Maria Casenove

Maria is a dedicated professional with a strong academic background and valuable work experience. She holds a Bachelor's degree with a concentration in Photography from Fort Hays University and a Master's degree in Leadership in the Creative Industries from Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, where she conducted extensive research on expanding the reach of conservation visual storytelling. Her master's thesis, titled "Expanding the Reach of Conservation Visual Storytelling: Leveraging Marking and Storytelling Techniques for User Activation," received an impressive grade of 1.7 (A).

During her studies, Maria worked with Fundación Merenberg, an environmental conservation organization in Colombia, to test her hypothesis by creating a website that combined conservation visual storytelling, funnel marketing, and storybranding to drive user activation and obtain donations. This practical experience allowed her to apply her theoretical knowledge and make a tangible impact.

Furthermore, Maria gained valuable work experience at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, where she served as a working student in Sustainability and Social Business Innovation and an internship in the IT Communications department. In this role, she contributed to drafting articles, handled projects using various software tools, monitored communication KPIs, and prepared social media content. Maria's ability to balance her academic pursuits with practical work experience demonstrates her strong work ethic and dedication to her field.

Maria's educational achievements are complemented by her extensive work as a self-employed photographer, where she honed her skills in culling and editing photos, as well as image design. She also undertook a photography internship with Madison Ham Photography, by assisting in outdoor shoots, and providing administrative support to the business gaining valuable hands-on experience in the industry.

With a well-rounded skill set that includes video editing, teamwork, project leadership, digital storytelling, and more, Maria is equipped to contribute effectively to any creative department. Her combination of academic excellence, practical experience, and a positive attitude in the workplace makes her a valuable asset for any organization seeking a passionate and skilled professional.

LinkedIn page name: Maria Casenove

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany:

• Working Student at Sustainability and Social Business Innovation, Part-time, Apr 2021 - Oct 2021
  • Conducted projects on Premiere Pro, InDesign, Illustrator, and web design
  • Drafted articles and conducted social media content preparation
  • Monitored communication KPIs

Communications, Org. Development & Trainings IT Infrastructure Technology:

• Internship, Oct 2020 - Mar 2021
  • Established employee engagement initiatives and organized a monthly newsletter
  • Arranged a global virtual networking event
  • Supported creative writing assignments and crafted daily interactive posts for internal engagement

Self-employed as a Photographer (Freelance):

• Jan 2014 - 2019
• Worked as a photographer, undertaking various photography projects and assignments
• Internship at Madison Ham Photography, May 2018 - Jul 2018
  • Assisted in outdoor wedding and portrait shoots
  • Provided administrative support to the business owner
  • Culling and editing clientele photos

Skills:

• Video Editing
• Teamwork
• Storyboarding
• Production Planning
• StoryBranding
• Conservation Communication
• Copywriting
• Video Post-Production
• Microsoft Excel
• Media Planning
• Project Leadership
• Digital Storytelling
• Leadership
• Microsoft Office
• Social Media
• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe InDesign

Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences:

• Master of Arts, Leadership in the Creative Industries, 2019 - May 2022
  • Grade: 1.3 (A)
  • Activities and societies: Sand volleyball, hiking, and photography
  • Specialized subjects: media design, media management by creativity, media art and sciences, digital storytelling, and advanced design conception
  • Master's thesis: "Expanding the Reach of Conservation Visual Storytelling: Leveraging Marketing and Storytelling Techniques for User Activation"
    • Grade: 1.7 (A)
    • Developed a website combining conservation visual storytelling, funnel marketing, and storybranding for Fundación Merenberg

Fort Hays State University:

• Bachelor of Arts, Concentration in Photography, 2015 - 2020
  • Grade: 3.6 GPA (1.3)
  • Graduated Cum Laude
  • Activities and societies: Tri Sigma member, ISEP student in Bangkok studying Photojournalism, lived in Argentina for one year to study Spanish, ambassador for FHSU exchange students, active athlete in intramural soccer

Thammasat University:

• Bachelor's degree, Photojournalism, 2016 - 2017
  • Activities and societies: Engaged in sand volleyball, soccer, rock climbing, hiking, camping, volunteered as an English teacher, organized exchange student group excursions