Gina LaGuardia
Gina has more than a decade of experience as a magazine editor-in-chief and
editorial director of multimedia companies, including The CollegeBound Network and ClassesUSA, both of which receive more than 2 million visitors per month. As editor-in-chief of CollegeBound Teen Magazine since 1996, she oversaw all editorial operations for the company, including the development of a 12-site Web portal dedicated to easing the high school-to-college transition for teenagers. She was also instrumental in the development, implementation, and editorial direction of ClassesUSA's content syndication initiative, which provided targeted, relevant content to support the company's partnerships with such sites as AOL.com, MSN.com, the Internet Broadcasting System, WorldNow, Salary.com, Yahoo! HotJobs, BellSouth, and others since 2004. She also served as the founding editor of Online Degrees magazine, a consumer publication available in bookstores and on newsstands nationwide. Her vast experience encompasses a variety of editorial tasks and management, from pounding the pavement to "get the story" and article topic conceptualizations, to public relations, serving as a media spokesperson, and SEO content consultation. She has written about a variety of topics, including education, college admissions, careers, technology, fashion, beauty, travel, entertainment, health, fitness, motherhood and parenting, money management, social media, and more. She received a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from New York University in 1995, and has served as an adjunct instructor at Rutgers University. Gina attributes her reputation as an adept and versatile journalist, conceptual manager, and editorial innovator to a combination of creativity and a relentless work ethic, one she encourages in each and every one of GLES' contributors…
Dawn Papandrea
Dawn Papandrea is a freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years of print and online journalism experience. She's been a senior editor with GLES since its inception, and has worked alongside Gina LaGuardia on the editorial team of The CollegeBound Network for nearly a decade. Dawn's expertise is in the areas of education, careers, parenting, and a variety of general interest topics. Her experience also includes working as an editorial consultant for corporate clients, creating and editing newsletters, press releases, and other marketing materials. Through her years as the managing editor of The CollegeBound Network, a suite of education-related Web sites, Dawn is well versed in search engine optimization techniques, Web 2.0, and content management of multiple sites. Additional credits include writing for national publications, including Parenting, Fit Pregnancy, Hallmark, American Baby, and iVillage. Dawn holds a master's degree in journalism from New York University.
Christina Couch
Christina Couch is a freelance writer based in Richmond, Virginia and a graduate of James Madison University. Her work has appeared in AOL.com, MSN.com, Wired Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, the Christian Science Monitor, Yahoo! Finance, Virginia Business Magazine, Go!, and Time Out Chicago. Her work can also be found in 18 college guidebooks produced by Hobsons Publications and Sparknotes Publications.
Elizabeth McGolerick Elizabeth Weiss McGolerick is a freelance writer and editor whose articles
have been published on MSN, AOL, Yahoo HotJobs, iVillage, SheKnows, and
other print and online publications. She prides herself on the ability to
write about most any subject, though her focus tends to be on education,
relationships, parenting, health, finance, and pop culture. Elizabeth is managing editor of the Creative Class Exchange and marketing editor and writer for Ask Mars
Venus. She earned an MFA in creative writing from George Mason University, a
BA from St. Francis University, and studied at Cambridge University in
England. She currently resides in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Merritt Jennifer Merritt is a New-York based writer and editor focused on travel and lifestyle stories. She regularly writes about the glamour in green for Sprig.com, destinations for Business Travel News, couture designers for Zink and Spain hotel news for HotelChatter.com, following three months of living abroad in Seville. She earned her degree at Rutgers University and has studied at Cambridge University in England and at Gotham Writers' Workshop in New York..
Kathleen Nicholson Webber
Kathleen Nicholson Webber has worked in the publishing industry for 17 years, first as a copywriter for Self magazine and then as an editor for W magazine and Women’s Wear Daily and as the managing editor of New Jersey Life. She began her freelance writing career in 1998 and her byline has appeared in Martha Stewart Living, InStyle, Harper’s Bazaar, Country Home, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Philadelphia Magazine. She has tackled every topic, from fashion design and interior design to beauty and health, lifestyle trends and education. Her credits on the Internet include iVillage, MSN.com, and AOL.com. She helped with the successful launch of Philadelphia Style magazine in 1998 and wrote her first coffee table book about home and design (Spectacular Homes of Greater Philadelphia, Panache), which was released in May 2006. Kathleen holds an M.A. in journalism from New York University, and a B.A. from Saint Mary’s College of Notre Dame. An adjunct professor at Temple University in Philadelphia since 2004, she lives with her husband and three children in Bucks County, PA.
