HEY, I'M JAKE.
As a poet, I’m interested in little moments of magic & modernity, the strange coexistences and extremities of our weird world.
As a UX and content writer, I’m interested in creating experiences for users that are playful, accessible, and easy to use. I love to craft persona through voice and bring a sense of joy to brands that impact people in positive ways.
As a human being, I’m interested in teaching, chicken fingers, and equity.
MY WORK HISTORY
If that's the kind of thing you read for fun.
TD Bank, July 2022 - Present
SENIOR CONTENT MANAGER
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Writes user-centered UX and UI copy across mobile and web platforms with focus on usability, empathy, efficacy, tone and voice, and precision
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Collaborates with product owners, business lines, stakeholders, developers, and design teams to determine and meet business objective
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Drafts and revises content within a NEW/Agile workflow; iterates and improves using results from user testing
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Creates and owns content deliverables using Microsoft Word; actively contributes to design deliverables using Figma
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Presents content and concepts/direction to project stakeholders in collaboration with designers and researchers
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Supports project scoping and planning; recommends and defines requirements to develop digital experiences
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Mentors other content writers and monitors standards; works as a team to provide quality assurance on deliverables
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Elected by senior managers to help define a scalable and consistent content strategy; collaborates to direct, create, and maintain a reader-friendly presentation of content standards, workflows, processes, and best practices
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Volunteered side-of-desk to work on Innovation team’s AR projects and enact changes for PULSE, the internal employee quality of life improvement team
Hera Realty Group, October 2021 - October 2023
LEAD UX/CONTENT WRITER
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Wrote user-focused content, copy, and microcopy to develop the new REsynque real estate platform
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Built content guidelines; actively guided content and design towards branding, tone, and quality goals
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Collaborated and communicated with designers and developers to ensure a quality, informed product
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Helped define design parameters to build efficient UI and maximize consumer experience
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Implemented content using GitHub and markdown on Visual Studio
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Verified and validated implementation through review and testing; logged and tracked bugs
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Worked alongside animator to script and design commercials for the platform and its most prominent features
UMass Boston, June 2020 - May 2022
CREATIVE WRITING INSTRUCTOR
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Taught two sections per semesters Introduction to Creative Writing and Creative Writing: Poetry
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Created and operated with syllabi that celebrate diverse voices, encourage experimentation, and prioritize community and collaboration
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Focused on engagement, interaction, and student-led success
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Used student feedback to iterate upon and improve class
MassBay Community College, Jan 2020-May 2022
EDUCATIONAL COACH
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Served as a 1:1 mentor for students with disabilities in the Transitional Scholars program
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Attended classes with students and acts as a notetaker; tutored when needed; helped students access campus resources; and assisted students with executive functioning skills, such as time management
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Maintained accurate records of students' achievements and hardships, and uses this data to create effective action plans
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Encouraged appropriate college behaviors and maintained a positive academic environment that focused on student-led success and fostered independence
Connecting Your Customers, June 2021-March 2022
LEAD CONTENT WRITER
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Freelance, ad-hoc content writing work
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Created and edited custom, individualized content for Portland, Oregon small-business websites
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Wrote data-driven SEO content for "location pages" to gain new consumer markers in cities across the US
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Interviewed clients to understand, replicate, and build upon their voice, tone, and brand
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Collaborated with team members to meet deadlines, create accurate and enticing content, and ensure project efficiency
Red Hat, May 2020 - August 2020
UX AND CONTENT WRITING INTERN
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Collaborated with designers, developers, and other writers to generate content for Red Hat
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Composed and coordinated tweets for the Red Hat UXD Twitter account, created and edited content for the PatternFly Medium page, and tracked metrics for social accounts
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Responded to requests for content help and used GitHub and Markdown on Visual Studio to edit web content for Patternfly
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Piloted a new system of UX writing embedded within global application development tool teams to write copy, assist with user interface, and provide editorial guidance in design review meetings
Hanging Loose Press, September 2019-May 2020
PUBLISHING ASSISTANT
