Post-baccalaureate certificate in Scientific & Technical Communication

Creative Agencies

Versatile communications professional with extensive career in graphic design, brand development, brand stewardship, and project management. Possesses both the creativity and discipline required to plan and execute hundreds of compelling, original design projects per year on time, on budget. Successfully combines artistic ability with passion for process improvement. Known for stellar communication skills and customer service.

• Assisted faculty with developing, preparing and submitting proposals for research grants: Consulted with applicants on project concepts; interpreted solicitation guidelines and University policies; created and managed schedules and deadlines; developed budgets; gathered data and required documents; wrote non-scientific documents; edited and proofed proposal components; coordinated internal reviews with sponsored projects office.
• Outreach to School of Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts to build relationships and identify ways to improve quality and quantity of grants submitted by school’s faculty.
• Contributed to development and ongoing improvement of processes and policies for pre- and post-award offices at UC-Merced.
• Disseminated information on funding opportunities via faculty notices, performed custom searches, provided COS Pivot training.

Major accomplishments:
• Successfully guided new and junior faculty through proposal development and submission processes.
• Improved proposal competitiveness by ensuring that all proposals complied with sponsor guidelines and University requirements.

Research Development Officer

• Assisted with the development, preparation and submission of proposals 
for extramural research grants.
• Coordinated trainings and events sponsored by Research Development Services (RDS).
• Developed and maintained content on RDS web pages. 
• Identified and disseminated information on funding opportunities via funding calendars, faculty notices, custom searches, COS Pivot training.

Major accomplishments:
• Coordinated administrative logistics for complex, multi-million dollar proposals. 
• Redesigned RDS web pages and funding calendars to improve usability.

Research Development Analyst

• Developed and executed visual communication strategies for all print and select electronic communication projects: Identified communication problems and objectives with clients; lead collaborative concept development; wrote and delivered client presentations; adapted and executed new concepts in various media; organized and directed photo shoots.
• Stewardship of visual expression of Carlson School brand.

Major accomplishments:
• Collaborated on content and design of electronic information directory.
• Researched, designed and tested CSoM Online Newsroom.
• Defined and refined best policies and processes to control quality and deliver 200+ projects/year on time and on budget.

Principal Graphic/Media Designer • February 2006–July 2012

• Led expression and management of visual brand and publication services.
• Created original graphic designs for diverse print publications.
• Managed all design projects from concept to completion.

Major accomplishments:
• Professionalized publications office: Hired and supervised permanent and
freelance staff; developed and implemented policies and procedures for best practices.
• Won national design award for Sesquicentennial Gala Invitation.
• Oversaw production of 300+ projects/year, planned and managed annual budget, maintained archives of digital files and artwork.

Director of Publications / Art Director • March 2002–January 2006

• Created brand-compliant, original designs for diverse print publications.
• Managed design projects from concept to completion.
• Supervised junior graphic designer and freelance graphic designers.

Major accomplishments:
• Redesigned MPR’s section of Minnesota Monthly.
• Developed and implemented traffic management system to deliver 200+
projects/year on time and on budget.

Senior Graphic Designer • February 1999–March 2002

• Designed multilingual labeling for immunodiagnostics products:
Bottles, boxes/containers, instruction sheets.
• Project management: Obtained and incorporated label translations; coordinated revision schedules to meet production deadlines; completed documentation required to approve labeling and comply with ISO regulations; maintained paper and electronic files of labeling revisions.
• Coordinated with regulatory staff to ensure labeling met requirements of FDA and international regulatory agencies.

Graphic Design Specialist I

Find out detailed information about Sara McDonnell,  in Bozeman, MT

Sara McDonnell: in Bozeman, MT

Sara McDonnell

Lawrence University

Minneapolis Community & Technical College and Minneapolis College of Art and Design

University of Minnesota

University of Minnesota