2011 UPDATE: Found a job shortly after graduation last year. Love it. MensHealth.com. I’ll write a new bio soon, but in the meantime, check out what 2010 me was like, if that’s your sort of thing. So young, so innocent. (But to find out what I’m really up to in 2011, follow me on twitter: @skippyd.) 

I’m a senior at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., where I have spent the past four years of my young adulthood exploring the things I love – writing and music – and honing the skills to parlay those passions into a full-time career. I’ll graduate in the spring with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and minors in mass communications and the music industry. After that, who knows? Deciding to enter into an era that finds newspapers and magazines struggling to catch up to the rapid advancements of new media is indeed risky, but I’m not afraid of what lies ahead. In fact, it’s hard to contain my excitement when I know I have the chance to be part of the next generation of pioneering journalists.

I have a wealth of experience in journalism, most of which I’ve earned during during my time at Lehigh. I started as a news writer for The Brown and White as a freshman in fall 2006, and never looked back: since joining the newspaper’s staff, I’ve held the positions of news editor, opinion editor, columnist, managing editor and managing editor online, and now serve as editor in chief. I’ve given my blood, sweat and tears – approximately in that order – to the newspaper, and in return, it’s given me the experience of a lifetime. It’s been a privilege writing Lehigh’s history.

Two years ago, a fellow Lehigh student and I set out to create our own music magazine, after becoming frustrated with the lack of local music coverage on campus. Although our original idea was to establish a print publication, we realized the magazine would be better suited online, where we could reach more readers and cover national artists. The result became Stark Online, which started as a modest blog with assorted news and reviews that today has transformed into something I could have never imagined. Among our accomplishments in the last two years: we’ve seen our daily page views skyrocket into the thousands, earning a “featured blog” distinction on Blogger; we’ve sponsored album release concerts and hosted showcases in New York City; we’ve amassed a staff of contributing writers and photographers; and we’ve produced exclusive content that venerable music sites (including Spin and Pitchfork) have featured. During this time, we’ve built a rapport with nationally recognized artists, major record labels, performance venues and other publications. What I’m most proud of, though, is that we made these opportunities happen ourselves.

This past summer, I interned for The Morning Call in Allentown, Pa., as an entertainment reporter. I was fortunate enough to spend all summer out on the scene and in the newsroom writing feature stories about local musicians in the Lehigh Valley making a name for themselves, and interviewing some of the biggest names in showbiz as they made stops in the area. Getting to show up to work every day and experience so much art and culture was wonderful. I also got to continue my relationship with Media Five Entertainment in Bethlehem, an artist management and booking agency where I’ve interned as a jack-of-all-trades since 2008. During my time with the agency, I’ve worked on local and national marketing campaigns for several recording artists, acting primarily as a publicist, research consultant and multimedia producer. Through it all, I’ve witnessed the successes and failures that come with working in the music industry.

So, that’s my story so far. It’s only getting started, and I can’t wait to see what’s written on the next page. I urge you to explore my resume and work to get a better feel for my writing and my personality, and I hope that we’ll be able to work together soon!