Bellingham,

WA mkstephenson@gmail.com
mkstephenson.tumblr.com

Megan Stephenson
Objective
To work as a research specialist in healthcare, health economy, nutritional
intervention, and wellness education in public health. Through my variety of
employment as a multimedia journalist, research assistant and original graduate
student work at Western Washington University, and currently an outreach
specialist in a community health center, I am experienced and passionate about
communications with the public. I am trained in interviewing and reporting as a
journalist and as an anthropologist, producing high-caliber reports for newspapers,
digital media, academic papers, and health clinics.

Education
Ø Western Washington University, 2016
• Master's of Arts in Anthropology
• Biocultural concentration, emphasis on medical anthropology and
community health
• Completed clinical study of type 2 diabetes nutritional intervention: Video
Education for Nutritional Management of Type 2 Diabetes In A Rural,
Multiethnic Community in Molokai, Hawaii
• Training in medical anthropology, nutritional anthropology, osteology,
statistics, and science writing

Ø University of Iowa, 2009
• Bachelor's of Arts in Journalism
• Bachelor's of Arts in History
• Activities include: reporter for The Daily Iowan student newspaper, editor of
The Hancher Guild arts publication, member and president of UI student
chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists

Professional experience
HEALTHCARE
Ø Outreach & Enrollment Specialist
Unity Care NW, Bellingham, WA August 2017 – present
• Insurance Enrollment Navigator, certified by the Washington State Health
Care Authority, to assist patients with health insurance enrollment through
the state exchange website
• Patient navigator and advocate, connecting them to high-quality, affordable
healthcare services and community resources

1
 • Community Health Worker for UCNW nutrition intervention programs
• Representative on the Bellingham School District’s Good Food Promise
Implementation Committee, and on the Whatcom Asset Building Coalition
• Perform community outreach activities at community events, promoting our
services as a nonprofit, federally-designated Community Health Center

Ø Wellness Ambassador
Rite Aid, Ferndale, WA November 2016 – August 2017
• Perform community outreach activities including immunization clinics at
senior citizens centers and healthcare providers
• Liaise between the customer and the pharmacist to provide support for
choosing wellness products that work with the customer’s individual health
plan, including vitamins, over-the-counter medications, and specialty foods
• Organize, promote, and facilitate health events in store, including monthly
Wellness Wednesday events

Ø Private Duty Caretaker
Freelance, Bellingham, WA May – November 2016
• Assist Parkinson’s disease client with daily needs
• Spending quality time in the home, preparing meals in the home based on
specific dietary needs, driving to exercise classes and appointments
• Administering scheduled medications based on doctor’s instructions, and
assisting with vocal and physical therapies based on instructions

ACADEMIA
Ø Research Assistant for Dr. Sean Bruna
Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA Sept. 2015 – March 2016
• Lab manager for Medical Anthropology Lab
•Duties included: literature research and review for publications; prepared
materials for IRB review; prepared grant materials for submission to funding
agencies and foundations; assisted in supervision of undergraduate student
workers and volunteers

Ø Teaching Assistant
WWU 2014 – 2015
• Dr. James Loucky, Intro to Cultural Anthropology
• Prof. Kathy Saunders, Intro to Cultural Anthropology
• Duties included: assisted in lecture and test question preparation; graded
tests and written assignments; held office hours for questions and comments
from students

Ø Participant, Society for Applied Anthropology annual conference
Vancouver, BC April 2016

2
 • Presented at the poster session on my thesis work, Pilot Study of the
Effectiveness of a Culturally-Appropriate Multiethnic Nutritional Video for
Type 2 Diabetes Prevention and Maintenance in Molokai, Hawaii

MEDIA
Ø North Kitsap Herald, Reporter, photographer
Poulsbo, Washington September 2011 – August 2013
• Online and social media editor for NorthKitsapHerald.com and
KingstonCommunityNews.com: uploaded articles, photos, and other content
on websites; circulated content on Twitter and Facebook, interacting with
online readers about special events and local opinions
• Reporter: city and county government, port districts, law enforcement and
courts, local ecology, Port Gamble S'Klallam and Suquamish tribal events and
issues
• Feature reporter for Kitsap Week, county-wide arts and entertainment
section
• Other duties included reporting for special editions within Sound Publishing,
and pagination layout for North Kitsap Herald, Kingston Community News,
and Kitsap Week

Ø The Molokai Dispatch, Kaunakakai, Hawaii
Reporter, photographer September 2009 – July 2011
Managing editor February 2010 – July 2011
• As managing editor: facilitated story budget meetings, assignments and
managed staff of three; assisted in pagination layout and art; edited and
managed community contributed columns and articles
• Online and social media editor for TheMolokaiDispatch.com: circulated
content and interacted with online readers on the website, Twitter and
Facebook
• Reporter: k-12 education, k-12 sports, local ecology, state and county
government, local cultural events, and features
• Reporter for Saint Damien canonization and relic tour events (Oct. 2009);
researcher and writer for comprehensive Saint Damien website

Ø Freelance reporter
2008 – present
• Real World Playbook, 2017-present
o Digital platform for advice articles geared toward college graduates
and young professionals
o Provides articles about personal finance, healthcare, real estate, and
student loans
• Cascadia Weekly, Bellingham, Washington
August 2017-present
o Features writer for events around the tri-county area

3
 o Photographer for related articles
• The Quad-City Times, Davenport, Iowa
May 2008 – May 2009
o Reporter: Iowa City and University of Iowa events and issues, relating
to the Quad-Cities
o Photographer for related articles
• The River Cities’ Reader, Davenport, Iowa
August – September 2009
o Reporter: pitched and published articles on Quad City arts, culture,
and university events
o Photographer for related articles
• KXIC AM-800, Iowa City, Iowa
June – August 2009
o Reporter: breaking news, University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City and
Coralville city councils, and Iowa City Community School District
board meetings
o Produced news copy for nightly newscast, AP wire, and KXIC website
o Operated audio production board during live sporting events

Volunteer work
Ø Whatcom Alliance for Health Advancement, Bellingham, WA
September-November 2016
• Nonprofit organization that helps community members gain healthcare or
health insurance, provides information to decision makers about healthcare
policies, and help remodel the current system for improved health and
reduced cost
Trained as a SHIBA (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors) data
•
entry volunteer, inputting client data and supporting targeted goals as a part
of WAHA’s mission

Ø American Red Cross, Northwest Washington Chapter
September 2016-present
• National and international foundation that leads the way in disaster relief
and disaster preparedness
• Currently trained in disaster relief courses, and disaster/emergency
preparation presentations for youth

Awards
Ø Grant, Molokai Community Health Center
• 2015: Awarded $3,000 from the health center I partnered with for my thesis
research.
Ø Better Newspapers Contest, hosted by the Washington Newspaper Publishers
Association

4
 • 2012: First Place, general feature story (short); and Second Place, news story
(short)
• 2013: First Place, color photo

Skills
Ø Proficient in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere and Audition

Ø Language proficiency: French (intermediate); German, Italian, Spanish, and
Hawaiian (elementary)

Ø Experience writing and editing in print and audio; page layout and art design;
copywriting; photojournalism and social media