AARON RASHEED
Bend,OR
Summary
12yr Marine Corps Veteran who has transitioned into another rewarding career path: journalism and writing. Enjoys serving the community as a dynamic, passionate journalist eager to grow and further career.
3rd year of college, studying English literature/Journalism and Russian as a language. With over two years of journalism experience, I've worked as an editor and news reporter at the Central Oregon Community College Broadside Newspaper. Interned as a feature and magazine writer at The Bend Bulletin Newspaper.Hardworking and reliable, with an entrepreneurial spirit and passion for developing and reporting engaging content.
Reliable, entrepreneurial, and passionate about developing and reporting engaging content.
Experienced Writing and editing for multiple digital, social, and online platforms.
Story-driven adept at developing articles and investigating issues with tenacious and unwilling wavering dedication.
Willing to Relocate from Bend, Oregon.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Veterans Peer Advisor and Program Assistant
Central Oregon Community College Veteran Center
10.2021 - 09.2023
- Enhanced peer support by developing and implementing effective advising strategies for over 700 students.
- Provided guidance to fellow students, resulting in improved academic performance and personal growth.
- Collaborated with over 100 faculty and staff to address student concerns and ensure positive campus experience.
- Organized over 20 workshops for skill development, increasing student involvement and enhancing overall learning outcomes.
- Mentored new Peer Advisors, ensuring ongoing quality support for students across diverse disciplines.
- Served as liaison between students and campus resources, streamlining access to essential services for academic success.
- Conducted regular check-ins with assigned students, offering tailored advice for their unique needs and goals.
- Evaluated student progress using data-driven assessments, guiding them towards timely degree completion.
- Promoted mental health awareness by organizing events that encouraged self-care habits among students and staff.
- Developed strong rapport with assigned advisees, leading to increased trust and open communication about academic challenges.
Infantry Leader, Platoon Sergeant /Grade E-6
United States Marine Corps
12.2008 - 02.2019
- Enhanced unit readiness by conducting over 12yrs of rigorous training exercises and maintaining strict adherence to standards.
- Improved platoon performance by 50% through consistent evaluation, feedback, and tailored leadership development plans for each soldier.
- Developed tactical proficiency in over 1000 subordinates by leading numerous field training exercises and live-fire events.
- Ensured mission success with thorough pre-mission planning, rehearsals, and after-action reviews.
- Maintained high levels of discipline and morale within platoons through effective communication, mentorship, and team-building activities.
Feature Writer
The Bend Bulletin
04.2023 - Current
- Enhanced reader engagement by incorporating captivating storytelling techniques and relevant examples in feature articles.
- Collaborated with editors over 50 articles to refine article content, resulting in improved readability and audience retention.
- Conducted hours thorough research for each feature story, ensuring accuracy and credibility of information presented.
- Developed strong relationships with industry experts, leading to exclusive interviews and insights for readers.
- Managed multiple writing assignments simultaneously, consistently meeting deadlines without compromising quality.
- Pitched innovative story ideas that aligned with publication goals, resulting in increased coverage of trending topics.
- Boosted online readership through strategic use of SEO techniques in crafting engaging headlines and subheadings.
- Authored compelling long-form stories on a wide range of subjects, showcasing versatility as a writer and expanding publication reach.
- Attended industry events as a representative of the publication, fostering valuable connections and staying current on newsworthy trends.
- Contributed to editorial meetings by offering unique perspectives on potential story angles, driving diversity in content offerings.
- Streamlined editing process by implementing consistent style guides across all feature articles, improving overall cohesion within the publication.
- Analyzed performance metrics for published articles, utilizing data-driven insights to inform future content strategy and improve reader engagement.
- Wrote and published articles for leading newspapers and magazines.
Investigative Journalism/ Public Health Reporter
Central Oregon Community College News Paper
10.2022 - 12.2023
- Enhanced news coverage by conducting thorough research and fact-checking for accuracy.