Vicki Salemi Vicki Salemi is passionate about journalism. As a frequent contributor to ClassesUSA.com, AOL Health, HotJobs, CNBC European Business, and SheKnows.com, she lives and breathes by the byline. Vicki blogs about workplace topics for Women for Hire and Paparazzi Parenting for TheCuteKid.com. She's been published by MSN, The New York Post, The Daily News, Time Out New York, iVillage, WeightWatchers.com, MediaBistro.com, and a variety of publications. Her areas of expertise include careers, education, business, health/wellness, entertainment/pop culture, and baseball. Vicki is also immersed in human resources with thirteen years of experience in financial services encompassing training, international HR, compensation, employee relations, and recruitment. She is the author of 'The ABC's of College Life.' Vicki earned her bachelor's degree from Lafayette College and management certificate from Cornell University. She is a member of the Newswomen's Club of NY, New York Women in Communications, the Step Up Women's Network, and the American Society of Journalists and Authors.
Nina Silberstein
Nina Silberstein has more than 22 years writing experience with a specialty in medical-health issues. Her work has appeared in magazines, newspapers, newsletters, journals and online. Current samples can be found on her Website at www.nswriter.net.
Tamar Snyder Tamar S. Snyder is a freelance reporter, specializing in personal finance, education, careers, and the arts. She holds a master's in journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She is a regular contributor to AOL.com and MSN.com, and her work has appeared on Inc.com and in Edutopia, the Staten Island Advance, and The New York Times.
Robyn Tellefsen
Robyn Tellefsen is known by colleagues and friends as the go-to gal for grammar questions and quandaries. A copyeditor extraordinaire who has also lent her proofreading prowess to the college textbook market, her eagle-eyed attention to detail can be counted on to spot inconsistencies and other faux pas, and her perfectionism and work ethic ensure accuracy in all she attempts. Not only that, her experience as a staff writer and then assistant/associate editor, on the Web and off, showcases her unique ability to write on topics from education to lifestyle with clarity and compassion. She holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Wheaton College.
Ysolt Usigan
A self-proclaimed workaholic (and proud of it), Ysolt Usigan brings to the table her writing and editing skills, expertise in Web production, and expertise in research and reporting. Ysolt ties all of her experiences with content that’s catchy, provocative, and at the same time, informative. She is currently the beauty and style producer/editor for iVillage.com, an NBC Universal digital media company. Responsible for driving online traffic to the site’s beauty and style section, as well as producing and repurposing content, Ysolt continues to engage users. Prior to her post at NBC Universal, Ysolt served as the Web editor for New Jersey Life Magazine, a luxury lifestyle publication, and was a senior staff writer at CollegeBound Teen Magazine.
Kara Higgins Wahlgren Kara Higgins Wahlgren is a full-time freelance writer based in New Jersey. She graduated from Rutgers University with degrees in Journalism and Communication, and has worked on-staff as Deputy Editor of Twist and a staff writer at Penthouse. She maintains the "Star Skinny" blog at DietDetective.com, and her work has appeared in CollegeBound Teen, Online Degrees, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, J-14, New Jersey Monthly, and more. In addition, she has written teen biographies of Johnny Depp and Jennifer Love Hewitt and appeared on E!'s Love Chain.
Michelle Bruns
Michelle Bruns is a copywriter who has traveled the span of the writing spectrum, working at both agencies as well as in-house advertising/marketing departments. She has gained a wide variety of communications, marketing, and public relations experience in both an online and traditional print capacity. Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from California State University, Fullerton, and has experience in the computer resale, B2B, technology services, credit reporting, real estate, appraisal, and customer service solutions industries, to name a few.
