Categorizing: A second but interrelated process for making knowledge
Meghan
Categorizing is another process for making knowledge. As a series of steps, categorizing not only compliments making choices; it is built into the process of making choices. Perhaps we should also use the term “classifying” to start, rather than categorizing. Examples of classification abound in science, library and archival practice, and even social relationships. Can you recall the scenes in Mean Girls and Ten Things I Hate About You, in which helpful social gatekeepers identify relevant groups of high school students to a new student unfamiliar with these groupings?
Categories or classes are socially constructed—quite literally in the last example—and decisions and divisions are implicit in the process. Perhaps more importantly, the socially constructed nature of categories and classes means that they can be changed – and by people. Finally, categories and classes are built by making differences between things (items, concepts, words, people); and successfully defining difference, Hall (1997) reminds us, is an act of power but one that is part of a dialogue. Regularly reinforced and resilient power, yet not fixed (socially constructed!). Finally, classifying is essential to culture and meaning, where an order is established by relating things to one another.
So let’s review: categories and classes are divided by and bounded through socially constructed definitions and through specific language choices.
Taking that forward, we can think about the process of categorizing in relation to what we’ve discussed before about making choices. Specifically, that excluding or including things in choices creates relationships of value between what is included and excluded; these hierarchical relationships are rooted in language, which conveys meaning and is as adaptable as the social value it suggests.
As categories are established, relationships between categories are also built. Then as an individual or an institution approaches an item that requires classification, s/he/it will consider what is known from existing systems of knowledge. Thus, it takes meaning to make meaning.
Consider Bishop & Jaworski’s (2003:3) take:
“Academic study, but in fact all aspects of experience are based on acts of classification, and the building of knowledge and interpretations is very largely a process of defining boundaries between conceptual classes, and of labelling those classes and relationships between them.”
Bishop & Jaworski (2003) go on to suggest that language is the central means through which classification becomes possible; thus language itself loses neutrality, while becoming a “key ingredient in the very constitution of knowledge.”
Most recently, I have been considering the ways the categorization process might be built into the process of devising strategies for crowdsourcing. It’s been a bit chicken-or-egg in several senses: i.e. do we build the classification process into the experience or and can we even appropriately engage people without understanding the ways they might want to classify or use and access categorized information? So many things to consider – and, as needs may develop over time, how might we create a flexible and responsive but reliable means of categorizing information?
Return to the previous examples I’ve suggested for knowledge building in the digital realm, which I’ve listed again below. Can you pick some moments of categorization here?
- the collaborative process of editing on Wikipedia
- educational institutions and crowdsourcing information about unidentified women scientists, as with the Smithsonian Institution Archives http://siarchives.si.edu/blog/annual-call-help-identifying-women-scientists
- the ways fans of tv dramas on social media platforms share/reblog/retweet, discuss, and debate plot and pieces of news, then reference relevant pieces of information to create an “accepted” group understanding – such as an important event, a character’s motivations, screenwriter and actor/tresses decisions and more
- and even tagging posts on Tumblr and Twitter to first organize information and secondly, make that information more easily identified by others using searching tools and services
References:
Bishop, H. & Jaworski, A. (2003). ‘We beat ‘em’: Nationalism and the hegemony of homogeneity in the British press reportage of Germany versus England during Euro 2000. Discourse & Society, 14(3), 243-271.
Hall, S., (Ed.). (1997). Representation: Cultural representation and signifying practices. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
Making knowledge: Starting by making choices
Meghan
I’ve just started on a new project, which falls into the realm of digital humanities. I hope I’ll get a chance to discuss the specifics a bit more in this space, but for now, let’s consider the ways we “make” knowledge – particularly in the digital space.
Some examples of knowledge building in the digital realm include:
- the collaborative process of editing on Wikipedia
- educational institutions and crowdsourcing information about unidentified women scientists, as with the Smithsonian Institution Archives http://siarchives.si.edu/blog/annual-call-help-identifying-women-scientists
- the ways fans of tv dramas on social media platforms share/reblog/retweet, discuss, and debate plot and pieces of news, then reference relevant pieces of information to create an “accepted” group understanding – such as an important event, a character’s motivations, screenwriter and actor/tresses decisions and more
- and even tagging posts on Tumblr and Twitter to first organize information and secondly, make that information more easily identified by others using searching tools and services
Keep these examples in mind as I reflect on several steps in “making knowledge” in the online realm and please join in with your own examples below. This will be a three-part chat.
