Cecelia Munzenmaier
4709 71st St.
Urbandale, IA 50322-1848
515-331-4293
cmunzen@centurylink.net
OVERVIEW
Versatile writer/editor/teacher with over 15 years’ experience developing
print and online instructional materials for businesses and educational publishers.
Partner in Writing Resources, which provides Plain Talk training and consulting
(http://writing-resources.us). Recognized for user-friendly writing, research skills, and
creativity. Meticulous, resourceful, and deadline-driven.
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
Master of Science in Education
Drake University, Des Moines, IA (2005)
Emphasis: Adult learning and organizational development
Minor: Designing and Implementing Web-based Learning Environments (online program
in conjunction with University of Colorado, Denver)
Project: Teaching for Transfer: Potential Benefits of Aligning the Composition Curriculum
with the Expectations of Instructors in Core Programs
Honors: Summa cum laude
Secondary teaching endorsement, journalism
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (various)
Emphasis: graduate hours in journalism, composition, and literature
Bachelor of Arts
Clarke College, Dubuque, IA (1973)
Emphasis: English
Minor: history, secondary education
Honors: summa cum laude
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Adjunct composition instructor
Kaplan University, Des Moines campus (2003-2010)
Courses: College Composition I and II (adapted online Composition II course for
onground delivery and revised Composition I course); taught sections for
practical nurses;
developed Graduate Writing Tutorial for Drake’s ALOP program
<http://www.drake.edu/soe/programs/ALOP/writing_tutorial.php >
Teaching Experience continued
English teacher/publications adviser
Newman High School, Mason City, IA (1983-1985)
Courses: English Composition, American and British Literature, Journalism
St. Mary’s High School, Storm Lake, IA (1979-1983)
Courses: Composition, American and British Literature, Journalism. Remedial Reading;
developed Media and Novel courses
RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Writing coach (2008–)
Provide Plain Language training and individualized writing coaching for business writers
and state agencies
Freelance Editor/Writer (1999– )
Write and edit textbooks, assessments, and professional development materials for
educational publishers
Editor
American Media, Des Moines, IA (1998)
Wrote/edited facilitator guides and other support materials for training videos
Language Arts editor
Perfection Learning, Des Moines, IA (1990-1997)
Wrote/edited supplemental 5-12 language arts and social studies materials for students
and teachers
Production coordinator
Meredith Corporation, Des Moines (1988-1990)
Developed and managed print production of mailing inserts
PUBLICATIONS AND PAPERS
Bloom’s Taxonomy: What’s Old Is New Again (2013); research report for the eLearning
Guild
Write Better Emails: How to Stand Out by Being Short, Savvy, and Civil (CreateSpace,
2013)
Doing a World of Good: Des Moines University 2011 Self-Study Report to the Higher
Learning Commission (editor)
Write More, Stress Less: From Getting Ideas to Getting It Done (Booklocker, 2010)
Graduate Writing Tutorial, Drake University (updated November, 2008)
http://www.drake.edu/soe/programs/ALOP/writing_tutorial.php
Publications continued
How Many Bullets Can I Have on a Slide? ASTD Iowa Pipeline, 49(17)
Professional articles: http://word-crafter.net/Articles.html
Writing Resources Web site: http://writing-resources.us
PRESENTATIONS
• Looking Professional Online: Why Facebook Isn’t Always Your Friend (ISU, October
2009)
• Habits of Highly Productive Scientists (Kemin Corporation, October 2009)
• Bridging the Gaps: Technical Writing for Nontechnical Readers (ATW, August, 2009)
•
•
•
•
Email Etiquette (Briggs Corporation, March, 2009)
Hands-on APA (Drake University, 2005, 2008—)
APA Overview (Kaplan University, Des Moines Campus, April 2008)
What Not to E-Mail (IABC meeting, 2007; Women in Communication Des Moines,
2008)
• Plain Talk (three sessions for state of Iowa; 2008)
• Productive Writing (Iowa Workforce Development, 2008)
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLISHING PROJECTS
Assessments/Correlations
* Alternative Assessments for YA and classic titles (Perfection Learning)
* Correlations for state assessments (Shakespeare Squared)
* Critical thinking questions for Opposing Viewpoints database (Anaxos)
* Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) reading items (PRG)
* Item writing, item review, and rationales for teacher certification tests (ABCTE)
* Newbery and Vocabu-Lit test series (Perfection Learning)
* Passages and items for state assessments and test preparation programs (El-hi
publishers)
* Self-study tests (American Media)
