EDUCATION

Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL
May 2019
Masters of Fine Arts in Poetry, GPA: 4.00

New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
May 2017
Bachelor of Arts in Theater; Bachelor of Arts in Literature, GPA: 3.85

AWARDS

Al Khayr Leadership Award for Diversity, Inclusivity, and Dialogue               May 2017

EXHIBITIONS

2017 Group Exhibition, “IM,” The Arts Center, Abu Dhabi

2017 Group Exhibition, “Baby Ant,” The Cube, Abu Dhabi

2017 Solo Exhibition, “Secrets and Silence,” The Cube, Abu Dhabi

2016 Group Exhibition, The Project Space, Abu Dhabi

COLLECTIONS

Baby Ant Print Archive, Abu Dhabi, UAE
NYUAD Chapbook and Art Book Archive, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Private Collection, Ann Arbor, MI
Private Collection, New York, NY
Private Collection, Chicago, IL
Private Collection, Denton, TX

PUBLICATIONS

Laura Waltje (2019). All The Women I Know Are So Afraid. In: Columbia Poetry Review, Chicago

Laura Waltje (2019). Compulsions Escalate Gravity. In: Brine, New York, NY

Laura Waltje (2019). Memories Are Made of Rotten Teeth. In: Brine, New York, NY

Laura Waltje (2018). The Tallest Building in Singapore, Michigan. In: The Lab Review, Chicago, IL

Laura Waltje (2018). Even Count. In: The Lab Review, Chicago, IL

Laura Waltje (2016). Schlaff Weiter. In: Airport Road, Abu Dhabi, UAE: Electra Street

Laura Waltje (2015). Unwanted Attention. In: Rosewater Magazine, Pennsylvania, USA

Laura Waltje (2015). Transmission. In: Airport Road, Abu Dhabi, UAE: Electra Street

Laura Waltje (2013). Rain Dance. In: Glass Bottom Boat, Ann Arbor, Mi: Red Beard Press

Laura Waltje (2010). The Blank Man. In: Knock on Sky, Ann Arbor, Mi: Red Beard Press

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA                                September 2017-May 2019
Graduate Student Instructor

• Evaluated and graded student writing

• Created lesson plans for undergraduate students across disciplines

• Demonstrated and guided  students through the process of identifying, immerse themselves in, and contributing to an intellectual conversation

• Introduced students to a diversity of sources in the library and online and teaching them how to evaluate their credibility

• Illuminated the process of synthesizing sources into a project that represents the complexity of perspectives involved over the course of two 1500+ word papers, several of which reached publication

• Helped students understand fair use and intellectual property rights, both ethically and legally

• Revised and edited a substantial project over several drafts; guided students through their writing and editorial process and empowered them to act as detached and objective self editors

Graduate Teaching Assistant

• Led class sections in creative writing exercises 

• Evaluated and graded student writing

• Created lesson plans for undergraduate creative writing students

NYUAD Writing Center, Abu Dhabi, UAE                                     November 2016-May 2017
Peer Writing Tutor

• Tutored and provided editorial on essays, creative writing, and CVs for undergraduate students at NYUAD

• Planned events for a reading series to encourage a culture of writing on campus

• Ran social media presence for the writing center including a facebook page and curating music playlists on spotify to raise visibility and make the writing center more engaging and approachable

NYUAD Visual Arts - Woodshop, Abu Dhabi, UAE                                 October 2016-May 2017
Student Assistant

• Taught students the introductory skills necessary to safely use the tools in the woodshop; Graded tests and maintained a list of safety trained community members 

• Organized and maintaining a clean and orderly working space

• Sharpened various blades, particularly chisels

• Ran social media and community outreach to make the woodshop more engaging and approachable for students with varying skill levels

Swing Dance Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE                
August 2013-March 2017
Instructor and Coordinator

• Tracked all financial information and managed petty cash fund

• Running social media activity and promoting lessons and events

• Booking space

NYUAD Creative Writing Club “Headless,” Abu Dhabi, UAE                 January 2015-May 2015
President

• Organizing weekly gatherings of students to foster community building and encourage a local and lively creative writing scene 

• Working with the leadership team to create annual budget

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Tessler Literary Agency, New York, USA                                                           June-August 2016
Literary Intern

• Provided editorial feedback for authors on their pitches, queries, and drafts

• Advised the agent, Michelle Tessler, on whether to accept a query 

• Analyzed contracts for discrepancies and errors

Berlin Biennale, Berlin, Germany                                                                    February-May 2016
Intern

• Researched contacts, art supplies, and contexts for artists and their installations; Filed and archived records 