Three starting steps for making knowledge cropped up repeatedly in the discussion and introductions the other week. It would be fair to say my day was marked by a wider sense of “making knowledge” through: CHOOSING (Selecting), CATEGORIZING, CREATING
CHOOSING: Selections, Choices, and What’s left behind
The process of making choices—choosing, defining, selecting—is one way in which we craft knowledge. I’ve purposefully called this a process, rather than an act, because several steps are included before and after the choice is made.*
Making choices suggests defining one thing as more appropriate, accurate, desirable, or sanctioned than another thing. With each choice, existing structures of knowledge are called upon to help the person making delineations. Each person is, of course, a product of their experiences, systems of education, and other socially defined identifications. That’s a lot to play into the choice of what to include as valuable and prioritizing pieces of information. This process as an educational approach is sometimes known as “scaffolding.”
The effects of choosing pieces from a body of data include creating hierarchies by ranking i.e. an understanding that what is left out is not (as) important as what is included and loss of alternative interpretations or perspectives. Very clear examples of these effects can be seen in the kinds of history textbooks I read in middle school. History as a socially-constructed account of political, economic, social, and cultural interactions is predominately crafted by the groups of people who were literate (this qualification being defined and prevalent with power and higher social status) and with resources to capture and archive their materials. As I transitioned into high school, our textbooks used “windows” approaches, which attempted to mitigate the perspectives that excluded alternative versions of history by the choices made in building the accepted historical record.
In institutional settings, what happens when you start to make choices regarding the kinds of information and which content is most important? How do discrete pieces of information come together, especially when everyone is “joining the conversation,” – and how are they deemed useful and then used? These are the next questions we should consider in the daily practices of making knowledge.
Still to follow: categorization and thinking about bringing these steps together to create knowledge
*Did you see what I did there? I DEFINED what “making choices” is – suggested it is more complex and potentially better than an action because it is a series of interrelated and negotiated actions (so I made a hierarchy of steps). Therefore, through the combined use of language, selecting components to define and include and leaving out other steps or conditions (such as the chemical or neurological processes involved in choice-making), I have created a specific piece of knowledge!
Image credit: By Obsidian Soul (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons and available here
SITweetUp: Behind the Scenes at the American History Museum
Meghan
This afternoon I was privileged to join a small group invited behind the scenes at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. We were led behind the scenes and into the archives for talks by Dr. Larry Bird (not that one) and Dr. Katherine Ott. The insight these two curators provided was spectacular – and suggested a lot about the ways we build into and around material culture and construct knowledge through even classifying objects.
The passion Drs. Bird and Ott displayed as they discussed their collections was remarkable. Each wove their enthusiasm into the discussion of the items they shared with us; offering deeper stories than the provenance — not providence as I accidentally tweeted earlier! — and moved forward our group understand of the links between material culture and the purposes of objects.
Specifically, I was struck by the ways in which Drs. Bird and Ott drew in the stories of ownership and donation – or those who used and/or held these items in their collections. In both talks, it was emphasized that these were not merely objects with vague historical significance; rather these items were traces of people. These may even be, in some cases, people who have been forgotten–yet their past and even routines and interests are revealed through these objects.
Dr. Bird also reminded us that “it’s not the size of the thing, but the memory it calls up”; that significance in material culture is made through wider webs of knowledge about events. Similarly, Dr. Ott presented pieces of medical history that demonstrated moves toward the medicalization of the body. These were moments in cultural history in which social pressures and medical know-how combined to aid the disciplining of bodies through “fixes.”
Additionally, as a combination of fieldwork and fun, this afternoon gave me the chance to consider techniques for user engagement at the institutional level. By creating an implicit expectation of our participation in “livetweeting”, the event was framed in such a way as to make it easy for us to participate; telling our networks about our observations and experiences at the NMAH as we moved from and around “relics” and “weird souvenirs”. Remarkably, we had several Tweeps following our liveblogging and interrelated discussions, demonstrating the reach of even local events if framed correctly and participants are adequately encouraged. The interrelatedness of discussions was established through use of the categorizing hashtag. It appears as though we each told our individual stories relating to our particular interests, yet referenced and retweeted each other – thus creating a more resilient web of knowledge.
