Artist, self-taught graphic designer, and storyteller with experience working in higher education, non-profit, and government-adjacent organizations. Skilled in designing print and digital media, writing for different platforms and audiences, and managing social media. Friendly, hard-working, and enthusiastic collaborator who values fostering community and building strong partnerships.

Above all, I am a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and accessibility is always at the forefront of my work.

Empathy • Positivity • Ideation • Input • Woo

Rebekah has experience

education

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

May 2016 – Apr. 2017

Completed 21 hours in the Urban-Multicultural Elementary Education master’s program

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Aug. 2010 – May 2016

BA in English Literature

Minor in Elementary Education

Gatlinburg-Pittman High School

Aug. 2006 – May 2010

High School Diploma

work experience

Freelance Artist

2010 – Present

  • Graphic design

  • Digital art

  • Apparel design

  • Sticker design

  • Stationery design

  • Large format/mural

  • Pen and ink illustration

  • Collage

  • Acrylic paint

  • Botanical illustration

Creative Content Manager

Feb. 2020 – Present

College of Education, Health & Human Sciences • University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • Design all print/digital materials for 4th largest college at UT

  • Serve as brand manager for the college and oversee branding adherence across CEHHS departments & centers

  • Act as CEHHS Office of Access & Engagement's marketing and communications (M&C) liaison, providing print/digital design, email development, and social media promotion

  • Manage CEHHS social media accounts, including content creation; Instagram account has largest following (10K+) of any other college on campus

  • Collaborate on college magazine (Accolades) development, print and digital platform

  • Write and edit feature stories and news releases for CEHHS website, Accolades, and Torchbearer (UT’s magazine)

  • Assist with alumni and donor communications and design print/digital materials as needed

  • Build marketing emails for employees, students, alumni, other stakeholders

  • Lead M&C-related trainings for CEHHS faculty and staff

  • Create designs for and manage all Hypersign digital monitors throughout the college's four buildings

  • Plan, coordinate and facilitate small- and large-scale events for students, faculty, and staff

Adjunct Lecturer / Lab Instructor

Aug. 2022 – Dec. 2023

Tombras School of Advertising & Public Relations • University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • Advise students in Advertising Design 310 during the planning and implementation of graphic design assignments

  • Provide guidance and support during design "work days" in the classroom

  • Assist students in using the Adobe Creative Suite for their assignments

  • Review, grade, and provide feedback for assignments and quizzes

Technical Writer

Sept. 2019 – Jan. 2020

Banda Group International

  • Edit memorandums generated by Certified Industrial Hygiene (CIH) staff into a final document for clients, including the U.S. Department of Labor

  • Assist in Microsoft SharePoint site administration

  • Complete invoices for submittal to client, provide technical editing support on other documents and any other required initiatives as required by the Program Manager

  • Create video slideshows every month, highlighting company events, news, and awards

  • Redesign slideshow presentations for company safety training events

  • Perform general administrative duties such as: ordering supplies, completing expense reports, filing, answering and directing phone calls, etc.

Community Engagement Coordinator

Aug. 2017 – Aug. 2019

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont / AmeriCorps VISTA

  • Work to fulfill GSMIT's AmeriCorps VISTA grant mission of "alleviating poverty in urban, underserved schools through the creation of resources and experiential education training opportunities"

  • Create resources and wrote lesson plans for educators in urban, underserved communities in accordance with current Tennessee state academic standards

  • Research and synthesize the benefits of experiential education in urban, underserved communities

  • Collaborate in the rebranding of GSMIT as a resource for educators as they embark in experiential education in their own schoolyard

  • Create marketing emails and handle communications with educators, administrators, and stakeholders across the state

  • Organize, coordinate, and secure funding for workshops and events

  • Coordinate, plan, and facilitate the "Nature Explorers Summer Camp" at Lonsdale Elementary School

  • Recruit for and facilitate professional development workshops for educators from across the country

  • Proofread and edit documents created by VISTA team before publication

  • Design marketing campaigns and resources for programming and fundraising events

  • Build long-term partnerships with influential stakeholders from the surrounding areas

  • Represent GSMIT at educational conferences and networking events across the state

