My resume
Eldon Ray James
2813 Rio Grande #111
Austin, Texas 78705
http://www.erayjames.com
512-413-5264 email: erayjames@hotmail.com
Education
MS in Information Studies The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.
Expected: May 2007
Focus on librarianship with significant work in Information Architecture
BA The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.
May 2005
Major: English. Minor: Psychology
Experience
Interpersonal, teamwork, and diversity skills
- After extensive specialized training by US Army served as unit non-commissioned officer in charge of human relations program and crisis intervention team
- Directed and taught in peer-to-peer life skills training program for multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-linguistic group in an institutional setting
- Volunteer for University of Texas graduate-student diversity colloquium
- Shared living quarters in first racially integrated dormitory room at Baylor University
- Directed disparate, multi-ethnic, geographically dispersed staff to produce award-winning newspapers
Professional
- Worked with incoming American Library Association President Loriene Roy’s Circle of Literacy initiative to survey existing literacy programs for incarcerated persons, to develop and publish a program resource database, and to develop a timeline and plan to guide involving libraries and incarcerated people in improving literacy services for those inside.
- In graduate school assignments developed working relationships with staff at a domestic violence shelter to streamline and automate advocate/client goal-setting procedures; evaluated community involvement profile at the Austin Children’s Museum; and, in concert with New Life Institute, a Methodist Church counseling center, conducted a usability study of the organization’s Web site to assist in its redesign.
- Built personal Web site to display past and present personal creative efforts as well constructed a digital collection of that material. Rebuilding a Web site for a retiring social and political activist.
- Researched and completed hundreds of Microsoft Access databases.
- Extensive experience in the use of academic and public library resources for academic research as well as freelance writing assignments.
- Active member of Texas Library Association and American Library Association.
Quantitative skills
- Frequent use of and creation of Excel spreadsheets
- Maintained extremely accurate inventory controls in a number of settings
Computer skills
- Proficient in using personal computers, both Mac, Windows, and Uni operating systems, with experience since 1984. Programs used include: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Visio, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, PageMaker and PrintMaster. Additionally, I use scanners and optical character recognition software with facility. I have repaired faxes, printers, copiers, and typewriters.
- I have over two years experience with SAP enterprise software
Employment History
Researcher, Databasaurus, Austin, Texas, February 2004-Present(Avg. 20 hours/week while attending school) Internet-based research about businesses to populate searchable databases.
Reader, Geo-Tel Inc., Austin, Texas, February 2002-February 2004 Read and marked newspaper articles for clients of the Texas Press clipping service. Provided special formats to meet client-specific requirements.
Journalist (Editor, Reporter, Photographer), 1982-1996 Professional-association-award-winning career including management of staffs up to 20 people as well as adjunct faculty position teaching desktop publishing at University of Southern Colorado.
Qualifications
- Extensive managerial and administrative experience
- Exceptional versatility and adaptability
- Unfailing sense of humor and optimism
- Dedication and drive as a focused, hard-working individual
- Superlative communication and team-building skills
- Ability to manage multiple tasks in a high-pressure environment
- Ability to determine, set and meet deadlines
Awards
- Writing: Second Place Burleson Non-fiction Competition 2005 (UT Austin)
- Writing: Third Place Burleson Poetry Competition 2005 (UT Austin)
- Journalism: Colorado Bar Association Silver Gavel Award 1993
- Journalism: American Bar Association Certificate of Merit 1992
- Journalism: Editor of Colorado Press Association Writing and Design Excellence Class 1 winning newspaper; personal first place writing awards. 1993
- Journalism: Editor of Colorado Press Association General Excellence, Writing Excellence, and Design Excellence Class 1 winning newspaper; numerous personal writing and photography awards including two category sweeps (winning first, second, and third place)
- Broadcasting: News Director of Colorado AP News Station of the Year, 1991
- Broadcasting: Colorado Broadcasters Association Best Entertainment Program (News) First place, 1989
- Numerous first place and grand champion awards in professional fine art photography in regional competitions in Colorado