Perhaps I should say that I speculate this was the case – it remains to be seen in what ways this information is categorized and revisited by others. In any case, I’m grateful that I had the chance to attend the #SITweetup and for the behind-the-scenes views of collections at the National Museum of American History — and I’ll look forward to engaging people and online knowledge repositories in similarly creative ways in the upcoming months.
Meghan
CV – Meghan M. Ferriter, Ph.D.
Meghan
MEGHAN M. FERRITER, Ph.D.
Curriculum Vitae
12 June 2016
E-mail: ferriterm@si.edu
Website: http://meghaninmotion.com
Twitter: @MeghaninMotion
PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT
2014-2016 Project Coordinator, Smithsonian Transcription Center – Quotient, Inc. on behalf of Smithsonian Institution Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) – Washington, D.C.
2014-2015 Adjunct Faculty – George Mason University – School of Recreation, Health & Tourism – Fairfax, VA
2013 Consultant – Smithsonian Institution – Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) – Washington, D.C.
2013 Research Associate – Smithsonian Institution Archives – Washington, D.C.
2008-2010 Teaching Fellow – University of Abertay Dundee – Division of Sport and Exercise Sciences – Dundee, UK
EDUCATION
Ph.D. SOCIOLOGY – (2011) – University of Glasgow – Department of Sociology ‘Changing the Game? Gender, Ethnicity and Age in Mediated Professional Sport’ Exploring in what ways the cultural meanings of professional sport associated with gender, ethnicity, and age as presented in the media changed in the United Kingdom and the United States in the context of international social processes.
MA HISTORY – (2005) – Old Dominion University – Department of History – ‘The Sharper Image: Bringing Irish Nationalist Identity Into Focus, 1880-1923’
BA ANTHROPOLOGY and HISTORY (double) – (2003) – Davidson College – Departments of Anthropology and History
RESEARCH INTERESTS
My primary research interest lies in exploring the intersection and amplification of cultural beliefs and media discourse and digital and communication technologies – and ways groups create learning moments about social relationships, cultural norms, and power through these activities. I explore these topics analyzing collaborative production of knowledge in crowdsourcing and information sharing in communities of practice in social media. I currently have focused research interests in digital media and communication technologies, computer-mediated communication and participatory culture, and the diffusion of knowledge through linked technologies. My work examines social identities and boundaries; processes of cultural change; language, representation, and discourse; and sport and popular culture; and motivations and authority in cultural heritage and citizen science activities.
PUBLICATIONS
Journal Articles
Ferriter, M (2016, forthcoming). “Inviting Engagement, Supporting Success: How to Manage a Transcription Center.” In “Exploring the Smithsonian Institution Transcription Center” guest edited by Meghan Ferriter and Christine Rosenfeld. Collections: A Journal for Museum & Archives Professionals 12:02 (Spring 2016).
Ferriter, M. (2009). Arguably the Greatest: Sport Fans and Communities at Work on Wikipedia. Sociology of Sport Journal 26(1): 127-154.