* Writing Handbook Teacher Edition (Learning Source)
eLearning/Electronic Texts
* Articles and workbooks for online professional development courses (Learning
Sciences)
* Academic writing tutorial (Drake University)
* Interactive activities for grammar and vocabulary texts (CEP)
* Lessons/questions for TAKS preparation software (Sleek)
* Placement/mastery tests for online insurance training program (Geolearning)
* PowerPoint introductions to literature units (Holt, Rinehart and Winston)
* Taleblazers (Perfection Learning)
* Storyboard/prototype for G10 English course, including modules on fiction, nonfiction,
and research (eCollege)
Representative Publishing Projects continued
* Web sites: College Composition support site (http://word-crafter.net/CompI ) and
Writing Resources site (http://writing-resources.us)
Pupil Books/Teacher Support Materials
* Activity cards for Theme Connections, a literature-based cross-curricular series,
including Holocaust and Fantasy units (Perfection Learning)
* The IMF: Making the Global Economy Work for All (Topics)
* The Makah: Whaling Tribe of the Northwest—24-page leveled reader (El-hi
development house)
* Handbooks: reading skills for reluctant HS readers (Publicom) and research
Perfection Learning)
* Literature and Thought teacher guides, including Reading the World and Vietnam and
the 60’s (Perfection Learning)
* Making Sense series—content area reading skills for middle school social studies
(Perfection Learning)
* A Multicultural Reader I and II teacher’s guides—coauthor (Perfection Learning)
* Novel guides, including My Brother Sam Is Dead (Perfection Learning) and The
Westing Game (Publicom)
* Latitudes (collections of primary sources) for various titles, including Lord of the Flies,
Animal Farm, and Julius Caesar (Perfection Learning)
* Literature features for American and world history basals (El-hi developers)
* Science features for elementary textbooks (Chrysalis)
* Model essays for composition units (Chrysalis; Publicom)
* Thinking skills passages/questions for math program (Victory)
* Voices of the Holocaust anthology (Perfection Learning)
* Wrap copy for language arts teacher’s editions (Book Builders; Victory) and
elementary social studies texts (Brown; Chrysalis; Quarasan)
Reference Works
* Articles for professional development series (Learning Sciences)
* Biographical sketches for World of Criminal Justice (Gale Group)
* Entries for Women in American History and Twentieth-Century British Writers
encyclopedias (Book Builders)
Revisions/Editing
* Alert and Alive: Dealing with Workplace Violence (American Media)
* JITI: The Consultant CD-ROM (American Media)
* MAPCON User’s Manual (DFM Systems)
* Primary Sources supplemental series (Perfection Learning)
* Safety Reference Guides for video safety series (American Media)
* Shakespeare Parallel Texts (Perfection Learning)
* Teaching Others to Train (American Media)
* Technical Communication supplemental series (Perfection Learning)
Representative Publishing Projects continued
Representative Publishing Projects continued
* Visio Inside Out (Custom Editorial)
* Warning: No Lifeguard on Duty (Coaching Advantage Group)
* Write in Style—research paper guide (Perfection Learning)
* Writing modules for skill development series (Chrysalis)
* Wrap copy for American history texts (Chrysalis)
* Writing Skills and the Job Search (The Center for Learning)
Writing Samples
Available online at http://word-crafter.net and at http://writing-resources.us
ORGANIZATIONS
Association of Professional Communication Consultants (APCC)
ASTD
Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA)
Women in Communications (AWC)
WHAT OTHERS SAY
Ms. Munzenmaier is widely known on campus as a knowledgeable, personable, and
capable instructor. Students respect her rigor, fairness, and high standards. As her
supervisor, I assure that she is a competent and capable instructor.
J. Max Davis
Kaplan University
mdavis1@kaplan.edu
Cecelia is a very dedicated instructor and an expert in her field. Many students
mentioned to me how much they learned from Cecelia’s classes. She would be a great
asset to any team.
Marnie Brown
College Transitions Advisor
Iowa Valley Community College
marnie70@gmail.com
I have worked with Cecelia for the last five years, and she is a team player and always
willing to help others. Also, I feel she would be a great asset for any organization. She
works with the students, encourages them, and shows them they can do well when it
comes to writing. I have students after they have had her class and one thing I have
noticed is the fact that students who have had Cecelia for class come away feeling
confident about their ability to write, and they definitely know how to organize a research
paper.
Claudia Mestdagh
Adjunct Instructor
Kaplan University
dcmestdagh@mchsi.com