- Contributed to increased readership by consistently delivering engaging and timely stories.
- Established credibility with sources by building strong relationships, resulting in exclusive interviews and scoops.
- Improved overall reporting quality through meticulous editing and proofreading of articles before publication.
- Collaborated with editors to develop compelling story ideas, ensuring diverse content that appealed audience of diverse backgrounds.
COCC Veteran's Outreach Coodinator
Central Oregon Community College
07.2025 - 08.2025
- Support new student veterans as they transition to college life, with training provided through the PAVE Program.
- Assist COCC’s Veterans Program through outreach, event support, and staffing the Veterans Resource Center on the Bend campus.
- Collaborate with internal teams to align outreach activities with agency goals.
- Develop communication materials, presentations, and reports to support outreach efforts.
- Engage veterans and family members on an individual basis as needed.
- Complete and submit forms to vetsed@cocc.edu for application status updates.
- Reach out to the Veterans Program Coordinator for any questions or assistance needed.
This role is essential for fostering a supportive environment for veterans and ensuring they have access to the resources and services they need while pursuing their education - Developed partnerships with relevant stakeholders, strengthening the organization''s presence in the community.
- Monitored progress towards outreach goals regularly, making adjustments as needed to ensure continued success of initiatives.
- Empowered team members to take ownership of their roles in outreach activities, promoting a sense of responsibility and commitment to the organization''s mission.
- Improved access to resources for underprivileged communities by connecting them with essential services offered by partner agencies.
Education
BA-transfer degree program - English/Literature
Central Oregon Community College
2024
Certification - Personal Trainer
ISAA International Sports Sciences Association
06.2020
Education Certificate - Mathematics Education
Marine Corp Base Education Center Hawaii
09.2017
Tranferd Credits - General Studies
Anne Arundel Community College
09.2004
Highschool Diploma -
Northeast High School
06.2003
Skills
- Social media promotion
- Pitch development
- Visual storytelling
- Adherence to ethical standards
- Deadline management
- Creative thinking
- Time management
- Critical thinking
- Networking abilities
- Engaging writing style
- Content planning
- Strong interviewing techniques
Accomplishments
- Accomplished becoming the first Central Oregon community College intern journalist student to work at The Bend Bulletin newspaper. Achieved becoming a feature writer and magazine writer bendbulletin.com
- Achieved 1st place for best review in the 2023 Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association news writing contest. orenews.com
The award was for writing a news article called Art in healing the layers of PTSD – By Aaron Rasheed
The Broadside newspaper thebroadsideonline.com
Accomplished earning The Central Oregon Community Distinguished Student Service Award. For contributing outstanding service in journalism and maintaining high GPA at COCC.
- Achieved earning the Central Oregon Community College 20323 Karen Roth Diversity Achievement award.
https://www.cocc.edu/committees/diversity-committee/diversity-achievement-award.aspx
For actively promoting the recruitment and retention of diverse groups to faculty, staff, administrative positions, and the student body.
Also, for being active in community service, on and off-campus, that serves diverse communities.
Timeline
COCC Veteran's Outreach Coodinator
Central Oregon Community College
07.2025 - 08.2025
Feature Writer
The Bend Bulletin
04.2023 - Current
Investigative Journalism/ Public Health Reporter
Central Oregon Community College News Paper
10.2022 - 12.2023
Veterans Peer Advisor and Program Assistant
Central Oregon Community College Veteran Center
10.2021 - 09.2023
Infantry Leader, Platoon Sergeant /Grade E-6
United States Marine Corps
12.2008 - 02.2019
BA-transfer degree program - English/Literature
Central Oregon Community College
Certification - Personal Trainer
ISAA International Sports Sciences Association
Education Certificate - Mathematics Education
Marine Corp Base Education Center Hawaii
Tranferd Credits - General Studies
Anne Arundel Community College
Highschool Diploma -
Northeast High School
Education
true
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