Intern Teacher

Jul. 2016 – Apr. 2017

3rd Grade • Lonsdale Elementary School

Oct. 2016 – Dec. 2017

Kindergarten • Dogwood Elementary School

  • Design and facilitate culturally relevant, differentiated lessons and activities for students from diverse backgrounds and varying achievement levels

  • Develop leadership, team-building, and conflict resolution skills while working with mentor teacher and other members of the teaching team

Sales Associate

May 2014 – Dec. 2014

Janie & Jack Outlet

  • Greet customers in a friendly manner and answered any questions

  • Process customer transactions

  • Handle returns and exchanges

  • Opened and organized backroom inventory

  • Restocked merchandise and organized new merchandise

  • Received exemplary reviews for customer service and personability from customers through company's online survey

Sales Associate

May 2011 – Dec. 2011

TJ Maxx

  • Greet customers in a friendly manner and answered any questions

  • Process customer transactions

  • Handle returns and exchanges

  • Opened and organized backroom inventory

  • Restocked merchandise and organized new merchandise

  • Sold highest number of TJX credit cards at that location during employment

Volunteer Work

Book Buddy

Jun. 2015 – Jul. 2015

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley

  • Read with rising 6th grade students in an effort to alleviate summer reading loss

Staff Volunteer

May 2014 – Dec. 2014

Boys & Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains

  • Assist with programming facilitation, behavioral management, and activity coordination

accomplishments & awards

Baby Smokey Plush

Designed Baby Smokey plush to be sold in the UT Volshop, in partnership with and benefiting the Rocky Top Institute of Retail | Spring 2024

Volunteer Orange Book

Designed the Volunteer Orange Book in collaboration with the CEHHS Office of Access & Engagement | Fall 2023

The Volunteer Orange Book serves as a resource guide for UT students, faculty, and staff that provides information about the greater Knoxville area, on-campus resources, small, locally-owned businesses and restaurants, community DEI resources, and more; Modeled after The Negro Motorist Green Book (1936-1966), published by Victor Hugo Green, with an emphasis on resources for historically underrepresented populations.

Presenter @ Communicon 2023

"Pause Before Posting: Making Your Social Media Accessible for All"

Social media is the easiest and most public way to share information with our different audiences, and because UT is a land-grant institution, it’s crucial that our posts reach as many people as possible. This session allowed attendees to gain information and resources to help integrate accessibility practices into their social media posts and engage inclusively with diverse audiences. | Fall 2023

CommuniCon is UT’s annual conference for campus communicators.

Exceptional Non-Exempt Staff Service Award

Awarded to a non-exempt staff member in the College of Education, Health & Human Sciences who has performed their job duties exceptionally well and who has contributed to the college community in ways that are beyond their position description; this person exemplifies the Volunteer spirit. | 2022

Presenter @ TN Stem Innovation Summit 2019

Facilitated an activity with K-12 educators that they could use in their with their students to hone observation skills while connecting with the natural world, effectively utilizing their schoolyard as a “learning laboratory” | May 2019

Tremont Virtual Reality Project Script

Wrote script for Oak Ridge Associated Universities’ VR project documenting historical and instructional locations around Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont’s campus and the surrounding natural area in the national park | Jan. 2019

professional service

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Guest Lecturer • Fall 2021 – Present

Present “Branding & Design Basics in Canva” every Fall/Spring semester for MKTG 475 (Visual Marketing) in the Haslam College of Business, where I teach visual marketing students how to use Canva to its highest potential in conjunction with other programs, like the Adobe Creative Suite and Procreate

Search Committee Chair • Summer/Fall 2022

Exempt staff-level search in CEHHS

Agent for Change • June 2022

Completed the CEHHS Equity, Inclusion & Justice Summer Institute, a 7-day, immersive learning institute that provides participants with a unique interactive learning experience centered on analyzing the operations of difference, power, and privilege in higher education

Search Committee Chair • Spring 2021

Director-level search in CEHHS

Member • 2020 – 2021

CEHHS A&E Faculty & Staff Advisory Board

Member • Spring – Fall 2020

CEHHS Diversity Action Planning Committee