I am a Master's candidate at the New School, available for work as an Assistant. My formal training is in the media arts and ethnography; however, my work experiences have ranged from conducting several research-based projects, funded by the Smithsonian and Corporation for Public Broadcasting, to working in corporate consulting, marketing, design and branding firms, where I have coordinated international and domestic travel arrangements (including booking flights, hotels, rental cars and restaurant reservations), maintained calendars, scheduled meetings, sought out and purchased gifts for clients, filed documents, organized portfolios and products, ordered office supplies, typed correspondences, provided assistance and planning for various projects,  and entered information into databases. In addition, I have also prepared and mailed packages/bills, deposited client's checks, answered phones and greeted clients.

My past work environments have given me extensive experience keeping information organized and being intensely detail-oriented. The main function I have served in my various positions was realizing the vision of my employers through facilitating a physical manifestation of their ideas. That process ranged from researching clients and client's needs, delegating task to other employees, researching potential vendors for an array of reasons (including providing services for a party or small gathering, producing a design prototype designed by my employer, or simply ordering office supplies and equipment), to managing the organization of bills and invoices.

I am relatively internet and technology-savvy and am proficient in the use of the following programs:  Photoshop, Illustrator, MS Word, Entourage, Excel, Keynote, Numbers, Pages, PowerPoint, Dreamweaver, iCal, Google Calendar, FileMaker, Google Docs, Mindjet, Pro Tools, Final Cut Pro, iDVD and Basic HTML. What I don't know I am willing to learn and I am always on the search for software that fits my client's needs. I am also equally well versed in the use of Macs and PCs.

In addition to the aforementioned skills and experience, I also do light housekeeping, run errands to dry cleaners and laundromats, walk dogs, hand deliver packages or coordinate messengers, send out invites/thank you cards, organize online accounts and emails, and am willing to travel. For an additional fee, I am also available to tape and edit events.

As I complete my coursework, I have flexibility in my schedule that would allow me to work between five and thirty hours a week. If  you are interested in the skills that I have mentioned, I look forward to the opportunity to talk with you further about your needs and expectations. I am available for either a phone or in-person interview. 

Sincerely,

Toccarra A. H. Thomas

RESEARCH:
Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program, Smith College, Northampton, MA (Fall 2004- Spring 2006) Research Fellow: Researching discourse surrounding Indigenous Research Methodologies.

Smithsonian Human Studies Film Archive, Suitland, MD (Summer 2004) Research Intern: Developed descriptions and finding aids for films focused on Southern Africa, for the Smithsonian's online archives.

Smithsonian Research Training Program (RTP), Washington, D.C. (Summer 2003) Research Intern in Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's Anthropology Department: Performed data collection: mapped festival site; photographed and videotaped artisans' demonstrations and performances at Smithsonian, during the
2004 Smithsonian Folklife Festival

MEDIA:
StoryCorps, Brooklyn, NY. (May 2007 - July 2008) Facilitator: Conduct participant interviews, prepare archive database for submission to American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, preliminary selection and edit of interviews for potential airing on National Public Radio's Morning Edition

StoryCorps Griot, Brooklyn, NY. (May 2007 - September 2007) Facilitator: Conducted interviews and prepared archive database for submission to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC) and the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Thee year-long project, funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, resulted in the largest collection of oral histories of African Americans, since the recordings and documentation of the Works Progress Administration of the late 1930s and early 1940s. Select oral accounts aired on National Public Radio's News and Notes

Kick Design, New York, NY. (September 2006 - February 2008) Studio and Office Intern: Conducted client and product research, maintained office calendar/schedule, made travel arrangements, filed, answered phones, typed correspondences, greeted clients

McKinsey & Company, New York, NY. (August 2006 - January 2007) Freelance Copyeditor Assistant: Managed department database and provided assignments to freelance editors.

Sarasota Film Festival, Sarasota, FL (Summer 2005) Marketing & Development Intern: Solicited celebrity guests to participate in 8th annual Sarasota Film Festival; produced press kits to invite corporate and private sponsors to partner with festival.

MUSEUM:
Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, MA (November 2004- February 2005) Co-Curated "Exhibiting Africa" - Researched and selected works for a show dealing with the exploration of the past, current and potential ways to exhibit pieces considered African Art.

Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, MA (Fall 2003- Spring 2004) Assisted with the accession of prints and photographs, pulled pieces for classes and center visitors.

TEACHING:
Introduction to Visual Culture, The New School New York, New York (September 2007- December 2007) Taught undergraduate students various theories and ideas, in the field of Visual Culture.

SKILLS Non-linear editing (Final Cut Pro) * ProTools * Operation of MiniDV (3-chip) and Digital 8 Camcorders * Marantz * Professional Digital Audio Recorders * DAT Recorders * Filemaker * Photoshop * Illustrator * MS Word * Excel * PowerPoint * Basic HTML * Well Versed in the use of both Macs and PCs