Sandra D. Costa

**** *. ****** ***. ~ Joliet, IL 60435

c. 815-***-**** ~ advjoo@r.postjobfree.com

Sandra D. Costa (she/they) is a writer/editor, artist/activist, teacher, and professional assistant. She works for education, advocacy, and social justice. Her current aim is to further educate and be educated: comprehensive information and diverse viewpoints are compelling forces, science and history are key.

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT SPRINGFIELD: Master’s Degree, English Literature, 1997; Winner of the English Program’s Thesis Award, spring, 1997.

- Simultaneously working at Lincoln Land Community College while at UIS

- Adjunct Faculty in Composition & Writing Competency Exam Scorer, LLCC, 1995-1997;

- Program Secretary, UIS, in Political Studies, Labor Relations, & Community Arts Mgt., 1994-1997; &

- Research Assistant for Jacqueline Jackson, Prof. of English, 1992-1994 (Stories from the Round Barn published by Beloit College and Northwestern University).

SAINT MARY’S COLLEGE, Notre Dame, IN: 1977 – 1981

Earning two bachelor’s degrees in English/Writing & Mass Communication.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR: editor, 1990 – present

Editing and proofreading manuscripts for publication; specializing in fiction (local authors), alternative medicine, history, biography, humor, and—yes—rocket science.

UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS: Joliet, IL; adjunct faculty, 1997 – 2020

Teaching composition, literature, and social justice under the English, Core 2, Academic Foundations, and Duns Scotus (honors’) programs. I am pleased to have provided excellent instruction for my students and to have been twice nominated for Who’s Who Among American College Teachers.

JOLIET JUNIOR COLLEGE: Joliet, IL; adjunct faculty, 1998 – 1999; 2004 – 2007

Teaching remedial writing in the English Department & leading classes in jewelry design & techniques under the continuing education curriculum.

THE BOOKSOURCE: St. Louis, MO; Writer; book supplier to schools and libraries, 1999-2001

Writing teacher’s guides for award-winning young adult literature; hiring other free-lance writers whose work needed editing & proofreading; arranging production.

PERMA-BOUND/HERTZBERG-NEW METHOD: Jacksonville, IL; Editor/Writer, 1988 - 1989

Hiring writers, editing, sending pieces through the production process; maintaining files on current & past projects. Responsible for the full process of production of educational materials.

THURSTON PROOFREADING SERVICES: Springfield, IL; Owner/Operator, 1987 - 1989

Assisting in production of published materials for various agencies, a local publisher of books on historical humor, and a local scientist writing papers for the Kennedy Space Center on rocket propulsion.

EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE AND MARKETING: Springfield, IL; Writer/Editor, 1985 – 1987

Writing & editing materials for use in schools, labs, & libraries; Re-editing previous publications.

PRECRIPTION LEARNING CORPORATION: Springfield, IL; Writer/Editor, 1982 – 1985

Writing & editing materials for use in schools, labs, libraries, & embassies overseas. Leading artists & writers on team projects; also writing technical manuals for the programs designed by PLC.

WMAY, Best in the Country: Springfield, IL; Sales, 1982

Creating & selling radio commercials; developing own client list for AM country radio in Riverton, IL.

ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

GARDEN ASSOCIATE: March – June, 2022

Seasonal consultant and assistant at Home Depot in Joliet, IL for the sheer joy of gardening and living things.

PERSONAL ASSISTANT: 2020 – present

Driving, assisting, researching, etc. for Pam Heavens, Center for Disability Services.

BIG LOTS: 2019 – 2020

Opening, closing, and maintaining displays along with cashier and stocking work

FOR THE GOOD OF IT, health food store: 2013 – 2014

Consulting on nutrition products, stocking shelves, & cashier work.

TIMBERWICK: 2010 – 2012

Producing, packaging, & selling scented candles & oils along with other accessories.

OWNER/OPERATOR — FOO TRIBE: artist, 1992 - present

Crafting jewelry from sterling & gold wire with semi-precious stones custom creating pieces & headgear. Writing, producing, and maintaining a business website and e-store for two years.

VOLUNTEERISM

UNIVERSALIST-UNITARIAN CHURCH OF JOLIET: Lay community minister, 2020 – present

Representing the church and carrying our message to community organizations (congregationally endorsed volunteer position).

SPEAKUP! (aka SpeakUpSpeakOut!): Communication Chair, 501c3, 2020 – present

SpeakUp works to advocate for individuals navigating the justice system whose voices need to be amplified. We work to bring partnership and fairness to the local, state, and federal level.

