You can view my résumé below, or download it in PDF format.
Rebecca Straple
Education
Western Michigan University
August 2013-Present
Ph.D. Candidate in English Literature
Kalamazoo, MI, USA
*Taught Introduction to Interpreting Literature, Thought and Writing (Composition), and British Literature I
*Worked as a research assistant and graduate assistant for a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute
*Worked as a doctoral assistant to the Dissertation Specialist in the Graduate College: processing graduate student paperwork and thesis/dissertation submissions
University of York
October 2010-September 2011
M.A. in Medieval English Literatures
York, UK
*Scholarship for Overseas Students
*Departmental Postgraduate Award from Department of English and Related Literatures
Illinois State University
August 2005-December 2009
B.A. in Publishing Studies and Dance Performance
Bloomington-Normal, IL, USA
*Member and Undergraduate Librarian of Sigma Tau Delta, International English Honors Society
*Presidential Scholarship, highest academic scholarship for incoming freshmen
*Bone Scholar, highest academic honor bestowed on undergraduate students at Illinois State University; 14 awarded per year, based on department nomination, academic record, service and leadership, writing, and references
Freelance Experience
Katharine Chamberlain, PhD Dissertation for University of Texas, Austin
June 2015
Proofreader
*Proofread final drafts of dissertation chapters.
Katie Peterson, PhD Dissertation for University of Texas, Austin
March 2014-April 2014
Proofreader
*Proofread final drafts of dissertation chapters.
Thomas Messenger, Looking for Flyboys: One GI’s Journey: Vietnam 1970-1971
July 2013-February 2014
Copy Editor and Proofreader
*Copy edited and proofread drafts of this personal memoir in preparation for sending the manuscript out to publishers.
Dr. Ann David, academic articles for peer-reviewed publications
October 2013-January 2014
Copy Editor and Proofreader
*Copy edited and proofread two scholarly articles for peer-reviewed publications on education and research.
J.D. Shunk, The Lionheart Series
February 2013-Present
Editor and Proofreader
*Copy edited and proofread the first book in this YA Science Fiction series, The Blood of Europa. Currently content editing the second book, Warlords of Titan.
Dr. Asa Mittman and Dr. Susan Kim, Inconceivable Beasts
September 2012
Proofreader
*Proofread Inconceivable Beasts: The Wonders of the East in the Beowulf Manuscript, including Old English transliteration. Scholarly book published by the Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies.
Anna Semlyen, Cutting Your Car Use
November 2011-December 2011
Proofreader and Fact Checker
York, UK
*Updated directory for the 4th edition of Cutting Your Car Use by Anna Semlyen and Randall Ghent. Largely fact-checking (updated contact information for resources and businesses in directory of the book), but also checked for spelling, grammar, consistency, and accuracy of cross-references.
Hile Group
March 2010-September 2010
Proofreader
Bloomington, IL, USA
*Copyedited and proofread safety manuals, website, and documents for consulting firm working with industrial shipping companies to examine and redesign their safety strategies. All contact and work took place online or on the phone and required quick turnaround.
Work Experience
Medieval Institute Press
May 2015-August 2015
Junior Editorial Assistant
Kalamazoo, MI, USA
*Wrote and issued contracts, handled digital file management, copy editing.
Independent Publishers Group
March 2012-August 2013
Online Content Coordinator
Chicago, IL, USA
*Coordinated the creation and maintenance of content for Independent Publisher Group’s consumer-facing website and password-secured areas for publishers and sales representatives. Worked with HTML and CSS to create new areas of the website and help maintain social media and email marketing schemes.
CAS-IT: TAP
January 2009-June 2010
Technical Writer
Normal, IL, USA
Edited and produced content for department and university websites, repurposed print items for online publishing, edited and produced manuals and help sheets.
Lake Claremont Press
May 2008-August 2008
Intern
Chicago, IL, USA
*Independent press producing books on Chicago history, culture, and guidebooks. Worked on marketing and promotion including press kits, postcard, email, pre-ordering, Twitter, Facebook, and blog campaigns. Edited portions, indices, and back covers of books in production, publicity materials, order forms, newsletters, and more.
