Shanna Howard
Résumé

email: SHANNA HOWARD

PROFILE:

Internationally published writer and editor and an award-winning, nationally recognized web developer with more than ten years of professional experience. Former editor and writer for several major print and web publications, including The Prague Post, Texas Music Magazine, Experience Austin, Austin American-Statesman, Citysearch, and The Frisky. Technical skills include front- and back-end web development and design, with proficiency in software applications including Dreamweaver, SQL Server, Coldfusion, Photoshop, and many others.

EXPERIENCE:

Webmaster
Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE)
Educational research organization, College of Education, The University of Texas; Austin, Texas;
www.ccsse.org/www.enteringstudent.org; 2007-Present

• Develop new applications, web forms, and survey tools, logos, and sites
• Help with SQL database updates, table creation, and maintenance
• Administer an online faculty survey to more than 40,000 college faculty members annually
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues for users of web applications including online faculty survey technical support           
• Proposed and helped develop an Intranet to link internal applications and tools for staff
• Edit and assist with quality assurance of content and publications
• Serve as liaison to ten to 12 community colleges a year; received acclaim for guidance and support
• Conducted cognitive interviews with community college students for development of Survey of Entering Student Engagement
• NISOD/Center Workshop support including website development, technical support, day-of support, and presenting to attendees

Program Specialist III (Web Developer)             
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
State environmental agency, General Law Division, Office of Legal Services; Austin, Texas; www.tceq.state.tx.us/nav/rules/rules_rulemaking.html; 2004-2007

• Winner of the annual Deputy's Choice Award; employee recognition award recipient; twice nominated for Exceptional Customer Service agency-wide
• Served as Lead Internet Developer for the Office of Legal Services
• Developed applications, including an electronic comments application, which garnered attention statewide and nationally
• Posted environmental rules onto Rules & Rulemaking website and maintained external and internal sites
• Converted 20 web pages into a content management system (CMS) three months before deadline
• Responsible for Oracle database maintenance and upkeep and SQL queries
• Responded to questions and comments from the public in a timely manner
• Set up and promoted a weekly list serve for internal and external customers
• Edited and processed documents for publication in the Texas Register
• Provided training classes to employees on the rules database and produced training materials and coursework

Contractual Data Analyst/Technical Writer
Dell Inc. (Spherion)
Major direct-sale computer vendor; Austin, Texas; www.dell.com; 2003

• Developed extensive process efficiency and procedures for Worldwide Regulatory Investigations for international use
• Authored, revised, edited, and formatted web-based support documentation, database entries, and decision trees
• Reduced costs and time more than 30%, completing more than 100 documents ahead of schedule

Proofreader
Texas Legislative Council/Aus-Tex Printing and Mailing (Southwest Design Group)
State agency for legislative services/private printing company; Austin, Texas; www.tlc.state.tx.us/www.austex.com; 2002-2003               

• Proofread pending legislation and pre-press documents and recommended changes; worked with designers, editors, lawyers
• Lead designer of in-house ads and composed all press releases and official collateral for Southwest Design Group

Marketing Publications Coordinator
Austin American-Statesman
Daily newspaper; Austin, Texas; www.statesman.com; 2001-2002            

• Primary contributor for marketing publications and special sections
• Oversaw all editorial, scheduling, production, and pre-press duties of the quarterly Experience Austin magazine
• Performed essential writing, editing, design, and photography duties for weekly Homes and Residences sections, including a complete redesign of the front page

Online Editor
Globopolis.com
A former network of local city guides to Central and Eastern Europe, in native languages as well as in English and German; Prague, Czech Republic; 2000-2001              

• Managed the Bratislava, Slovakia, site
• Translated, edited, and revised writing and posted it online
• Worked with non-native English writers to correct common grammatical errors and improve writing
• Contributed text and photos to the Berlin, Germany, site
• Supervised sites for quality and updated database information in FileMaker Pro

Associate Managing Editor
Texas Music Magazine & Texas Music Magazine Online
Quarterly glossy, four-color music magazine; Austin, Texas; www.txmusic.com; 1999-2000 

• Joined staff as an editorial intern and was promoted to associate managing editor
• Contributed to the editorial mission of a start-up magazine
• Helped to select covers and feature stories
• Participated in research, fact-checking, copy editing, and proofreading
• Wrote feature pieces and sidebars
• Regularly updated and wrote for the website

Editorial Contributor
Citysearch
Network of online city guides; Austin, Texas; www.citysearch.com; 1999-2000      

• Joined staff as an editorial intern for college credit and was promoted to an editorial contributor
• Wrote and edited feature stories, reviews, profiles, and weekly newsletters
• Maintained and updated band directory and updated events database in Citysearch CMS
• Assisted editor-in-chief with site maintenance and writer submissions

EDUCATION:

Professional Development Center, The University of Texas at Austin

2008–2009, Managing Projects, Speaking in Front of People

The University of Texas at Austin

2008, Introduction to Flash

Microassist, Austin, TX

2004–2007, various computer software and programming courses including ColdFusion, SQL, CSS

St. Edward’s University; Austin, TX

2003-2004, partial Master of Arts (Counseling): 4.0 G.P.A.

The University of Texas at Austin; Austin, TX

2000, Bachelor of Arts (Czech): 3.4 G.P.A.
1999, Bachelor of Journalism: 3.5 G.P.A.
Dean’s List, University Honors