Resumé

Melissa R. Sipin | Production Editor

Arcadia Publishing
420 Wando Park Boulevard
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
msipin@arcadiapublishing.com | msipin@usc.edu

Explore more than 6,500 titles | www.arcadiapublishing.com

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Summary

Melissa is a recent graduate of the University of Southern California, class of 2010. She received a B.A. in English (Emphasis Creative Writing) and Philosophy, maintaining academic excellence while demonstrating campus leadership at USC. Melissa continues to refine her communication skills as a marketing and magazine production professional, having media internships since her freshman year. As a result, she is highly specialized in several industries, including publishing, bookmaking, nonprofit organizations, marketing, and journalism.

Melissa also cofounded TAYO Literary Magazine, the first international literary magazine dedicated to Filipino and Filipino-American arts and culture. As creative director, she oversees all its creative marketing, branding identity, design, outreach, fundraising, and business development efforts.

Professionally, she is a production editor at Arcadia Publishing, refining her skills in copyediting, book layouts, cover design, team-building, and collaborative projects.

Melissa is goal-oriented, motivated, energetic, and extremely competitive, making her a strong candidate with many skills for in-demand public relations and marketing positions.

Skills and Specialties
Designing, writing, copyediting, marketing, journalism, communications, WordPress/Drupal, CSS/HTML, Adobe Suite CS5 (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), branding and identity, social media, Chicago Manual of Style, Associated Press Style

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Education

University of Southern California, Graduated in December 2010
Bachelors of Arts in English (Emphasis Creative Writing) and Philosophy Minor

Activities and Societies
Sigma Tau Delta: International English Honors Society, Trojan Guild of Los Angeles, Academic Culture Assembly, Troy Philippines

Awards
- Pushcart Prize nomination by Kartika Review, 2012
- Residency with M. Evelina Galang at VONA/Voices Eastern Conference, 2012
- Las Dos Brujas Writers’ Workshop Scholarship Recipient, 2012
- Miguel G. Flores Prize awarded by the Philippine American Writers & Artists, 2011
- Second Place in Undergraduate Virginia Middleton Creative Writing Prize by the USC PhD in Literature and Creative Writing School, 2010
- Honorable Mention (Third Place out of 200 Submissions) in Creative Writing category, USC Undergraduate Writers’ Conference, 2010
- USC Cardinal & Gold Award in Community Leadership, 2010
- USC Trojan Guild of Los Angeles Scholar, 2008-2010
- USC Dean’s List, 2008-2010
- NVM Gonzalez Writer’s Award, 2009
- El Camino College Foundation Scholar Award, 2007
- Daily Breeze Journalism Scholarship, 2007
- Manhattan Beach Rotary Scholarship, 2007
- Councilman Santarina Scholarship, 2006
- El Camino College Dean’s List, 2007-2007
- Advanced Studies Academy’s Merit Scholarship, 2004

Publications & Interviews
- Published in UC Berkeley’s Magazine Magazine, Her Eyes Round Like Coconuts, 2010
- Published in Lantern Review, Love Is, 2011
- Published in Kartika Review, This is my manifesto, homecoming rain selected poems, 2011
- Forthcoming in Kweli Journal, My Brother Ben, 2012
- Forthcoming in Tidal Basin Review, we come from places we have never traveled, 2012
- Forthcoming in Philippine Speculative Fiction Anthology (Volume 7), Sarsarita Time, 2012
- “The Ilustrado: Q&A with Miguel Syjuco, Winner of the Man Asian Literary Award,”  in TAYO Literary Magazine, Second Issue, 2010
- “Poeta en San Francisco: Q&A with Barbara Jane Reyes, Winner of the James Laughlin Award,” in TAYO Literary Magazine, Third Issue, 2011

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Relevant Experience

Production Editor
Arcadia Publishing
Privately Held; Publishing industry
March 2011 – Present

- Copyedited and proofread according to the Chicago Manual of Style
- Scanned vintage images and edited with Photoshop CS5
and creating cover and book layouts in InDesign CS5
- Spearheaded projects with production team, finishing up to 14 book titles weekly
- Coordinated with book authors on aesthetic writing and theme of books, developing beneficial partnerships

Creative Director, Board of Director
TAYO Literary Magazine
Nonprofit; Media Production industry
January 2009 – Present

- Outreached and marketed magazine to Southern California Pilipino American Student Association (SCPASA), southern California colleges, church youth groups, local middle and high schools
- Lead in design and creation of product (print and online magazine), designed magazine layout, sponsorship packet, submission form, created TAYO marketing tools: TAYO logo, TAYO ad bookmarks
- Updated content and created TAYO website and TAYO’s various online profiles: Facebook, Twitter, Myspace
- Networked and partnered with Filipino community: aired on Jannelle’s So L.A. Kababayan show, San Diego’s The Backroom Podcast, BakitWhy.com’s One Year Anniversary Party, and the Filipino American Library
- Planned community events ranging from creative art and writing workshops, author readings, annual gala and networking parties

Design Coordinator (Freelance)
GlobalTel Media, Inc
Government Relations industry
August 2010 – December 2010

- Led design team in creation of blog product: http://www.robertsanchezonline.com
- Created brand identity, marketing tools, and media packet, design ranging from logo creation to blog theme/structure, staying in constant communication with client’s vision
- Assisted in planning media events and the transitional process for Mr. Sanchez to present himself as an iconic, cultural philanthropist via social media outlets

Media Assistant
Publicist for Rabbi Naomi Levy
Public Relations and Communications industry
July 2010 – December 2010

Media assistant to national best-selling author and first female congregational rabbi on the west coast, Rabbi Naomi Levy.

