It's true. I grew up in southern California, but I feel most at home on the east coast. And having lived in eleven cities in three countries, I can tell you that Philadelphia is one of the most livable places on the planet, and by far my personal favorite. 

My professional and academic background spans a broad spectrum, but is essentially rooted in communication. I've spent the past six years or so doing educational and technical writing, communication strategy and design, and training development and delivery. 

I hold an M.A. in Professional Writing from Carnegie Mellon University, where I studied print document design, online information design, medical communication, educational design, and rhetorical cognition, in addition to the nuts and bolts of writing. I hold a B.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from the University of the Pacific, which included studying abroad in Switzerland and China. I'm also a Certified Mediator for the State of California, where I've mediated several interpersonal disputes. 

If you have any questions, just let me know. I'm happy to chat and share my resume and provide references.