William Meiners
522 North 5th Street
Lafayette, IN 47901
(765) 423-1938
WilliamMeiners.com
EXPERIENCE
Senior Writer Purdue University, College of Engineering, West Lafayette, IN | 3/99 - Present
Editorial:
- Purdue's Engineering Edge: Conceptualized and produced five annual research publications
highlighting Purdue's cross-disciplinary efforts in the areas of nanotechnology, biomedical engineering,
environmental engineering, homeland security, alternative energies, and eight signature areas. The fall
2005 version received a bronze medal from CASE V.
- Purdue Engineering Impact: also a winner of a bronze medal and honorable mention
recognition from CASE V. Provide editorial lead for Civil Engineering Impact and Nuclear Engineering Impact.
- Imprints: Guided the work of freelance writers, photographers, and graphic artists
for this flagship publication, the annual report for the College of Engineering.
Writing:
- Purdue's Engineering Edge: Written several stories for this research
publication (publications page 2).
- Civil and Nuclear Engineering Impact: Provide about 50 percent
of each issue's copy.
- Imprints: Wrote ten stories for this annual report.
- Extrapolations: Wrote two cover stories for this alumni magazine with a print run of 65,000.
- Provide concept and copy for billboards, fund-raising letters, postcards, and posters.
Multimedia:
- Photo CDs: Work with a photographer to showcase engineering research.
- Video work: Co-produced newsreels, award, and recruitment videos.
- PowerPoint Speeches: Written and produced multimedia speeches for engineering deans.
- Web writing: Originated the College of Engineering's first monthly electronic newsletter.
Editor-in-Chief Sport Literate, Chicago, IL | 1/95 - Present
- Founder: created a literary journal that explores sports through
creative nonfiction.
- Grant writer: received 11 consecutive awards from the Illinois Arts Council (IAC).
- Editor: worked with more than 100 contributors, including three IAC award winners.
- Business manager: managed more than $35,000 in grant monies.
- Marketer: organized bookstore readings and events in Chicago and
Indianapolis.
Copywriter Macmillan Computer Publishing, Indianapolis, IN | 2/98 - 3/99
- Wrote cover copy for dozens of computer books in The Complete Idiot's Guide® series.
- Created cover copy for books in the best-selling Special Edition Using series.
- Produced marketing pieces for promotions at Barnes & Noble and CompUSA.
Communications Editor Sears, Hoffman Estates, IL | 7/96 - 12/97
- Executive Magazine: responsibilities included writing, editing, and designing (in Quark Express)
a monthly management-training magazine for the Sears Hardlines team.
- Currents Magazine: edited and designed this magazine for Brand Central sales associates.
EDUCATION |
• Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN |
Creative Writing MFA—2003
G.P.A. 3.71 |
• Columbia College
Chicago, IL |
Creative Writing MFA—1996
G.P.A. 4.0 |
• Indiana University
Indianapolis, IN |
Journalism BA—1992
G.P.A. 3.03 |
PUBLICATIONS
College Pubs: "Repositioning History" (
Extrapolations, Spring 2000);
"Credit Where Credit Was Due"—about the true designer of the Golden Gate Bridge (
Extrapolations, Summer 2001); "Nuclear's Quiet Comeback" (
Purdue's Engineering Edge, 2002); "A Nuke's Road Less Traveled" (
Nuclear Engineering Impact, 2005); "Water Enlightenment" (
Civil Engineering Impact, 2006);
"Light Walks the Line" (
Purdue Alumnus, 2006);
"Preparing for the Unimaginable" (
Purdue Alumnus, 2006); "Synergy for Energy" (
Purdue Alumnus, 2006); "Put It on the Board... Yes!" (
DEMO magazine, 2006).
Personal Essays: "Oh, Danny Boy" (Notre Dame Magazine, Summer 1997); "F the Peace and
Love"—a report from Woodstock 1999 (Nuvo Newsweekly); "Coach's Lessons Last Beyond
Championship Football Season" (Indianapolis Star, 1992); "The Blessed Mother on the Radio"
(Guideposts, 2003).
Published Fiction: "Harold Cowley's Summer Laundry" (The Thing About Love Is...);
"The Devil in Gloria's Pipes" (Hair Trigger, 1995)—winner of a Gold Circle Award.
Notable Interviews: Former Chicago Bear Chris Zorich; Gerald Nicosia, author of Memory Babe, a Jack Kerouac biography; Jean Deeds, hiker of the Appalachian Trail; Former Chicago Cardinal Marshall Goldberg; Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lattner; New York
Times sportswriter Robert Lipsyte; New England Patriot Matt Light; Houston Texan GM Rick Smith; Astronauts David Wolf and Guy Gardner.
HONORS & AWARDS
- Bronze medal winner from the CASE V Awards for Purdue's Engineering Edge, fall 2005.
- Winner of a bronze medal and an honorable mention from CASE V for Impact.
- Eleven-time recipient of a grant from the Illinois Arts Council—Sport Literate.
- Three-time Illinois Arts Council literary award co-winner—winners in Sport Literate.
- Albert P. Weisman Memorial Scholarship winner—Sport Literate.
- Sport Literate's "Father's Issue" was named as one of eight "Notable Special Collections
of 2003" by the Best American Essays 2004 and recognized again in Best American Essays 2006.
- Gold Circle Award from the Columbia University Scholastic Press Association—judged best
in traditional fiction from stories in more than 200 college literary magazines.
- Brian Mexicott Award for best original drama—Purdue's 71st annual Literary Awards.
- Kneale Award winner for best graduate fiction—Purdue's 72nd annual Literary Awards.
- A fall 2002 participant in Guideposts magazine writer's workshop—one of 15
invited guests from more than 5,000 contestant entries.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
- Served as Interim Newsletter Editor for the Black Cultural Center at Purdue.
- Captained a "Bowling for Kids' Sake" team, part of the Big Brother Program.
- Captained a "Serve-A-Thon" team, part of the City Year Program in Chicago.
- Organized an inner-city soccer camp for kids in Indianapolis.
- Special Olympics Indiana volunteer—bowling sectional, 2005.
References and portfolio available upon request.