Ferriter, M. (July 2008). Heroes and Zeroes: Extending celebrity sporting narratives beyond retirement. Football Studies 10(1/2). Formerly available at http://www.la84foundation.org/5va/footballstudies_frmst.htm – currently at http://academia.edu/3415790/HEROES_AND_ZEROES_Extending_Celebrity_Athlete_Narratives_Beyond_Retirement
Book Chapters
Ferriter, M. (2016, forthcoming) Chapter: Race, Ethnicity, Anthropology, and Sport. Routledge Handbook of Race and Ethnicity in Sport. London: Routledge. Forthcoming, Autumn 2016
Journal Issues – Editor
Special Issue: Smithsonian Transcription Center – Collections: A Journal for Museum and Archives Professionals 12:02 (Spring 2016)
Book Reviews
Ferriter, M. (2008). The Anthropology of Development and Globalization. The Kelvingrove Review 2: 1-5. Accessible at http://www.gla.ac.uk/departments/esharp/thekelvingrovereview/issue2socialengagement/
Conference & Workshop Activity
2016 DH2016 Expert Workshop Organizer: Beyond The Basics: What Next For Crowdsourcing? Preconference – Digital Humanities 2016 – Krakow, Poland – 12 July 2016
2016 DPLAfest 2016 – Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. – 14 April 2016 – Transcription Projects at the National Archives, Folger Shakespeare Library, and Smithsonian Institution Workshop
2016 South By Southwest Interactive (SXSW) 2016 – Art, Science & Interactive – Austin, TX – 12 March 2016 – Build the Crowdsourcing Community of Your Dreams
2016 American Association for the Advancement of Science – AAAS Annual Meeting – Washington, DC – 14 February 2016 – Poster: The Impact of Coordinated Social Media on Online Citizen Science Engagement
2015 Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference – Try It, You’ll Like It: A Hands-On Crowdsourcing Q&A – Roanoke, VA – 8 October 2015 – Dig In! Crowdsourcing and Access in the Archives with the Smithsonian Transcription Center
2015 MicroPasts Workshop – London, UK (virtual presentation) – 23 September 2015 – For Good Measure: Evaluating Success in Crowdsourcing
2015 Archival Education Research Institute 2015 – 16 July 2015 – College Park, MD – Keynote: Product or Process?: Creating Pathways and Catalyzing Adventure in the Archives with the Smithsonian Transcription Center
2015 Crowd Consortium of Libraries and Archives – College Park, Maryland – 07 May 2015 – Three Challenges to Scholarly Crowdsourcing: Trust, Workflow, Acknowledgement
2015 MicroPasts Workshop – London, UK (virtual presentation) – 31 March 2015 – Experiences from the Smithsonian Transcription Center
2014 American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting 2014 – Washington, DC – 2-6 December 2014. Discussant: Producing Anthropology, Producing Science: Citizen Science and Emerging Problematics – 04 December 2014
2014 American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting 2014 – Washington, DC – 2-6 December 2014. Panelist: Emerging Topics in Virtual Anthropology – Wait! What?! Rapidly Producing Knowledge, Sharing, and Seeking Consensus in Online Fandom – 05 December 2014
2014 North American Association for the Sociology of Sport – Annual Conference – Portland, OR – 06 November 2014 – Inside Access & Player Praxis: Doing Social Media, Fans, and Constructing Knowledge
2014 Smithsonian DigiFair 2014 – Smithsonian Institution – Washington, DC – 03 November 2014 – Digitization Makes a Transcription Center Possible
2014 Society of American Archivists Annual Meeting – Washington, DC – 15 August 2014 – Panelist: For the Increase and Diffusion of Knowledge: Achieving the Smithsonian Institution’s Mission Through Crowd-sourced Transcription.
2014 Lavender Languages 21 – American University – 15 February 2014. Is it “About Time” or a “Fantasy World”: Fans, Discourse, and Deciding if “Coming Out Matters” in Women’s Soccer
2013 Lavender Languages 20 – American University – 17 February 2013. ‘“Aslkjflkh,” “Hnnggg,” and “All the Feels”: Expressing admiration, desire, and insider knowledges in the USWNT fandom.’
