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HELLO, I'M
Sydney
A future nonprofit changemaker
About
MY STORY
I'm a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa majoring in journalism and mass communication, with an emphasis in strategic communication. I'm also pursuing a certificate in nonprofit leadership and philanthropy, alongside a minor in social justice.
I believe words and the impact they create matter. After spending my childhood penning short stories in Oak Park, Illinois, I moved to the Midwest’s UNESCO City of Literature to pursue my dream of becoming a writer. With my experience in reporting, nonprofit communications, and marketing, I have developed a strong foundation in storytelling and am committed to using writing as a tool to foster understanding and drive change.
I bring creativity, attention to detail, and a collaborative spirit to all my projects. I'm always eager to learn and contribute to initiatives that connect communities and inspire meaningful action.
Education
2022–Present
University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA
Class of 2026
GPA: 3.9/4.0
Journalism and Mass Communication, BA
Nonprofit Leadership and Philanthropy, Certificate
Social justice, Minor
Work Experience
Alumni Engagement Student Clerk
University of Iowa Center for Advancement
August 2025 - Today
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Resolves phone and email constituent inquiries for Senior College services, providing timely guidance on registrations, cancellations, and course information
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Maintains accurate engagement records and tracks event participation through I-Star, a Salesforce-based CRM.
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Supports team operations, preparing materials, processing mailings, and organizing inventory to ensure smooth program delivery.
Stewardship Intern
University of Iowa Center for Advancement
June 2025 - August 2025
During a 10-week internship with the University of Iowa Center for Advancement's stewardship team, I:
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Led an initiative among the other interns to write and distribute 140 thank-you notes to first-time University of Iowa donors.
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Contacted over 700 scholarship alumni to gather thank you notes for Level A Donor Reports, securing more than 60 responses.
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Created an impact report in Canva for a donor while collaborating with development team members.
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Drafted templates that will be used for acknowledgement letters from UICA and University of Iowa presidents.
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Partnered with development officers and external vendors to ideate and execute custom stewardship projects to surprise and delight donors, including:
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Cards
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ThankViews
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Invitations
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Letters from faculty
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Upon completing this internship, I accepted a role with the UICA as an Alumni Engagement (ADE) Student Clerk for the upcoming academic year
Student Administrative Assistant
University of Iowa - Department of Computer Science
September 2023 - May 2025
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Reported on student, faculty, and alumni achievements for publication on departmental website, newsletters, and social media
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Transfigured print and digital advertising for colloquia and assisted host in event preparation and cleanup three times a week
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Collaborated with team members to develop fundraising campaign materials for buying loaner technology to support students
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Expanded department’s social media presence to Instagram after providing promising research and ideas for content to increase brand visibility and audience engagement
Communications Summer Intern
Chicago Area Alternative Education League (CAAEL)
June 2024 - August 2024
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Wrote thank you messages in MailChimp to 50+ donors and created templates for future acknowledgement emails
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Developed a 3-month social media calendar, including evergreen content, captions, and campaign ideas for Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to streamline posting for better engagement
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Redesigned weekly newsletter to enhance clarity and visual appeal for communications sent to 500+ recipients, including parents, teachers, and other faculty
Communications Summer Intern
Beyond Hunger
June 2023 - July 2023
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Composed original posts 3-5 times a week for thousands of followers while managing Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn accounts
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Interviewed and photographed volunteers to produce 6 profiles for volunteer recognition and recruitment
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Researched existing strategies and drafted recommendations for the establishment of an ambassador program
News Reporter
The Daily Iowan
August 2022 - May 2023
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Published 37 clear, concise articles in a timely manner by analyzing information acquired through online platforms, official documents, and interviewed sources
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Scheduled, prepared for, and conducted interviews for three sources per story
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Drafted and presented four pitches weekly related to newsworthy stories in the community
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Attended and reported on biweekly Iowa City City Council meetings to keep readers informed on local government issues
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Created eye-catching, informative headlines and social media supplements for each story
Portfolio
EXAMPLES OF MY WORK
Skills & Tools
MY TOOLBOX
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Collaborative team player
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Adaptable and open-minded
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Creative thinker
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Strong communicator
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Empathetic
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Researcher
PLATFORMS
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Microsoft Office Suite Products
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Canva
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MailChimp
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ThankView
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I-Star (Salesforce)
Accolades
RECOGNITION & HONORS
Phi Beta Kappa
President's List, Spring - Fall 2025,
Dean's List, Fall 2022 - Spring 2025
Cum Laude Honor Society
2022-23 Illinois State Scholar