Editor, writer & content strategist
Hi, I’m Kirsten. For the last decade, I’ve created engaging content for a variety of brands, across mediums including email, websites, blogs, social media and more. With a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication and a master’s degree in sustainability leadership, I firmly understand the power that communication tactics and words have for a business or initiative’s success.
Writing & Editing
Iowa Stater magazine
Digital articles
‘Home was ASU’: Graduate returns to school after raising four Sun Devils
Chantal VanKlompenberg has lived a life supporting and caring for Sun Devils. Her five siblings are Sun Devil alumni, as are her four children. And now, decades after graduating from McClintock High School, VanKlompenberg is joining the Sun Devil club herself.
“I was done raising kids and I said, ‘It's time for Mama to return home, and home was ASU,’” VanKlompenberg said.
PhD student shares about ASU journey, research on how transgender narratives are shared and preserved
From Hannah Grabowski’s first year as an undergraduate student at Arizona State University to now as a graduate student, their studies and free time have been focused on supporting and advocating for others.
Grabowski promoted sexual health education and healthy relationships through ASU’s Devils in the Bedroom, worked with survivors of sexual and relationship violence through the Sun Devil Support Network and served as the inaugural director of sexual health and wellness for the undergraduate student government on the Tempe campus. Today, Grabowski serves as graduate mentor to three undergraduate students who make up the executive board of ASU’s new Accessibility Coalition.
Former ambassadors, three-star general launch new lab at ASU
With decades of experience in diplomacy, negotiations, national security and leadership, retired U.S. State Department Ambassador Edward O’Donnell, retired Lt. Gen. Benjamin Freakley and Ambassador-in-Residence Michael C. Polt joined together in the pursuit of creating a new initiative that embodies the innovative spirit of Arizona State University.
The three practitioners worked with the University Design Institute to brainstorm how they could each contribute their knowledge to ASU, resulting in the recent launch of the Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab.
The College history: A look at 66 years of academic excellence
Today, The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences boasts the most students, courses and — as of fiscal year 2018 — the most externally funded research expenditures at Arizona State University.
But it wasn’t always that way. While liberal arts courses at ASU date back to 1934 and a liberal arts and sciences program was approved in 1946, a formal liberal arts degree wasn’t created until May 16, 1953, when the Arizona Board of Regents established The College of Arts and Sciences. Over the years, The College went through a number of name changes and periods of growth.
10 do’s and don’ts of night hiking
Looking for a brand new experience on the same tried and true trails? Enter the night hike. With the new approach, possible animal sightings, and general feel of a night hike, come new safety precautions and concerns. But like most other outdoor adventures, a little education and preparation go a long way in helping you maintain hiking safety at night.
5 reasons why hardshell jackets rock
If you’re considering a new mountaineering jacket, you might have discovered mountaineering enthusiasts divide themselves into two teams: team hardshell jacket or team softshell jacket. Climbing boards are full of debate on which is the better option for the activity.
A Unique Way to Tell the Grand Canyon's History
Meagan Gipson really loves her home state. As a fifth-generation Arizonan, her roots in the Grand Canyon State are well established. Her great-great-grandfather, William Wallace Bass, is credited with constructing a cableway across the Colorado River, establishing the first school at the Grand Canyon and creating trails throughout the Canyon, including the Mystic Spring Trail.
To Meagan and her mother, Debbie, the history and stories from their family were too interesting to keep to themselves.
Program Helps Native Traditions Take Flight Again
Robert Mesta may have retired from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service after nearly 40 years, but he certainly hasn’t stopped working.
Mesta is the coordinator of Liberty Wildlife’s Non-Eagle Feather Repository Program. Since 2010, the nonprofit group — in cooperation with the Fish and Wildlife Service — has worked to legally provide Native Americans with a source of non-eagle feathers for ceremonial, religious and healing purposes.
The group gathers feathers from molting birds at Liberty Wildlife's facility, but also relies on contributions from other rehabilitators, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, falconers, museums and zoos, Mesta said.