Western Michigan University
August 2013-Present
Ph.D. Candidate in English Literature
Kalamazoo, MI, USA
*Taught Introduction to Interpreting Literature, Thought and Writing (Composition), and British Literature I
*Worked as a research assistant and graduate assistant for a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute
*Worked as a doctoral assistant to the Dissertation Specialist in the Graduate College: processing graduate student paperwork and thesis/dissertation submissions
University of York
October 2010-September 2011
M.A. in Medieval English Literatures
York, UK
*Scholarship for Overseas Students
*Departmental Postgraduate Award from Department of English and Related Literatures
Illinois State University
August 2005-December 2009
B.A. in Publishing Studies and Dance Performance
Bloomington-Normal, IL, USA
*Member and Undergraduate Librarian of Sigma Tau Delta, International English Honors Society
*Presidential Scholarship, highest academic scholarship for incoming freshmen
*Bone Scholar, highest academic honor bestowed on undergraduate students at Illinois State University; 14 awarded per year, based on department nomination, academic record, service and leadership, writing, and references
Freelance Experience
Katharine Chamberlain, PhD Dissertation for University of Texas, Austin
June 2015
Proofreader
*Proofread final drafts of dissertation chapters.
Katie Peterson, PhD Dissertation for University of Texas, Austin
March 2014-April 2014
Proofreader
*Proofread final drafts of dissertation chapters.
Thomas Messenger, Looking for Flyboys: One GI’s Journey: Vietnam 1970-1971
July 2013-February 2014
Copy Editor and Proofreader
*Copy edited and proofread drafts of this personal memoir in preparation for sending the manuscript out to publishers.
Dr. Ann David, academic articles for peer-reviewed publications
October 2013-January 2014
Copy Editor and Proofreader
*Copy edited and proofread two scholarly articles for peer-reviewed publications on education and research.
J.D. Shunk, The Lionheart Series
February 2013-Present
Editor and Proofreader
*Copy edited and proofread the first book in this YA Science Fiction series, The Blood of Europa. Currently content editing the second book, Warlords of Titan.
Dr. Asa Mittman and Dr. Susan Kim, Inconceivable Beasts
September 2012
Proofreader
*Proofread Inconceivable Beasts: The Wonders of the East in the Beowulf Manuscript, including Old English transliteration. Scholarly book published by the Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies.
Anna Semlyen, Cutting Your Car Use
November 2011-December 2011
Proofreader and Fact Checker
York, UK
*Updated directory for the 4th edition of Cutting Your Car Use by Anna Semlyen and Randall Ghent. Largely fact-checking (updated contact information for resources and businesses in directory of the book), but also checked for spelling, grammar, consistency, and accuracy of cross-references.
Hile Group
March 2010-September 2010
Proofreader
Bloomington, IL, USA
*Copyedited and proofread safety manuals, website, and documents for consulting firm working with industrial shipping companies to examine and redesign their safety strategies. All contact and work took place online or on the phone and required quick turnaround.
Work Experience
Medieval Institute Press
May 2015-August 2015
Junior Editorial Assistant
Kalamazoo, MI, USA
*Wrote and issued contracts, handled digital file management, copy editing.
Independent Publishers Group
March 2012-August 2013
Online Content Coordinator
Chicago, IL, USA
*Coordinated the creation and maintenance of content for Independent Publisher Group’s consumer-facing website and password-secured areas for publishers and sales representatives. Worked with HTML and CSS to create new areas of the website and help maintain social media and email marketing schemes.
CAS-IT: TAP
January 2009-June 2010
Technical Writer
Normal, IL, USA
Edited and produced content for department and university websites, repurposed print items for online publishing, edited and produced manuals and help sheets.
Lake Claremont Press
May 2008-August 2008
Intern
Chicago, IL, USA
*Independent press producing books on Chicago history, culture, and guidebooks. Worked on marketing and promotion including press kits, postcard, email, pre-ordering, Twitter, Facebook, and blog campaigns. Edited portions, indices, and back covers of books in production, publicity materials, order forms, newsletters, and more.