WORKING FAMILIES JOLIET: Communication Chair, 2019 – 2021

Seeking, supporting, & promoting candidates, groups, policies & causes promoting a healthy environment, economic growth, & social justice.

PLAINFIELD PRIDE: Communication Chair, 2020

Supporting the LGBTQ+ community through events and advocacy.

TASK FORCE FOR INCLUSION AND ADVOCACY: Co-Chair, 2018 –2020

Interfaith organization standing with those facing discrimination due to skin color, sex, gender, orientation, class, religion, language, physical or mental challenges, and facing harm to their environment.

CIRCLE SANCTUARY: ministry student representative, 2013 – 2019

A 501c3 nature preserve and church dedicated to providing professional clergy services and education to those falling under the nature-centered spiritualities.

V DAY, a movement and play production: production, promotion, merchandising, acting – 2002, 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010

Raising money for local and international women’s organizations.

HEN FOUNDATION: Treasurer and Registered Agent, 2008 – 2009

The goal was to advocate, advance, facilitate, and foment social action among and between arts organizations and performing and visual artists, including promoting justice, non-discrimination, and equal rights, throughout society in the United States and the world.

TAKE BACK THE NIGHT: Steering committee & memorial program,1998 - 2012

Educating & working to empower women to prevent violence by writing, designing, producing, recruiting, working with victims’ families, & presenting.

PUBLICATIONS

Authored—

~ Prescription Learning: Four years of training manuals and user guides for software we created; four years of educational programs teaching language arts skills for junior high students, and math skills for high school students.

~ Educational Software and Marketing: Two years of teachers’ guides and test programs for junior high and high school

students.

~ Perma-Bound: Aside from editing work, I designed and wrote a program for at-risk teen readers.

~ Chrysalis Moon: As a steering committee member of a mini-fest, I wrote all our program guide entries, information

sheets, registration forms and waivers.

~ Circle Sanctuary: Student are required to write informative pieces on many subjects—some used in future classes, some

used as articles in CS’s quarterly magazine.

~ In my role as a board member of numerous organizations, I have written hundreds of press releases, editorials, email

newsletters, and promotional copy.

Edited—

- Mass Politics and Culture in Democratizing Korea (Cambridge University Press, 1999). Dr. Doh C. Shin, https://www.wilsoncenter.org/person/doh-c-shin. During my three years at UIS, I edited Dr. Shin’s papers that led to his first book on democratization in East Asia.

- Tales from the Round Barn: A Biography of an American Farm, Vol. One (Beloit College Press, Beloit, WI, 2011). Jacqueline Dougan Jackson. I was part of a team of editors and transcribers.

- The Secrets from Your Subconscious Mind (author published, ISBN # 0-9754817-1-1, 2011). Ryan Elliot, MSW.

- The Great American Liar and Mr. Dooley, Wise and Funny—We Need Him Now: Finley Peter Dunne (Lincoln-Herndon Press, Springfield, IL, both 1988). James E. Myers.

- Illinois Continuing Legal Education: Editing and proofreading articles for inclusion in a variety of local publications.

PRESENTATIONS

- Parliament of World Religions (Toronto, Canada) “Brigid Healing Ritual for Earth” (ritual team member) (2018).

- Interfaith forum, Temple of Harmony/Kriya Yoga (Joliet, IL): “Paganism” (2018).

- Pagan Leadership Institute (Tall Tree Lake, Vienna, IL) “In It for the Long Haul: How to Run a Successful Pagan Group” (2017).

- Women of Faith for Justice, Sacred Heart Monastery (Lisle, IL) “Fighting Racism: The Crucible of Brigid” (2017).

- Parliament of World Religions (Salt Lake City, UT) “Brigid Healing Ritual for Earth” (ritual team member) (2015).

- Women of Faith for Justice, Sacred Heart Monastery (Lisle, IL) “Attending the Parliament of World Religions” (2016).

- USF Spring Convocation of Freshmen Core 2 students (University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL) “History of Liberation

Theology” (2007, 2008).

- Peace Day, Joliet Junior College forum (Joliet, IL) “Brief History of the Nonviolence Movement” (2006).

- USF Faculty Forum (University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL) “History and Activism on the U.S. School of the Americas”

(2000).

- Universalist Unitarian Church of Joliet, Sunday Morning Lecture (Joliet, IL) “History and Activism on the U.S. School

of the Americas” (2000).

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