Paul D. Rosevear
Paul D. Rosevear is an East Coast-based writer who has lent his journalistic prowess to publications like Conde Nast Portfolio, Online Degrees, and CollegeBound magazine, as well as major media outlets like AOL and MSN. He writes most frequently about contemporary education topics. He enjoys Ernest Hemingway, Blue Moon beer, and The New Yorker's Cartoon Caption Contest.
Debbie Strong Debbie Strong is a New York City-based writer and editor. A former newspaper editor, she was born and raised in Boston and earned a B.A. in journalism at the University of New Hampshire. Her work has appeared on AOL.com, ClassesUSA.com, in New York magazine, The Salem News, The Portsmouth Herald, and in several travel and spa magazines. A fitness freak and lifelong dancer, she also teaches children’s dance and Pilates classes in New York.
Amy Hinz-Horn
After receiving a B.S. in education from Illinois State University and an M.S. in education from Northern Illinois University (NIU), Amy has been following “Plan B” for the past 12 years–teaching reading and writing courses in both public middle schools and community colleges. Currently, she is pursuing “Plan A"–freelance-writing for consumer and trade publications, in print and online, and earning her doctoral degree at NIU. She has written about a variety of topics, from education, health, and fitness, to volunteering, outsourcing to China, and nutrition for kids.
Amanda Fornecker Amanda Fornecker is currently a staff writer at The CollegeBound Network, where she writes about education and careers. The New York University graduate majored in journalism and Spanish and has experience with three consumer magazines, including CollegeBound Teen, All You, and This Old House. Her work has also appeared in Business Travel News Online, Identity Magazine, and HerFabLife.com.
Sara Wilson
A writer for Entrepreneur magazine, Sara Wilson has worked on staff at the national business magazine since 2003 where she has covered a variety of topics and industries ranging from food and beverage to franchising. Previous to working at Entrepreneur, she was the Associate Editor for iMedia Communications Inc. where she kept abreast of the rapid developments in online and mobile advertising. She has covered industry trade shows and conferences and has also freelanced for Restaurant Business and Transitions Abroad. She currently resides in New York City.
Melissa Ezarik Melissa Ezarik is a journalist with a passion for inspiring others to discover and develop their talents, excel in their careers, and manage their personal finances well so they can enjoy life’s journey. She is currently managing editor of University Business magazine, which helps top-level administrators across the many departments of colleges and universities to understand each other’s needs and perform their jobs more effectively. Previous positions have included features editor of District Administration magazine and managing editor of a Connecticut parenting magazine. Also a freelance writer, Melissa contributes several articles a year to the personal finance website Bankrate.com. For eight years, she contributed regularly to the Weekly Reader classroom publication Career World. Her work has also appeared in Good Housekeeping, Smart Money, and Working Mother magazines. Melissa is a graduate of Fairfield University (Conn.) with a degree in English - Writing.
Aly Walansky Aly Walansky is a full-time freelance writer and editor with over a decade of experience. She has worked as a copy editor for several mass-market magazines and book publishers, and writes columns for iVillage.com, SheKnows.com, and HOOTERS Magazine. While her concentrations are beauty and style writing, she's excited at the challenge of new and unchartered territory. Born with an innate passion for perfect prose, she is fanatical in achieving an error-free final product and is always eager to attack the next project sent her way.
Shelly Leonard
Shelly Leonard graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in marketing and a secondary emphasis in journalism. She currently works at ITAGroup in West Des Moines, Iowa, as a travel writer. Prior to joining ITAGroup, Shelly worked in communications at Principal Financial Group and was the news editor at the Iowa State Daily. When not at work, you can find Shelly training for her first 10k race, reading a good book, traveling and enjoying the company of friends and family.
Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell is an independent journalist living in the Ozark Mountains. She’s written over 2,000 pieces for such publications as MSN.com, Audubon, The Associated Press, World and I Online, The Kansas City Star, Entrepreneur Magazine and Fido Friendly. Her book, “No Immediate Threat: The story of an American Veteran,” chronicles her brother’s struggles after the Vietnam War.