- Researched media contacts, wrote and sent press releases to potential media outlets
- Built extensive readership through social media: Facebook and Twitter, connecting author with diverse media platforms and expanded her writing repertoire on blogsphere
- Organized and ran errands, booked social engagements, events, and flights, administrated website created by WordPress

Marketing Coordinator
FilAm Arts
Nonprofit Organization Management industry
January 2010 – September 2010

- Designed and administrated marketing campaign for FilAm Art’s 19th Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture, ranging from flyers, posters, newspaper and website advertising, program book, festival tickets, banners, et al
- Worked proficiently with Adobe CS, packaging InDesign files, revising rough drafts, sending information via email templates, stayed in constant communication with marketing team
- Created and updated content website for community marketing campaign, BuyPinoy.Org, and its various online profiles: Facebook, Twitter, Myspace

Marketing and Design Intern
Hunt Enterprises, Inc.
Real Estate industry
April 2010 – August 2010

- Designed and administrated marketing campaign for Hunt Enterprises Inc., stylizing company’s website, branding logo, and marketing materials
- Worked proficiently with Adobe CS, packaging InDesign files, revising rough drafts, sending information via email templates, stayed in constant communication with marketing team, worked extensively with PDF files
- Created and updated content website for community marketing campaign and its various online profiles: Facebook, Twitter, Myspace

Panel Moderator
USC Undergraduate Writers’ Conference
Educational Institution; Higher Education industry
January 2010 – May 2010

Panel Moderator in the Creative Category for annual USC Undergraduate Writers’ Conference

- Moderated panel on critical-thinking discussion of writing and its merit
- Analyzed five creative pieces and facilitated discussion on 10 students’ creative works
- Administrated presentations on different creative projects ranging from blog series, essay writing, poetry, and short stories

Teaching Assistant
USC 32nd Magnet School, Creative Workshops
Educational Institution; Higher Education industry
January 2010 – May 2010

Facilitated by best-selling author and professor extraordinaire, Aimee Bender:

- Taught 4th and 3rd graders how to write fiction
- Conducted creative workshops in fiction and essay writing
- Wrote and planned over 8 unique lesson plans
- Implemented various teaching strategies and edited students’ creative works
- Organized fiction gala along with other teaching assistants
- Led design in children’s anthology of over 50 short stories

Co-Director of Public Relations
USC Troy Philippines
Student organization
August 2009 – May 2010

- Coordinated marketing campaign for the annual charity event, the Mabuhay Festival, writing press releases for online and print media, designing advertising materials (such as posters, flyers, postcards, website), and networking with the Filipino community in Los Angeles, gaining coverage by Janelle So’s L.A. Kababayan show
- Developed and directed the entertainment and educational program of the benefit event, raising awareness and funds for the Typhoon Ondoy victims in October 2009. As a result, our executive board entertained 400 guests, collected 40 boxes of donations, and raised $16,000 for the Ondoy victims
- Spearheaded beneficial programs for Filipino youth, organizing the Troy Phi high school outreach program and its marketing materials, as well as arranging the marketing materials for the annual Pilipino American Culture Show and directing/writing the accompanying 1.5-hour skit

Administrative Director
USC Academic Culture Assembly
Student organization
January 2009 – May 2009

- Administrated general duties of administrative director, such as running paperwork, acquiring leads for educational events, and preparing settings before student lectures
- Designed and facilitated marketing materials for events, covering The Onion lecture series, Chuck Klosterman’s Sex, Drugs, and Cocopuffs presentation, and the annual Beyond Books banquet, a lecture/dinner event that enabled students to network with professors and scholars in their respective field of interests
- Organized the student-professor seating charts of Beyond Books banquet at Town and Gown (a formal event with a 100-person guest list), as well as conducted the student sign-in process, ushered students to their appropriate seats, and ran errands to ensure event proceeded smoothly

Editorial and Marketing Intern
GOOD Magazine
Publishing industry
January 2009 – May 2009

- Pitched ideas for GOOD Blog and quarterly magazine, assisted in editorial work for Recession and Transportation Issue 015: Can You Solve LA Traffic? Transparency Series and Understanding the Stimulus Bill
- Assisted in GOOD College Outreach and story projects, researched editorial stories, and uploaded content online
- Updated GOOD Magazine’s various online profiles: Facebook, Youtube, Myspace, Crunchbase, Wikipedia

Editorial Intern
International Real Estate Magazine
Media Production industry
April 2006 – January 2007

- Researched and wrote editorial content on real estate property and trends in foreign markets for the article project Focus on Asia, which focused on Egypt, the Philippines, and Vietnam
- Designed article layouts and advertising advertisements for the Asian International Real Estate Expo & Conference, and coordinated cover layout
- Administrated receptionist duties such as the following duties: answering phone calls, filing folders, stuffing envelopes, running errands, and preparing letter mailings