• Compiled funding requests; Designed and produced informational packets using InDesign for governmental agencies and other possible funders

Symphony Space, New York, USA                                                                June-August 2015
Literary Intern

• Compiled and updated contact lists of actors, authors, contributors, and other members of the community and completed other clerical work such as filing, sending out letters and compensation, archiving research

• Edited and proofread scripts, letters, and copy 

• Researched subjects, stories, writers, and context for upcoming and potential events

Theater Mitu, New York, USA; Abu Dhabi, UAE                                                May-August 2014
Intern

• Compiled sets of research and data on the theatrical events and forecasting important productions

• Prepared and presented preproduction research for ongoing and upcoming theatrical works

• Encouraged theatrical and collaborative relationships between ongoing and potential company members with clients and partners through email and phone contact

• Set up a database to create an accurate and complete record of company affiliates

House of Arts, Al Ain, UAE                                                                     January-May 2013
Social Media and Publications Intern  

• Designed the new website featuring full catalogue of events and services

• Supervised and improved the book layout for an anniversary collection; Negotiated the publication

• Established a social media presence through engagement with Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr

• Trained staff in the maintenance and upkeep of the website

LEADERSHIP & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT                                     

Anchorage Society, Abu Dhabi, UAE                                 August 2016-May 2017
Chairperson

• Maintaining LGBTQIA+ visibility on campus

• Scheduling and promoting event series to provide different entry points for community members with varying levels of familiarity with queer people and queer theory

• Hosting weekly gatherings to create a sense of community and support for queer students at NYU Abu Dhabi

• Facilitating one-on-one peer advice for queer and questioning students

• Programing a series of faculty talks and lectures on queer theory

• Organizing a bi-weekly screening series for queer film and media

• Hosting a monthly dinner to encourage dialogue between queer members of the community of all ages

• Assisting with the creation of an LGBTQIA+ mentorship program

• Creating an official Trans-student housing process in collaboration with the Associate Dean of Student Life and with Residential Education

Ich Bin Ein Berliner, Berlin, Germany                                 
January 2016-Sept 2016
Senior Producer

• Conducting interviews; generating and designing podcast

• Promoting the podcast through digital web presence; event management

Shout Alone Theater Company “The Tribe,” New York, USA          November 2016
Stage Manager and Lighting Designer

• Supervising the logistical aspects of a production; operating under high pressure

• Organizing sound cues into QLab and calling the show

• Generating a comprehensive and detailed lighting design at short notice

The Gazelle, Abu Dhabi, UAE                          
Arts Center Reporter            
August 2016-Dec 2016

• Directing the creation of a new department for a student publication

• Conducting interviews; generating and designing podcasts to feature student artists for a larger platform

Creative Editor              
January 2015-May 2015

• Directing the creation of a new department for a student publication

• Conducting interviews; generating and designing podcasts to feature student artists for a larger platform

NYUAD Story Telling Club “Shahrzad,” Abu Dhabi, UAE                       
January 2015-May 2015
President

• Organizing fortnightly gatherings of students to foster community building and encourage a local and lively creative writing scene 

• Working with the leadership team to create annual budget

NYUAD Creative Writing Club “Headless,” Abu Dhabi, UAE                 August 2014-May 2015
President

• Provide tutoring to small groups of students; creating and leading prompts for a non-academic weekly creative writing club

• Tracked all financial information and managed petty cash fund

REAL AD, New York, USA; Abu Dhabi, UAE                                                     May-August 2014
Song Writer; Actor

• Writing and improvising songs and sketches; Choreographic dance numbers

• Leading group work in creation process; performing in completed production

NYUAD Senior Thesis Festival, Abu Dhabi, UAE                                             Sound Designer, “FEMME”            
January 2015-May 2015

• Balancing full-time academic course load with 20 hours of extracurricular work per week

• Designing a comprehensive sound design with a collaborative vision and based in textual analysis

Sound and Lighting Designer, “Reclamation”            
January 2015-May 2015

• Designing a soundscape and musical elements of a production to emphasize and call attention to the important themes

• Generating a comprehensive and detailed lighting design

Stage Manager and Sound Designer, “The Farewell Experiment”                  
November 2013-May 2014

• Designing a comprehensive sound design in accordance with a collaborative vision

• Supervising the logistical aspects of a student production; operating under high pressure

SKILLS

German, English - Native Fluency; 6 years of Latin; PC and Mac Literate; MS Excel, Word, & PowerPoint; Google Suite; Protools & Logic Pro; Pages; Adobe Creative Suite; QLab; Valid Drivers License; Clarinet; Award Winning Pie Baker