2012 8th US-Japan Critical Infrastructure Protection Forum – Washington, D.C. – 29-30 December 2012 – Rapporteur
2012 UserFocus (Annual Conference) – User Experience Professional Association (UXPA)-DC – Washington, D.C. – 19 October 2012 – Participant
2012 CultureCamp DC – Alexandria, V.A. – 15 September 2012 – Panel Organizer/Moderator: “Add it Up: Developing Metrics to Assess Cultural Change” (45 min workshop)
2012 MobileUXCamp DC – Washington, D.C. – 14 August 2012 – Participant
2009 Knowledge Exchange on Public Policy – Promoting Best Practice on Equality and Human Rights in Scotland (Scottish Funding Council KE) – University of Edinburgh – Edinburgh, UK – 17 June 2009 – Rapporteur
2009 Knowledge Exchange On Public Policy – What does Human Rights have to say about Care and Dignity? (Scottish Funding Council KE) – Park Inn Hotel – Glasgow, UK – 29 April 2009 – Rapporteur
2009 Knowledge Exchange On Public Policy – Dimensions Of Persistent Inequality In Scotland (Scottish Funding Council KE) – Park Inn Hotel – Glasgow, UK – 15 January 2009 – Rapporteur
2008 British Philosophy of Sport Conference – Dudhope Castle, Dundee, UK – University of Abertay Dundee – March 26-28, 2009 – Administrative Research and Marketing Contact
2007 The Global Politics of LGBT Human Rights – University of Glasgow – Glasgow, UK – 16 November 2007 – Conference Paige
2007 Multinational Interagency Strategic Planning (MNISP) Workshop – Paris, France – Multinational Experimentation Series 5 – 19-24 April 2007 – Focus Group Leader, and Rapporteur
2006 Multinational Interagency Group (MNIG) Workshop – George Mason University and Peace Operations Policy Program, Arlington, Virginia, USA, 20-21 June 2006 – Rapporteur
2006 Multinational Experimentation (MNE) Series 5 Pre-Concept Development Conference– George Mason University and Peace Operations Policy Program, Arlington, Virginia, USA, 22-23 June 2006 – Rapporteur
Invited Talks
2016 Worldwide Engagement for Digitizing Biocollections – WeDigBio 2016 Planning Workshop – Smithsonian Transcription Center & WeDigBio 2015: Online, In Person, & #BeeByBee – 20 April 2016
2016 CitSciChat – Twitter – Opening Access with Citizen Science: In a Word – Hosted by @CitSciScoop #CitSciChat – 24 February 2016
2016 Georgetown University – Museums & New Media – Washington, DC – 31 March 2016 – Smithsonian Transcription Center: Collaborating with Digital Volunteers to make Smithsonian Institution collections more accessible
2016 Federal Crowdsourcing & Citizen Science Community of Practice – Monthly Working Group – National Archives & Records Administration – 31 March 2016 – Feeding the Beast: Sustaining Volunteers and Staff in the Smithsonian Transcription Center
2016 George Washington University – Participatory Museums– Washington, DC – 30 March 2016 – Smithsonian Transcription Center: Supporting Digital Volunteers and enriching Smithsonian Institution collections
2015 CitSciChat – Twitter – Launching the Federal Citizen Science and Crowdsourcing Toolkit – Hosted by @CitSciScoop #CitSciChat – 30 September 2015
2015 Environmental Protection Agency – Citizen Science Working Group – Washington, DC – 22 April 2015 – Sowing the Seeds: Enriching Collections and Making Connections in the Smithsonian Transcription Center
2015 United States Holocaust Memorial Museum – Public Engagement Working Group – Washington, DC – Experiences from the Smithsonian Transcription Center – 09 March 2015
2015 George Washington University – Digital Humanities and the Historian – HIST 3001-014 – 07 February 2014 – Engaging Discovery with Smithsonian Institution Transcription Center and Digital Volunteers.
2014 George Washington University – Digital Humanities and the Historian – HIST 3001-014 – 07 February 2014 – All Together Now: Smithsonian Institution Transcription Center and Engaging Digital Volunteers.
2008 University of Stirling – Sports Studies Department – Research Seminars in Sport Series 2007-2008 – 20 March 2008 – ‘Reading the Game: A Comparative Analysis of UK and US Athletes, Teams, and Sport Narratives.’
2008 University of Glasgow – Sociology, Anthropology, and Applied Social Sciences Seminar Series 2007-2008 – 08 March 2008 – ‘The Stories They Tell: The FIFA World Cup and Sport Advertising Narratives in the 21st Century.’
White Papers
Ferriter, M. (Feb 2007) ‘Civilian-Military Interaction White Paper.’ – Contracted research, examined five overarching themes contributing to ineffective communication patterns between military and government civilian representatives.
Ferriter, M. (July 2007) ‘Civil-Military Communication – Multinational Experimentation Series 5 (MNE5)/ Multinational Interagency Strategic Planning’ (MNISP).’ – Contracted research, evaluated multinational government civilian and military representatives and their efforts to create a basic tool for strategic planning and communications during times of crisis; made recommendations to relieve tensions in these discussions and improve the scope of communication.