Print collateral
Annual report – I was responsible for information gathering and writing the content in this tri-fold.
Annual fact sheet – I worked with our team’s graphic designer to revamp The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences yearly fact sheets. Some highlights include:
Reduced the size from a four-panel brochure to a bi-fold, focusing on messaging quality over quantity.
Selected photos, colors and styles that better align with ASU’s brand guidelines.
Met with divisional deans to determine what priorities they wanted featured.
Coordinated with our web team to ensure updated fact sheets were distributed online as well for easy access.
Created a customizable template for 21+ divisional units to use to showcase their specific facts while retaining a consistent look and feel.
Before
After
Mini-mag – I interviewed Damien Salamone and worked with our foundation partner to write content for this mailer piece to donors.
Paid ads
At Noodle, I worked with a copywriter and design team to create paid assets to promote online degree programs across the nation. Below are two examples from launches we did for Yale and Tulane. For both of these programs, I actively concepted and helped refine word choices with the copywriter, and then was responsible for proofreading all assets before they went live.
At Arizona State University, our team was asked to promote a philanthropic campaign for The College’s Capital Scholars Program which supports ASU students as they intern in Washington, D.C. I wrote the social copy and built the targeted audience campaign on Facebook. I also worked with a graphic designer to create the designs below – I wanted them to feel consistent and connected even though the photos were different and to align with ASU branding.
Video
At The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, our small but mighty team continuously produced videos showcasing student stories and achievements. I was responsible for concepting, coordinating and conducting the interviews, and writing scripts. Videos were shot and edited by Max Conacher.
Testimonials
Wondering what it’s like to work with me? Here are a few kind words from former colleagues.
“Kirsten is an AMAZING person to have on your team, both as an editor and as an advocate. She is highly skilled in the former role and vital in the latter. Her commitment to identifying both what’s working and what isn’t, and her commitment to pursuing quality and efficiency, is remarkable. Definitely do not pass up an opportunity to work with her. She will make any project or initiative better by being a part of it.”
“Kirsten is a talented editor, strategic thinker, and an exceptional manager. Her ability to organize, direct, and optimize workflows at a high level is noteworthy, especially considering the granular day-to-day nature of her job as an editor. She has a keen eye for detail, a robust understanding of multiple style guides, and a mastery of utilizing tone and voice to ensure brand cohesion across a portfolio of assets.
Kirsten isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions, pointing out inconsistencies or inefficiencies to create more streamlined processes. Her critical thinking and communication skills make her an invaluable asset to any team looking to improve their content or structure.
In my year as Kirsten’s direct report, my writing and professional skills grew exponentially thanks to her supervision and guidance. She helped me capitalize on strengths, identify weaknesses, and set actionable and achievable goals for my future — all the while, expertly toeing the line between managing and empowering me. Beyond her professional acuity, Kirsten is a generous and kind human with a wealth of life experience, sure to make an immediate and positive impact on those around her.”
“Kirsten is a highly adaptable and intelligent editor. In addition to being incredibly skilled at her craft, Kirsten manages a team of writers with a true servant leader mindset - always thinking of ways to provide them with the most effective support. As a project manager, I always look forward to the opportunity to work with Kirsten and her team. She often develops new strategies to improve organizational processes and thinks critically about the way we approach our work. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have worked alongside such a caring, dedicated, creative, and masterful person! ”
“Kirsten and I have worked together on a few different projects ranging from events, to biweekly newsletters, and email campaigns. Kirsten is a great collaborator and a great creative partner; she ensured that all of our projects met required timelines and drove the development of story repositories for the newsletter, which made planning for future semesters a breeze! I really enjoyed partnering with Kirsten and learned a lot about the writing and editing process through our partnership!”
“Kirsten is an editor who goes beyond the five Cs (clear, correct, concise, comprehensible, and consistent).
Kirsten, an expert copy editor and editing instructor, adeptly shifted from copy editing to content editing Noodle’s marketing copy for our university partners. She understands the importance of flow, brevity, readability, and accessibility.”