University of Colorado Boulder

Science Communicator  -  Solar Scientist  -  Twitter: @WillowAdAstra

Promoted to Senior Communications Specialist in July 2023 to reflect the responsibility that was taken on by stepping into several leadership positions.
−Communications Lead for NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN) mission. Responsible for highlighting significant stories and science results coming out of the mission. Write and edit press and web releases on the mission. Work with NASA communications at Goddard, JPL, and Headquarters to amplify these stories on NASA.gov. Update and maintain the LASP-MAVEN website, including writing stories on recent publications coming out of the mission.
−Social Media Manager for the MAVEN mission. Responsible for creating engaging content for the mission’s social media platforms, tracking data to strategically set content, and effectively communicate the accomplishments of the mission to more than 138 thousand followers.
−Co-manage all LASP social media accounts. Spearheaded the use of the Lab’s LinkedIn page.
−Cultivate story ideas and write featured articles for the MAVEN and LASP website. This includes funding announcements, interview pieces, and sharing new research results.
−Manage MAVEN’s mission website, keeping information up to date and creating new content. Worked with LASP’s website team to create a new home page layout to modernize the site.
−Create content and assist with design choices, for the LASP website reboot launching May 2022. Content includes refreshing educational materials and information on 60+ missions.

Laboratory For Atmospheric and Space Physics

Senior Communications Specialist

-Worked with 16 college and university students during the 2023 program in running a fully in-person program. This was the first time the program was in-person since 2019.
−Worked with 17 college and university students during the 2022 program in running a hybrid version of the program.
−Brought back into my role as Program Coordinator to coordinate and implement the the 2021 Boulder Solar Alliance Research Experience for Undergraduates (BSA REU) for 20 college and university students.
−Played an integral role in the success of the 2021 Boulder Solar Alliance REU. Developed engaging virtual content for students, identified improvements based on student and mentor feedback, and implemented positive changes.
−Collaborated with a large leadership team to ensure a positive and fulfilling experience for the students.
−Contributed to the Interactive Anti-Harassment/Discrimination Curriculum, designed for REU programs. Lead multiple sessions of this training to the BSA REU program and other physics REU programs.

Program Coordinator for Solar Physics Undergraduate Internship Program

Plain Language Summary: Researching the down-flows of solar flares in an effort to fully understand the magnetic reconnection points of flares in the Sun’s upper-atmosphere, using observational spectroscopy data and computer analysis. 

Abstract: Small scale spectroscopic measurements of flare ribbons can provide information about the localized magnetic reconnect process driving the flare. In this project we use sit-and-stare observations of flare ribbons from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) in Si IV to make a quantitative characterization of chromospheric condensation. Future steps will be to use the Daniel K. Inouye Telescope (DKIST) and IRIS observations to quantify the chromospheric response to coronal reconnection energy release in the corona.
-Presented work at AGU Fall Meeting 2020: Willow Reed, Dana Longscope, Chunming Zhu (2020), Quantifying Chromospheric Condensation Characteristics through IRIS Observations in Si IV, SH004-06

Montana State University-Bozeman

Research Assistant

−Taught three sections with 20+ students each of Lab for Physics 1. Guided students through hands-on experiments and worksheets that corresponded to their lecture curriculum.
−Graded lab notebooks and homework, and helped proctor and grade exams throughout the semester.

Graduate Teaching Assistant

−Coordinated and implemented the 2019 Boulder Solar Alliance Research Experience for Undergraduates Program for 27 college and university students focusing on solar and space physics.
−Facilitated professional development program elements at weekly lunches. Spearheaded networking events to build relationships between the students and professionals. Scheduled social programming to encourage cohort development amongst students.
−Created communication materials such as student and mentor handbooks. Updated the program’s website using HTML to include all presentations and posters from past summer programs.  
−Contributed to the program’s NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates proposal process.

−	Assisted the Education Programs Manager on categorizing and classifying new activities to support existing Fiske Planetarium educational programs for a wide range of audiences, including public demonstrations, children summer camps, library groups, etc. 
−	Determined the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) of hands on activities and events offered by Fiske Planetarium for public schools and educational groups. 
−	Lead outreach programs by public speaking on introductory astronomy for elementary and middle school students.

Fiske Planetarium University of Colorado

Education and Outreach Project Assistant

Contributed to an in-depth analysis of different periods of solar activity using energy signals observed by instruments on board the European Space Agency’s PROBA2 satellite mission.

Royal Observatory of Belgium

Guest Investigater

−Assisted with the development and teaching of the first-year course “The Science of Science Fiction Movies”. Applied understanding of physics and pop culture to identify inconsistencies and factually correct elements of the films and influences science fiction has on the general public’s perception of science, in support of the faculty member leading the class.
−Assisted in creating lectures, graded students’ discussion posts, and contributed to mentoring students throughout the semester.

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

−Mentored incoming first year college students living in the residence halls. Made individual connections through scheduled 1:1 meetings, facilitated programs focused on cohort building and community involvement.
−Promoted to Mentor RA for 2015-16 academic year. Supported in hiring new RAs, trained new staff members on responsibilities and duties of being an RA, and provided support to the new RAs when difficulties occurred.

Resident Advisor

Plain-Language Summary: 
−Quantified how much energy from solar flares fell back onto the Sun.
−Investigated deltas on the surface of Mars, in understanding the physical nature of the materials on the surface.

Abstracts:
-Quantified the response of the solar continuum in the far ultraviolet (FUV) during flares. Used data from the SOLar STellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment (SOLSTICE) instrument on board the SOlar Radiance and Climate Experiment (SORCE) mission and the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) XRS to see if we measure changes in the FUV continuum. 
-Investigated the thermal inertia of deltas on the surface of Mars. This will help us understand the physical nature of the materials that compose these sediments and aid in deciphering the processes that operated to form these unique deposits.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Ensured quality customer service and a clean work place. Promoted to Shift Lead in May 2015. Assumed managerial responsibilities which include handling conflict in the shop, keeping staff members on task, and cash handling. Trained new employees on how to present the product to the public and how to integrate themselves into the team.