Rachel Wilkinson Email & Phone Number

Pittsburgh, Pa, Us

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Pitch, report, write, and publish two to three news and arts stories per week for Pittsburgh's alternative weekly newspaper. Sole staff writer covering a variety of topics for both print and online products. Utilize SEO best practices to drive engagement. Work collaboratively with editorial team to produce factual grammatically correct copy. Winner of two 2023 Golden Quill Awards, given by the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania, for excellence in profile and arts and entertainment writing. Five-time nominee (first-time entrant in 2023).

Pitch, research, and write nonfiction stories, essays, and profiles for outlets including Harper’s, The Atlantic, Smithsonian, Esquire, Elle, Creative Nonfiction, and Narratively. (Also see Publications below.)Grand prize winner in Think Write Publish's Science & Religion Writing Contest, cross-published in Creative Nonfiction Issue #65 and Issues in Science and Technology 34 (2017).

Greater Pittsburgh Area

Conducted wide-ranging, in-depth research for New York Times Magazine contributing writer and Distinguished Professor of English Jeanne Marie Laskas. Engaged in research, reporting, and fact-checking using a variety of methods including conducting interviews, accessing public records, gathering information online, and compiling relevant literature. Obtained government records, archival documents, court proceedings, criminal histories, real estate filings, and a variety of other records. Researched a breadth of subjects for Laskas’s award-winning magazine feature stories and books, including To Obama: With Love, Joy, Anger, and Hope (Penguin Random House, 2018) and bestseller Concussion (Penguin Random House 2015, Golden Globe-nominated film). Served as lead researcher for To Obama, locating, vetting, and interviewing the 120 subjects who appear in the book over a year-long period. Conducted extensive scientific research for Concussion and fact-checked book.Worked both independently and collaboratively, including travel, to conduct and transcribe interviews, contribute research and reporting. Served as project manager of Laskas’s personal archive of 80+ boxes of archival materials; to conduct research for upcoming book project, led a team to complete a multi-year project of archival processing, from initial survey to creating collection guide. Assisted with Laskas’ marketing efforts, including planning, promoting, and executing a 10-city book tour. Managed author website, social media, media appearances calendar, and correspondence.

Greater Pittsburgh Area

Tutored a diverse population of traditional, online, and adult students in writing and research across the disciplines. Conducted both in-person and online sessions. Led in-class writing workshops and tutorials. Created and developed original learning materials for online resource site.

Greater Pittsburgh Area

Helped student-athletes write and develop essays and research papers. Assisted with all phases of the writing process including outlining, writing, and revision. Led study group to review in-class material.

Greater Pittsburgh Area

Teaching Assistant in Psychology Department. Course: Introduction to Social Psychology. Led exam review sessions for students, created class study guides, and met with students during office hours to review class material. Assisted instructor with proctoring exams, grading, and record-keeping.

Greater Pittsburgh Area

Read and selected submissions with delegated readers. Collaborated with writers to edit work for publication. Assisted with fundraising and outreach efforts, attended AWP Conference to promote magazine.

Greater Pittsburgh Area

Fact-checked and edited stories for publication at quarterly literary magazine and foundation. Read and evaluated submissions. Created online content by conducting interviews, contributing to social media. Assisted with advertising solicitation and subscriber communications.

Reviewed 60+ online publications weekly to select featured site content. Created themed reading guides published on Foreign Policy and Slate websites. Wrote deks and descriptions for stories featured on Longform. Assisted with web production to ensure smooth reader experience.

Austin, Texas Area

Wrote, edited, and published unique product descriptions and site-specific content for a top 500 online retailer with a network of five ecommerce websites. Created original video content; sourced and edited product photos. Edited and formatted content from freelancers to conform to company brand standards. Customized product webpage layouts with HTML and CSS.

Wrote unique descriptions for daily deals featured on Groupon website and in emails reachingthousands of registered users in 150 markets. Among 1% of applicants vetted into freelance pool.

Austin, Texas Area

Oversaw non-profit regional robotics program serving 3,000 youth and adults. Led executive steering committee to plan 10 annual regional events. Authored and won grant funding proposals including $10,000 scholarships. Researched, compiled and reported program data to grantors. Created and maintained program and event contact list. Overhauled existing program website, creating video and written content.

Austin, Texas Area

Wrote statewide press releases, newsletter articles, brochures and bios.

Master Of Fine Arts (M.F.A.), Nonfiction Writing

Activities and Societies: Speakeasy Reading Series, English Department Graduate Student Organization (GSO), MFA Open HouseM.A. Certificate.

B.A., Philosophy, Magna Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: Writing Center, Stone Soup Vegetarian Cooperative, The Advance (student newspaper), Residential Education.

Literature, Psychology

Activities and Societies: Phonathon (alumni fundraising)