handed out ENG 700 Handout Color on above topic.
- Participant, Society for Technical Communication Workshop for Teachers of Technical Writing at Missouri State University, April 2012
- Poster Presenter, Missouri State University Graduate Interdisciplinary Forum, April 2012
- Presented my research on issues in global e-collaboration in technical communication.
- Language Exchange, 2010-2011, Spring 2012-Present
- Helped Chinese students improve their oral English and cultural understanding while receiving like help with Mandarin Chinese
- Research Assistant, Ozarks Writing Project (federally funded study of high school writing), September 2011
- Proctored essay tests to high school students
- Student Editorial Board Member, Logos (MSU Honors Journal of Undergraduate Research), 2009 and 2010, 2009-2010
- Critiqued fiction and poetry submissions
- Helped select fiction and poetry pieces for publication
- Undergraduate Consulting Editor, Moon City Review 2009 at Missouri State University, Fall 2008-Spring 2009
- Helped select fiction and nonfiction pieces for publication