Catherine A. Wheeler (née Drinka) - resume

contact: catherine@incantare-effect.com | linkedin.com/in/catherinedrinkawheeler

resume: career | education + skills | activities | references

Freelance Graphic Designer - Incantare Effect, LLC

March 2017 - present

• Collaborate with local and remote (including international) clients to develop strong designs for print, web, and branding.
• Generate creative, audience-driven solutions for single- and multiple-page layouts, photo manipulation / editing, custom illustrations (including logos), and website design.
• Offer training for clients wishing to update and manage their materials.
• Provide ongoing design support for clients.

Senior Associate Faculty, full-time - Graphic Communication (GCom)

Engineering Technology Department - Western Illinois University (WIU)
August 2004 - December 2016

• Developed the curriculum for and taught 200-, 300-, and 400-level classes (3-5 per semester) on graphic illustration (Adobe Illustrator), page layout (Adobe InDesign, QuarkXPress), photo manipulation (Adobe Photoshop), web design (HTML, CSS, Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Fireworks, Adobe Flash/Animate), and professional preparation.
• Supervised independent study topics and honors projects.
• Consistently ranked “among the highest in the department” on student evaluations (per chairpersons’ written statements)

Web Design Specialist

College of Business & Technology - WIU
August 2007 - May 2008; July 2006 (contract worker)

• Redeveloped the layout, architecture, and content of the College’s departmental websites.
• Helped to develop campus-wide website for new faculty.
• Maintained the College’s and associated departments’ websites.

University Relations / Web Support Services - WIU
Summers 2005 & 2006 (contract worker); May 2000 - July 2003 (intern & student assistant)

• Acted as lead graphic web designer during a major redesigning of the WIU website - see design.
• Designed the layout, developed the architecture, and edited the content of websites for various WIU departments and offices.
• Maintained upper-level WIU pages and clients’ websites.
• Trained personnel to administer websites.

Quad Cities Campus - WIU
March - July 2004 (contract worker)

• Redesigned the layout and redeveloped the architecture of the WIU-Quad Cities website.
• Maintained the website’s content.

M.S. in Instructional Technology & Telecommunications (ITT)

Instructional Design & Technology Department (formerly ITT) - WIU

July 2003

• Focused on integrating design technology into instructional modules for business and education.
• GPA 4.0 / 4.0

B.S. in Industrial Technology - Graphic Communication emphasis / English minor

Engineering Technology Department (formerly Industrial Education & Technology) - WIU

May 2001

• Named Outstanding Departmental Scholar and Honors Scholar in Industrial Technology.
• GPA 4.0 / 4.0 (summa cum laude)

Adobe Creative Suite CC

• Acrobat Pro
• Animate / Flash
• Dreamweaver
• Fireworks
• Illustrator
• InDesign
• Photoshop (plus Bridge)

Other Software

• QuarkXPress 9
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word

Web Coding

• HTML
• CSS

Graphic Communication Program Level

• Member, committee to develop cross-departmental degree on new media (Fall 2013 - Fall 2014)
• Developed new 400-level GCom course on advanced graphic illustration (Spring 2013) - Coordinated proposal, secured approval from university committees, and developed curriculum; first taught class in Fall 2013
• Assisted in preparation of materials for successful program accreditation and re-accreditation by ACCGC - Accrediting Council for Collegiate Graphic Communications, Inc. (Fall 2011 - Fall 2016)
• Co-advise GCom Club student organization (August 2011 - December 2016)
• Co-supervise undergraduate and graduate lab assistants (August 2008 - December 2016)

Engineering Technology Department Level

• Member, committee to develop evaluation forms for online courses (Fall 2012)
• Member, GCom faculty search committee (Summer 2011)
• Participate in advisory council activities (Fall 2010 - Fall 2016)
• Member, GCom faculty search committee (Summer 2009)
• Member, chairperson search committee (Fall 2007 - Spring 2008)
• Assist with departmental marketing materials (August 2005 - December 2016) - Help develop content and designs for promotional brochures, certificates of appreciation, printed reports, signage, and Epsilon Pi Tau initiations; maintained departmental website (through 2010)
• Participate in annual Technology Education Exhibit (Spring 2004 - Spring 2016) - Assist with printing of brochures and award certificates, locate judges, and attend event

College & University Level

• Student, Best Practices in Online Teaching - six-week workshop (Fall 2012) - Offered by the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Research - WIU

Other Activities

• Attendee, Graph Expo 2012 (October 2012) - McCormick Place, Chicago, IL

Honors + Affiliations

• Member, AIGA - American Institute of Graphic Arts (July 2012 - present)
• Recipient, Honoring Our Professors of Excellence (H.O.P.E.) Award - WIU (April 2009) - Student-nominated entrant
• Member, Honors Society of Phi Kappa Phi (February 2000 - present)

• Please see recommendations on linkedin.com/in/catherinedrinkawheeler
• Additional references available upon request