SCOTT CHAMBERLIN
CV/Résumé

Communications specialist and photographer, writer, editor, designer, and videographer 
— Adobe Creative Suite, Office, WordPress, & other authoring tools —
B.A., University of Southern California, Creative Writing & Fine Arts
Member: Pacific Council on International Policy
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Volunteer
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Senior Communications Specialist (2021-2025)

Led the communications team of the Cloudburst Group, a women-owned small business government contractor, and developed a variety of innovative, professional communications products across its practice areas. For HUD’s RAD Program, he developed photo essays, authoring as a writer, photographer, and videographer (see photo portfolio); edited and designed video training projects for HUD’s HOPWA and HOME-ARP programs; and wrote video scripts for HUD’s URA program. He photographed and documented extraordinary projects of USAID’s Ghana mission, and co-led the communications effort of the Ghana-USAID Measurement, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Team. He was a trusted writer, editor, designer, and photographer in support of USAID’s Center for Democracy, Rights, and Governance. 

Director of Communications (2012-2020)

Designed, project-managed, and edited Whole Child International’s extensive caregiver-training and university-course materials to meet the needs of the nationwide USAID program in El Salvador and upcoming additional regions. Led communications planning and supported fundraising strategy. Designed (in 2012) and maintained the organization’s highly regarded website and blog (archived here) and all other digital communications assets, social media, and presentations, and managed small donor relationships. Supported major donor campaigns through the development of brochures, decks, and proposals. Traveled to multiple African countries to represent the organization and build organizational partnerships. Co-wrote successful $5.9m USAID grant proposal, and subsequently helped build the organization’s infrastructure to suit USAID.

Helped establish and build the world’s preeminent festival for cutting-edge work on the highly artistic independent frontier of the games industry. As designer and storyteller, has designed innumerable programs, “zines,” signs, presentations, t-shirts, etc, and helps supervise designers and other consultants. As chief photographer, documents IndieCade events and is currently helping curate images for an upcoming retrospective on the festival & its hyper-creative constituency. (This is a continuous part-time “labor of love” project.)

Los Angeles Waterkeeper: Director of Development & Outreach (2010-2011)

Joined venerable L.A. environmental organization (then known as Santa Monica Baykeeper) to upgrade outreach systems; renew its website, media, & marketing collateral; jump-start and focus social media efforts; develop and expand databases; implement fundraising campaigns. (Please see the Design and Writing page for samples of outreach and fundraising materials.)

Managing Director (2005-2010)

Led emerging international NGO during its first six years. Hired/managed staff; created and managed financial systems and communications & fundraising strategies; managed boards; established field office; helped bring critically needed, evidence-based child development program to orphans & vulnerable children of Nicaragua. Maintained website; implemented early social media, blogs, and e-blasts; designed & built all print brochures & collateral (see Design & Writing page for samples).

Consulting: Startup & Fundraising Specialist; Creative Consultant; Writer, Editor, & Grantsman (2001-2005)

Operated a fundraising and startup consultancy that worked with clients to determine vision and objectives and meet mission-specific and financial goals. Helped establish nonprofit and for-profit enterprises; consulted on business and fundraising strategy, and conceptualized, wrote, and edited publications and other documents. Developed effective proposals to such diverse federal agencies as NSF, NASA, HUD, NIH, DOJ, USDA, USAID, NEH, NEA, DoD, DoEd, state and local agencies, private foundations, and corporations — often wrangling clients and other partners to meet deadline after deadline. Contributed to tens of millions of dollars of funding for USC, CSULA, CSUN, and other universities; hospitals; NGOs; and other organizations. Accomplishments included a proposal that secured $6 million from NASA to establish CSULA’s SPACE University Research Center for the study of space science, and a successful $11 million Atlantic Philanthropies grant to create an innovative multimedia learning center at USC.  

Lecturer, University of Skövde (Skövde, Sweden) (2001)

Designed and taught full-term university course on Knowledge Realization, drawing upon seven years of cutting-edge digital/interactive media creation. Developed course, lectured, assigned & evaluated student projects.

Digital Product Manager; Writer; Editor (1997-2001)

Over nearly four years at Steven Spielberg’s visual history foundation, wrote, designed, edited, & project-managed groundbreaking digital educational products (including major educational interactive projects Survivors: Testimonies of the Holocaust (as writer) and Children Speak: Voices of the Holocaust as project manager, writer, and co-designer. Supervised distribution & translation of educational documentary films; created annual report and other outreach materials; project managed & implemented a pioneering website highlighting survivor testimony video before video was commonly featured on websites.

Chief Preparator; Assistant Preparator (1988-1993)

As Chief Preparator (1991-1993) designed & led installation of art exhibitions at USC’s AAM-accredited art museum — often complex conceptual pieces requiring intensive collaboration with curators and engineers. Traveled nationwide with exhibitions, hired & managed staff of preparatorial assistants, and contributed to exhibit catalogue design & editing. Served as an Assistant Preparator from 1988-1991. 

SELECTED PROJECTS & PUBLICATIONS (see also Design & Writing Portfolio)

Survivors: Testimonies of the Holocaust || wrote, edited, and managed extensive digital assets for Holocaust/WWII exploration through survivors’ eyes, narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio & Winona Ryder, executive-produced by Steven Spielberg.
The Last Days || Researched, wrote, designed, & produced teacher’s guide to the Academy-Award-winning film executive produced by Steven Spielberg.
Children Speak: Voices of the Holocaust || wrote & project-managed an interactive exploration of the Holocaust through the eyes of child survivors, executive produced by Steven Spielberg.
Into the Arms of Strangers || Wrote educational companion to Oscar-winning Warner Bros. film.

Member: Pacific Council on International Policy