Mary Fetzer
Mary Fetzer is a freelance writer and marketing consultant. She has a marketing degree from Penn State University and 15 years of international business experience. Mary specializes in writing about parenting, children, pregnancy, and health. Her marketing expertise is competitor analysis, including extensive experience in corporate "spying" and secret shopping. Mary and her husband, Murray, reside in Central Pennsylvania and have two daughters, Susan and Isabelle.
Jarrod Thalheimer A freelance writer for several years, Jarrod Thalheimer contributes regularly to numerous websites and magazines across North America. He continues to author his exclusive weekly advertising column called "AdFool" and was the sole creator of a seven-chapter fiction novel serialized in Q Magazine. Recently, Jarrod had one of his short fictions (“The Zeppo Chair”) published by Okanagan Chapbooks and another optioned for film.
Carrie Addington Carrie Addington is a freelance writer providing creative communications solutions for businesses and organizations. Her work has appeared in various association publications while working with a variety of clients, including The American Poetry Museum, EF Johnson, National Education Association, The Honfleur Gallery, Joy of Dance Studios, and Smith Content. Carrie is National Advertising Director for the National Automobile Dealers Association. She earned an MFA in creative writing from George Mason University, a BA from Morehead State University, and spent time in Italy for a summer studying poetry and vine binding. She is the recipient of the 2007 American Literary Review Poetry Prize and a 2007 Pushcart Nominee. Her poems have been published in Triplopia, and are forthcoming in the American Literary Review and Margie.
Elise Curtin Elise Curtin is a freelance writer and editor in the print and online publishing industries. After earning her B.A. in English, she began her career as a member of The CollegeBound Network's editorial team, where she honed her interviewing and journalistic writing techniques. She is currently the production editor for LearningExpress, LLC, a publishing company based in New York, NY, where she has lent her finely tuned copyediting, proofreading, and project management skills to countless book manuscripts, online exams and courses, product catalogs, sales proposals, marketing brochures, e-mail blasts, and blog articles, seeing each one through from conception to publication. While she can and will write on a variety of topics, her content expertise lies in career/vocational certification and training, standardized test preparation, alternative health and nutrition, and physical fitness.
Jackie O'Neal Jackie O'Neal is a freelance writer and worked as a regular contributor to The Press of Atlantic City for several years, and she also wrote for The New York Amsterdam News among others. She holds an M.F.A. in Poetry and Fiction from Sarah Lawrence College. O'Neal taught Developmental writing as a Senior adjunct professor at Atlantic Cape Community College where she was nominated for an Excellence in Teaching Award 2007. Currently, she is a correspondent with ASSIST News Service http://www.assistnews.net. She reports on religion, humanitarian and church related issues. In addition, she recently signed on to write commentary for 51% The Women’s Perspective on NPR where she covers topics related to lifestyle, women’s issues, education, entrepreneurship, and media among others. For the last year, she has been blogging for The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Her column United Planet covers humanitarian issues and charitable endeavors..
Jackie Bondanza Jackie Bondanza is a developmental book editor for Barnes & Noble, as well as a freelance editor and writer. She has a master’s degree in Journalism from California State University, Northridge, where she studied homeless media. In addition to collaborating with authors on books ranging in genre from pop culture and health to historical non-fiction and fantasy, Jackie writes on a variety of topics including education, health and beauty, and philanthropy for several national and regional media. Her work has appeared on iVillage.com, MSN.com, Globalhood.org, and in Hemispheres Magazine and Northridge Magazine, among others. She has also appeared as a media expert on several national television news programs..
Jaimie Dalessio Jaimie Dalessio joined the GLES team as editorial assistant, to which she brings stellar organizational skills and a strong eye for detail, in February 2008. Jaimie graduated a semester early from Syracuse University with a bachelor's degree in magazine journalism. During her time in Central New York she immersed herself in student publications. She has interned at CosmoGIRL, Food & Wine and Discover magazines, and has written for SheKnows.com, Food & Wine, FoodandWine.com, and CosmoGirl.com.
