Rachel Pesavento Brownell
Long Beach,CA
Summary
Creative writer invested in the development and teaching of quality literature, especially poetry. Flexible, independent worker with strong communication skills who loves being part of a team with a meaningful mission.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Customer Success Manager
W. W. Norton & Company
05.2021 - 05.2023
- Assisted customers with onboarding and product setup to foster successful adoption and usage of ebooks and digital courseware in campus systems like Clever and Canvas (LTI 1.1 integration).
- Created customer support strategies to increase customer retention, including videos and written guides.
- Monitored customer progress and addressed customer inquiries with timely and accurate updates.
- Conducted periodic user training sessions to support customer understanding and product feature utilization.
- Generated reports and communicated results to stakeholders to provide insights into customer success.
Sales Representative
W. W. Norton & Company
07.2019 - 05.2021
- Covered CA, NV, OR, ID, WY, and MT as Norton’s high school sales representative on the West Coast.
- Maintained consistent communication with high school teachers in my territory regarding our current and forthcoming textbooks, digital courseware, and instructor resources.
- Presented on our products to teachers and district administrators in person and virtually during adoption cycles.
- Conducted research and took action to grow my territory, in particular making use of Salesforce reports, Excel spreadsheets, and Outlook mail merges.
Communications Research Associate
Center for International Trade & Transportation
05.2018 - 07.2019
- Wrote and published the Center’s bimonthly e-mail blasts and quarterly newsletter.
- Edited reports, grant proposals, white papers, and other research materials.
- Served as an editor for the Director of Research’s book, Empowering the New Mobility Workforce.
- Part of the project management team to streamline project organization and grant application management.
Editor
RipRap Journal
05.2018 - 05.2019
- Oversaw the production, from start to finish, of Cal State Long Beach’s (CSULB) literary journal, including management of the staff and Submittable account, promotion and marketing, construction of the journal using InDesign, and organization of the release party.
- Organized and hosted all Master of Fine Arts (MFA) department readings and events and acted as liaison between CSULB's English department and the MFA students.
Supplemental Instructor & Tutor
LA Southwest College
08.2017 - 06.2018
- Teaching assistant for the accelerated English 145 course (prerequisite for English 101): led group work; prepared and presented mini-lessons on MLA format, essay structure, grammar, discussion of articles and short stories, etc.
- Writing and reading tutor in the English Writing Center: guided and gave feedback on student work; assisted in comprehension and execution of class assignments.
Staff Reader
Watermark Journal
01.2018 - 05.2018
- On the staff of CSULB's scholarly journal as a reader of submissions to this nationally-recognized publication.
- Reviewed critical articles and offered my feedback (in both staff meetings and written form) as to whether each should be accepted.
Content Writer
Synth Fire
03.2017 - 08.2017
- Contributed daily articles to this EDM-focused website highlighting new electronic music and the producers behind the work, as well as longer, more general pieces on EDM culture and events.
Nanny and Personal Assistant
The Hennes Family
07.2016 - 07.2017
- Prepared meals and snacks for children based on dietary guidelines.
- Assisted with light housekeeping duties as well as running errands.
- Organized and cleaned home after activities by picking up toys and straightening up play room.
- Built positive and nurturing environments to support child social and emotional growth.
Editorial & Marketing Intern
Rare Bird Books | Lit
08.2016 - 12.2016
- Reviewed and copyedited manuscripts for publication.
- Used Adobe InDesign to format book interiors.
- Wrote editorial letters and reader’s reports.
- Researched and contacted external publications that would most likely promote or review particular books.
Teacher
Lydian Academy
06.2015 - 06.2016
- Taught all levels of high school English, as well as Spanish 1 and US History, in the rarefied environment of this one-on-one accredited middle and high school.
- Independently planned each lesson and gave both daily and weekly updates to the families and school principal on the students’ progress.
Tutor
Xamaze Tutoring
01.2015 - 05.2015
- Helped students of all ages (K-12) one-on-one to improve their skills and understanding in language arts, as well as basic math.
- Included both homework help and self-made lesson plans.
Intern
Two Lines Press, Center For The Art Of Translation
06.2014 - 08.2014
- Reviewed submissions to the literary journal and participated in editorial meetings.
- Transferred content from previously published work to online formats (such as e-books) using HTML.
- Conducted research on authors, translators, and foreign like-minded publishers to help Two Lines Press expand its presence in the world of publishing.
- Authored posts for the Two Lines Press blog.
Education
Master of Fine Arts - Creative Writing
California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA05.2019
Bachelor of Arts - American Studies
Pomona College
Claremont, CA05.2015
Skills
- Writing and Content Creation
- Content Editing
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Research
- Customer Service
- Student-Centered Learning
- Intermediate Spanish
- Basic Adobe InDesign
Timeline
Customer Success Manager
W. W. Norton & Company
05.2021 - 05.2023
Sales Representative
W. W. Norton & Company
07.2019 - 05.2021
Communications Research Associate
Center for International Trade & Transportation
05.2018 - 07.2019
Editor
RipRap Journal
05.2018 - 05.2019
Staff Reader
Watermark Journal
01.2018 - 05.2018
Supplemental Instructor & Tutor
LA Southwest College
08.2017 - 06.2018
Content Writer
Synth Fire
03.2017 - 08.2017
Editorial & Marketing Intern
Rare Bird Books | Lit
08.2016 - 12.2016
Nanny and Personal Assistant
The Hennes Family
07.2016 - 07.2017
Teacher
Lydian Academy
06.2015 - 06.2016
Tutor
Xamaze Tutoring
01.2015 - 05.2015
Intern
Two Lines Press, Center For The Art Of Translation
06.2014 - 08.2014
Master of Fine Arts - Creative Writing
California State University - Long Beach
Bachelor of Arts - American Studies
Pomona College