About

LIKES: espresso & peppermint tea, a fresh notebook or planner

LOVES: curated playlists, night drives, walks surrounded by nature

WILL: laugh at silent films, take multiple pics for “options”

WON’T: say no to “treating myself,” forget (for better or worse)

ALWAYS: writing bits of dialogue on sticky notes & napkins

NEVER: giving up

BIO

Texas born, Kansas raised, I am a storyteller with heart who grew up in the heart of America in Kansas and recently relocated to Chicago, IL. Although a freelance photographer, librarian, pet-sitter, and “cat mom,” I always make time to connect and create!

I earned my bachelor’s in English (Creative Writing) at the University of Kansas and my master’s in Library & Information Science (Leadership & Administration) at Emporia State University. Check out my photography business, Freedom&Belonging Photography here, and other projects below.

WRITING

WINTER 2023: I was awarded the Langston Hughes Award for poetry from the Lawrence Arts Center and Raven Bookstore for my poetry collection “The Midwestern Mixed-Black Woman’s Almanac.” Read about it here and here.
SPRING 2020: An excerpt from my Senior thesis project, a poetry collection entitled “Black Country,” was awarded the Spencer Museum of Art Jack and Lavon Brosseau Creativity Award for Writing. Read the poetry collection here.
Two poems, from “Black Country,” “Exercising Power” and “Election Day,” were published in the 62nd issue of Kiosk. Read the poems featured in the Revolution issue here.
The University of Kansas English Department awarded my poetry submission the William Herbert Carruth Memorial Award, 1st Place.
SPRING 2019: The 60th issue of Kiosk published two of my poems, “Planting the red, red strawberries…” and “Forever.” Read the poems in the Mortal Impressions issue here.
SPRING 2018: The University of Kansas English Department awarded my poetry submission the William Herbert Carruth Memorial Award, Honorable Mention.
SPRING 2017: The Phi Theta Kappa Kansas/Nebraska Region awarded my short story submission the Achievement in Literature Award, Runner-Up.

PERFORMANCE

WINTER 2024: I was “Pearl” in The SpongeBob Musical at the Lawrence Arts Center. Read the virtual program here and watch clips from the show here and here.
FALL 2022: I was a “Phantom” in the Rocky Horror Show at Theatre Lawrence. Read the blog post about my experience here.
FALL 2020: A portion of the cast of KU Theatre’s Urinetown, the Musical of the University of Kansas (KU) banded together to create Urinetown, the (Home Video) Musical, the second installment of KU Theatre’s Digital Theatre Festival. I reprised the role of Officer Lockstock for this unique piece of digital theatre.
SPRING 2020: I was cast as Officer Lockstock, for my own spin on a role traditionally cast as a cisgender white male, in KU Theatre’s reimagined Urinetown, the Musical in Lawrence, KS. (This production was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.)
SPRING 2018: I played Ilse, the outsider of a group of angsty 19th century German teenagers, in six thrilling performances of KU Theatre’s Spring Awakening.
FALL 2016: I was in La Bohème at the Wichita Grand Opera in Wichita, KS.

PHOTOGRAPHY

WINTER 2022: Freedom&Belonging Photography launched (formerly KJC Photography.) Book a photo session here.
SPRING 2020: KJC Photography launched.
The 62nd issue of Kiosk, a magazine ran by literature and design students at KU, published my film photograph, Postbellum, as the cover art. View the photograph featured in the Revolution issue here.
FALL 2019: The 61st issue of Kiosk published my photograph Flowers on the Window Sill. View the photograph featured in the Paradise Lost issue here.

VOICE OVER

Check out my voice over work here and book my voice over work here.

I specialize in narration work and dream to VO an audiobook (maybe even my own!) someday. As a theatre actress, I can also do character work and sing if necessary for the project.

I am a beginner VO artist with access to Rode microphones and Adobe Audition editing software and offer a 2-day or less turn-around.