Service Activity
2016 Program Committee (PC) for the 2016 AAAI Conference on Human Computation and Crowdsourcing (HCOMP’16)
2016 Review Panel, Institute for Museums and Libraries Services, National Digital Platform
2014-2016 Editorial Board Member – SportsWorld: The Journal of Global Sport
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Courses Taught
Sport in the Global Marketplace, Sport and International Development, Introduction to Sociology and Anthropology – Level 1, United States in a World Setting, Introduction to the Social Science of Sport and Exercise 1, Investigation in Sport and Exercise, Contexts in Sport I & II, Introduction to Research Methods, Research Methods II & III, The Coaching Process, Coaching Practice, Lifestyle Behaviour and Health Change
Teaching Roles
George Mason University – School of Recreation, Health, & Tourism – Fairfax, VA
2014-2015 Adjunct Professor
Sport Management M.S. Program – In-person and online courses: Sport in the Global Marketplace; Sport and International Development
University of Abertay Dundee – Division of Sport & Exercise Sciences – Dundee, UK
2009-2010 Module Tutor (Instructor of Record) – Contexts in Sport II
Prepared syllabus, devised learning outcomes, and course materials; Recruited and scheduled visiting and internal lecturers, coordinated tutors and practical leaders, devised schedule for assessment, and collated and submitted marks, as well as coordinated Active Schools placements with students and Active Schools team, planned to OHS guidelines
2009-2010 Year Two Tutor –
Stewardship of second year students – responsible for managing all timetable conflicts, enquiries, and needs of second year students across programs of study in the Division of Sport and Exercise Sciences
2008-2010 Teaching Fellow –
Supervised four honors undergraduate dissertation research students; advised on five third year research proposals; Second marker for three additional honors dissertations; Over 20 lectures on sociological and cultural aspects of sport, media and qualitative research methods; further lectures on vital academic skills including personal development planning, self-management and group working; Formally given lead in external marketing including new media and internet presence for the Division in June 2009; Exam invigilation
University of Glasgow – Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Applied Social Sciences – Glasgow, UK
2006-2008 Tutor, Level 1 Sociology and Anthropology – University of Glasgow
2008 Taster Week – University of Glasgow – 02-06 June 2008 – Lecturer (Introduction to Sociology) and Program Escort
2006-2008 Tutor Training – University of Glasgow Graduate Teaching Seminar Series
Old Dominion University – Department of History – Norfolk, VA
2004 Graduate Teaching Assistant – History 104 – United States in a World Setting
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2004 Research Intern – Joint Advanced Warfighting School – Joint Forces Staff College – Norfolk, VA
2003 Legal Research Intern – Neasham & Kramer, LLP – Fair Oaks, CA
1999-2001 Research Librarian – Davidson College Interlibrary Loan – Davidson, NC
UNIVERSITY SERVICE & EXTRACURRICULARS
2009 Glasgow University Sports Association (GUSA) – Blues (Honors) – Award for Outstanding Performance and Service to Glasgow University Sport, Glasgow, UK
2005-2010 Glasgow University Women’s Football Club, British Universities Sports Association/Scottish Universities Sports – University of Glasgow – Glasgow, UK – Starting Midfielder and Defender (2005-2010), Captain (2006-2008), Manager (2006-2008), GUSA Representative (2005-2009), Player of the Year (2009), Blues Honors (2009)
2006 Departmental Away Trip, Largs – Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Applied Social Sciences – University of Glasgow – Largs, UK – 14 October 2006 – Panel presentation: Marketing the “Global Game:” Identity at Play
2003-2005 Old Dominion Women’s Club Soccer – Old Dominion University – Norfolk, VA – Starting Central Midfielder, Captain/Coach (2004-2005)
2001 University College Cork Ladies Soccer Club – A Team – University College Cork – Cork, Ireland – Starting Central Midfielder
2000 College Communications – Davidson College – Davidson, NC – Media Relations photographer and reporter
2000-2003 Connor House (Social Eating House) – Davidson College – Davidson, NC – Member (2000-2003), Kitchen Manager (2001)
