University at Buffalo is a world-class university in the State University of New York (SUNY) system. I have covered newsworthy events and topics for UB Nursing Magazine, University Advancement, the School of Public Health and Health Professions, and the School of Architecture and Planning.

Topics have included recaps of notable lecturer visits, award announcements, and other items that spotlight the alumnus, students, faculty, and activities and brands of these schools. Articles appear online and in print. Contact me to read these pieces and to learn about my work for UB.

 

Selections from School of Nursing:

 

Lessons from Ghana

Just as the fall 2022 semester was winding down, and as Buffalo, New York, was facing a cold and snowy start to winter, three University at Buffalo School of Nursing students stepped into equatorial heat and sunshine. All registered nurses and students in UB’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program, they traveled to West Africa to provide health care and education to residents of Accra, Ghana.

The Power of Humanity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jessie Kichigin’s family trip to Mexico in March of 2022 was planned as a warm-weather getaway with her husband and parents. But instead of unwinding by the pool, she spent much of her time securing a place with an organization that would take her as a volunteer nurse near the border of Ukraine.

Within a day of returning from that vacation, Kichigin, whose mother is Ukrainian born and father is Russian born, would be headed to Ukraine.

Concept-Based Curriculum Evolving Nurse Training and Education

Over the past four decades, the number of medications, technologies, complex processes, and diagnoses of diseases and conditions have all grown exponentially. But how nursing students are taught has gone largely unchanged over that same period.

That’s about to change at University at Buffalo School of Nursing.

Representation Matters

Sorelle Jones Cooper, MSN, FNP-BC is a nurse practitioner specializing in dermatology — and is highly sought after for her personal experience and deep knowledge about the skin concerns of people of color.

Jones Cooper is not only a resource for her patients, but also an advocate for equity within the field.

The Pivot to Vaccines

Carla Jungquist, PhD, ANP-BC, FAAN, a professor at UB School of Nursing, volunteered her skills throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jundquist’s story exemplifies all the ways frontline healthcare workers and volunteers responded to the biggest worldwide health crisis in a century.

Hilbert College is a four-year, liberal arts college in the Catholic, Franciscan tradition located in suburban Hamburg, NY, just outside of Buffalo. Here, the smaller campus and student body create an intimate experience for students, faculty, and staff.

Their Hilbert College Magazine reports college news wrapped in stories about people. Topics include campus activities, academic news, staff introductions, and alumnus spotlights. 

Contact me read these pieces and to learn more about my work for Hilbert College.

Selections:

The only way is up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hilbert College graduate Augustus “DJ Slim Gus” Clarke is a multi-talented man whose creativity in imagery and video is catching the eyes of professional sports and recording artists.

Clarke says “the only way is up,” with some credit due to the Bills Mafia! 

Alumna Spotlight: Anne Marie Milazzo

Hilbert College has a rich history in its Catholic Franciscan roots, and few know this better than the first lay graduates who studied alongside the young Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph. Anne Marie Milazzo was among that first class of lay students.

Her choice to study there would be a foundation for Anne Marie; the loving support she received from the Sisters not only carried her personally but also taught her how to pay it all forward in her profession.

Alumna Spotlight: Art + Nature = Activism

Joanna Dickey almost literally stumbled upon her career. Once she was able to toss aside her crutches, she knew for sure that she wanted to do this work for the rest of her life. Now she is using art to help to change the lives of kids, and sometimes the landscapes they live in!

Contact me read this piece and to learn more about my work for Nazareth University.

 Rochester Business Journal is a local business-focused weekly newspaper available by print and digital subscription. Contact me to read these pieces and to learn more about my work for Rochester Business Journal.

Selections:

 

Divining the Key: Access to Contraception

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Special Report section story examining the state of contraception — access, in particular — remains the most important piece of writing I have ever done. My piece for the Women’s Health topic explores how the issues surrounding contraception impact women across the socioeconomic spectrum. I spent weeks researching the topic and interviewing women who have dedicated their careers to educating women and people with a uterus about contraception options.

Women in Business on Gender Barriers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How do women experience gender barriers in business? Do all women see gender as a barrier, or do there exist bigger, more important questions related to overall equity? When I asked four women about their experiences in business, they dug deep into the question; their replies were eye-opening. This piece is an example of how unexpectedly a story can unfold.

 

Westside News publishes two free weekly community newspapers, including Suburban News, and two monthly magazines, distributed to over 71,000 homes in the western suburbs of Rochester, New York. Contact me to read these pieces and to learn more about my work for Suburban News.

Selections from More than Two Dozen Articles Completed:

 

She Answers the Call to Stitch

Betty Murphy was boating in Raquette Lake when she rounded a bend and came upon a captivating scene — a historic church on a island. That chance experience led to Betty donating her skills as a seamstress to fulfill a personal mission and benefit a beloved Adirondack gem.

Newman Riga Library Director Begins New Chapter

Donna Haire was part of my first major story for Suburban News, about new technology available at the public library. My first contact with Donna, a library director, didn’t go so well; she rarely felt it worthwhile to give any type of interview to a news reporter. Donna was skeptical, but somehow I reassured her that I would be very careful with the storytelling. I took that promise to heart, making sure to triple-check all quotes and details before submitting my article.

This experience set the tone for my freelance writing work ethic. Donna loved the article. So much that she would routinely send story ideas to the editor with the explicit request that I be the writer to do the work. Donna and I spent over three hours together chatting about her life and career. The hardest part was distilling all her great stories into one article.

Ryan Chalmers’ Push Across America

In the spring of 2013, Ryan Chalmers, a Churchville, NY, native and Paralympic athlete, set out from Los Angeles on a cross-country trip to New York City. He pushed his racer across the country to raise awareness for the capabilities of disabled youth and young adults. The event was staged to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Stay Focused, an organization that provides growth and leadership-development opportunities for disabled youth.

I met Ryan’s family at their home in Churchville. During the interview, Ryan’s Dad dialed up Ryan on his cell phone, reaching him as he ate dinner after a 60+ mile day on the road. Ryan graciously answered a few questions, and we met in person in Rochester a week after he finished his 3,300 mile journey, for a second story to recap his experience.

Clarksville Becomes Winter Escape to a Bygone Era

The story of octogenarian Willie Clark and her Christmas village is a study in family love. The marvels of ‘Clarksville,’ which takes up nearly a whole room, lie in not only the commitment to intricate details, but also in the entire family’s dedication to Willie and her passion for commemorating Christmas. Spending an evening with Willie and her family ‘in Clarksville’ was the highlight of my 2012 Christmas season. 

Historic Preservation: St. William’s on Long Point

Adirondack Life is a a glossy outdoor lifestyle magazine with a national circulation of 50,000 focused on the Adirondack region and North Country of New York State. The idea for my story pitch came from the Betty Murphy article I wrote for Suburban News. St. William’s on Long Point is one of those hidden gems ‘inside the blue line’ – a breathtaking specimen of history and architecture set among the incomparable beauty and serenity of Raquette Lake in the Adirondack Park. Visiting St. William’s on Long Point was an adventure in itself. Writing took place over several months, and included interviews with several key people to stitch together the story.

Contact me to read this piece.