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Read, reviewed, and assisted with the editing of submitted poetry manuscripts
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Helped manage current and past magazines through transcribing, cataloging, and data creation/sorting
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Assisted in office management tasks such as communication and mailing
Gladys E. Kelly Public Library, July 2018-August 2019
ASSISTANT YOUTH SERVICES LIBRARIAN
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Curated, supported, and promoted the library’s Young Adult collection
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Coordinated and oversaw Young Adult programming; hosted weekly creative writing group for writers aged 13-17
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Created, edited, and proofread web content, advertising, grant proposals, and newsletters
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Performed routine library services: pulling/ returning books, cataloging, stack maintenance, and tech support
Defense-Wise Martial Arts, July 2018-July 2019
INSTRUCTOR AND MANAGER
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Created and executed lesson plans, both for individual students and groups of up to 30 (ranging in age from 4 – 40)
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Worked with student of all ability levels, including many student with learning and behavioral disabilities
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Communicated with and expanded clientele base through email, phone calls, website, and social media
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Managed business: student scheduling, file digitizing, technical support, advertisement creation and promotion
Great Oaks Charter School, August 2017 - June 2018
SMALL-GROUP ELA INSTRUCTOR
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Prepared groups of up to 13 inner-city students for college by meeting and exceeding grade-based literacy levels
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Created engaging and rigorous lesson plans around novels and short prose pieces
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Individualized instruction around themes of comprehension, vocabulary, analysis, and fluency
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Co-created a new elective-based Novel Study curriculum to be used for all high schoolers in the Great Oaks network
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Communicated and coordinated with a staff of over 75 individuals
Juniper Institute for Young Writers, January 2016 – June 2017
PROGRAM ASSISTANT/ MEDIA & EVENT INTERN
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Designed creative writing curricula and built a productive writing-based community comprised of over 80 students
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Supervised and supported young writers and their schedules while moving through activities across campus
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Hosted a well-attended lecture and discussion that facilitated critical thought about young adult literature
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Prepared “Visiting Writer” readings alongside MFA staff and created social media video advertisements
🏆 AWARDS 🏆
Residencies, fellowships, grants, and scholarships
Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA)
Awarded a full RISCA Make Art Grant in 2024 (for July-December 2024) for the in-progress poetry collection Truth is a Hard Deer to Hunt for materials, research, writing, and in-state travel.
Miami Book Fair,
Miami Dade College
Named a finalist for the 2022 Miami Book Fair Emerging Writer Fellowship in poetry.
THE BRIAN RATTIGAN SCHOLARSHIP
University of Massachusetts,
Boston
Awarded March 2021 and March 2022.
This scholarship was established in memory of Brian Rattigan, a poet and member of the first graduating class of the University of Massachusetts, Boston, who drowned during the summer of his Senior Year. Awarded for excellence in academics and creative writing.
CREATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT GRANT
University of Massachusetts,
Boston
Awarded grant funds for creative summer research in May 2021:
A project investigating occult history and, as Ariana Reines said, "the weirdness of coexistence": contemporary Western esotericism's intersections with themes of modernity, technology, social issues, and secular spirituality.
GENERAL JOHN J. & EVANGELINE W. MAGINNIS SCHOLARSHIP
University of Massachusetts,
Amherst
Awarded on the basis of academic excellence and the quality of a personal statement.
JUDGING, EDITING, & VOLUNTEERING
Judgmental and giving? I contain multitudes.
The Adroit Journal
September 2024 - Present
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Reads and provides feedback on poetry submissions for one of the most prestigious literary journals in the world
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Decides what gets moved onto the next round of editorial consideration for acceptance for publications, contests, and prizes; reads and reviews a diverse mix of new, emerging voices and established poets
Capitol Ridge Assisted Living, Providence, RI
March 2024 - Present
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Teaches creative writing to a group of seniors on a bi-weekly basis at a senior living facility
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Adapts curriculum to meet needs of students; groups are generally discussion-based and involve the reading craft essays and sample work from prominent and diverse writers, having analytical conversations, writing together, sharing and collaborating on work, and experimenting with new techniques
UMass Boston
April 2021
Judged poetry entries and determined finalists as part of a judging team
Announced winners at live event
UMass Amherst
Dec 2016 - May 2017
Read and critically examined fiction submissions for the 2017 publication of UMass Amherst's undergraduate lit mag
Selected fiction pieces to be included in the journal
September 2015 – May 2017
VOLUNTEER LITERACY MENTOR
Engaged 10 struggling and underprivileged students daily through reading and mentoring on an online forum
Achieved significant experience with online-based learning and comprehending youth literacy skills
WHAT I'M LISTENING TO 🎵
// Fall 2024 - Winter 2025 //