1999-2003 Davidson College Women’s Soccer Team – Division I Soccer – Davidson College – Davidson, NC – Player, Varsity Lettered (2000-2003)
1999-2003 WALT 1610 AM, Davidson College Radio – Davidson College – Davidson, NC – Committee Board Member (2000-2003) & Disc Jockey
COMMUNITY SERVICE & OUTREACH
2013- Wikimedia DC – Member – Leader and Participant for multiple Wikipedia edit-a-thons focusing on GLAM-wiki initiatives and collaboration
2012 Boo at the Zoo (Halloween Trick-or-Treating) – National Zoo – Washington, DC – Volunteer (Jedi)
2010-2011 Scottish Women’s Football Administrative Offices, Hampden Stadium – Glasgow, UK – Electronic Registrations Content Manager and Consultant – Oversaw population of new electronic registrations database; Created Club Resource Pack and Registrations Guide (digital and hard copy, indexed, 10,000 words)
2009-2010 Queens Park Ladies Football Club – Scottish Women’s Football League, First Division – Glasgow, UK – Captain, Player of the Year (2009), Board Advisor for recruitment and player pathways (2009)
2007-2009 Glasgow University Women’s Football Club – Scottish Women’s Football League Third Division – Glasgow, UK – Starting Midfielder, Captain (07-2009)
2004-2005 Athletic Club Norfolk (Soccer Club) – Norfolk, VA – Girls’ Technical Director (Program Director) – created and staffed teams, recruited players, organized league and tournament entry, devised training philosophy and program
2000-2001 Radio Disc Jockey – ROCK 103, Columbus, GA
Other Employment Experience
2013 Data and Online Analytics Intern, Central Communications – Brookings Institution – Washington, D.C.
2012 Independent Consultant (Social Media Analytics) – Courage Services, Inc. – Ballston, VA
2006-2008 Anthropologist & Analyst – General Dynamics-AIS – Joint Forces Command J-9 – Interagency Group– Suffolk, VA
HIGHLIGHTED SKILLS
Project Management and Engaging Communities of Practice
- Applied project management skills in a variety of fields, including contract, consulting, doctoral, and masters research and analysis
- Conducted phased research, landscape surveys, ethnography, and foundational work to authored recommendations for business objectives, reported findings and conclusions in dissertation defense, and created engaging and thoughtful lectures while teaching
- Communicating findings professionally multiple sectors and stakeholders: public, private, military, cultural heritage, academic
- Guided numerous organizations through change management lifecycle; creating documentation, protocols, review processes, and accountability structures
- Flexible problem-solving through research project design and management including data collection and analysis, budgeting, and adapting to evolving research requirements
- Applied use of qualitative and quantitative methods including ethnography, observation, focus groups, interviews, surveys, discourse analysis, analytics;
- Experience with Agile and waterfall methodologies, currently blending approaches using JIRA, Confluence, Slack
- Knowledge and use of HTML/HTML5/CSS, database management, Omniture/Site Catalyst, Google Analytics, Microsoft Office, Windows/MAC OS X, Google Docs, CMS including Drupal, WordPress, Weebly; SPSS, NVivo, EndNote, Zotero, and wikis; basic working knowledge: Smithsonian Institution Research Information System/Horizon, Mimsy XG, The Museum System (TMS), EMu, Archivists Toolkit, Smithsonian Insitution DAMS
- Identified trends and generated insights on use, structures, features, language, and cultural communication patterns of Tumblr, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, WordPress/Blogger, and Wikipedia, as well as virtual learning environments Blackboard & Moodle
LANGUAGES
French – Proficiency: Basic
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Anthropological Association Professional Member (2013-2014)
American Sociological Association Professional Member (2013-2014)
International Association for Communication and Sport Professional Member (2013-2104)
North American Society for the Sociology of Sport Professional Member (2013)
User Experience Professionals Association, DC Metro Ch. Member (2012-)
North American Society for the Sociology of Sport Student Member (2008-2011)
International Sociology of Sport Association Student Member (2009-2011)
The Institute for Sport, Parks, and Leisure Student Member (2008-2010)