Welcome to the Digital Resume of
Nancy E. Sheppard
Editor, Nonfiction Author, Historian
Scroll Down
Editor, manager, award-nominated nonfiction author, photojournalist, and historian with a proven track record of growing readership, social media following, creating dynamic engagement with readers, growing brand awareness, advocating for and mentoring others, and finding as well as developing compelling stories that are attune to a publication’s core readership.
Education
2017
American Military University
Bachelor of Arts
History
Work Experience
March 2021 - May 2022
Local Daily Media
Managing Editor
-
Contributed more than 250 articles on topics of historical and local significance to the York County/Poquoson regional audience including pieces on local news, community profiles, and local history
-
Provided compelling original photography and relevant historical imagery in support of newspaper articles
-
Instrumental in conducting a rebranding of the newspaper including hiring consultants to help with a new logo, layout, and help with distribution issues.
-
Established connections within the community which allowed for access to subjects, subject matter experts, and members of the local government for comment on issues of importance to the community
-
Managed all aspects of the paper's social media presence resulting in a more than 200 percent increase in social media followership, as well as a significant increase in community interaction and engagement
-
Provided live feeds and video footage significant to the local area via social media.
May 2011 - Present
Self Employed
History Author and Lecturer
-
Researched, wrote, and published four nonfiction history books about events of local, national, and international significance.
-
Compile and archive oral histories across multiple channels and for many different institutions and persons.
-
Delivered more than 80 lectures about a wide-range of history topics in venues ranging from the Isle of Wight County Museum, to the United States Capital Historical Society in Washington D.C.
-
Conceived, developed and implemented a single-session history program which was given at both Old Dominion University and at the College of William & Mary as part of their continuing education initiatives.
-
Nationally broadcast lecturer featured on CSPAN-3, WHRO-TV, and Hampton Roads Public Radio.
-
Established strong connections with local, regional, national, and international research institutions, associations, archives, and libraries to conduct research and aid in the identification, conservation, and display of artifacts of historical significance.
-
Sponsored and authored the historical highway marker commemorating the ROMA disaster.
-
Leveraged existing relationships and new external partners to fund the commissioning of a historic highway marker for the ROMA disaster.
-
Collaborated with Hampton History Museum on the design and curation of a future permanent airship exhibit.
Feb. 2017 - July 2019
Yorktown Crier-Poquoson Post
Editor-in-Chief
-
Contributed more than 250 articles on topics of historical and local significance to the York County/Poquoson regional audience including pieces on local news, community profiles, and local history
-
Provided compelling original photography and relevant historical imagery in support of newspaper articles
-
Instrumental in conducting a rebranding of the newspaper including hiring consultants to help with new logo, layout, and help with distribution issues.
-
Established connections within the community which allowed for access to subjects, subject matter experts, and members of the local government for comment on issues of importance to the community
-
Managed all aspects of the paper's social media presence resulting in a more than 200 percent increase in social media followership, as well as a significant increase in community interaction and engagement
-
Provided live feeds and video footage significant to the local area via social media.
May 2022 - Present
Static Media
Senior Lead News Editor (HouseDigest)
March 2023 - Present
-
Responsible for day-to-day and long-term strategy and production for House Digest News, a digital-only home and garden publication reaching a global monthly audience of more than 12 million
-
Lead a global team of 100+ editors and writers across 16 time zones
-
Drove a 266% increase in new users, a 346% increase in overall users, a 322% increase in page views, and a 576% increase in site sessions
-
Manage a weekly cadence of 300 published pieces per week
-
Approve and refine more than 100 content pitches daily
-
Build relationships with experts and relevant public relations teams from outside entities (e.g. HGTV) to solicit expert commentary and perspectives
-
Effectively balanced a rapid doubling of staff while increasing publication standards and output requirements
-
Created training documents and one-sheets that were instrumental in standardizing practices across Static Media's 18 imprints
Editor
May 2022 - March 2023
-
Edited and passed for publication work submitted by freelance staff for Tasting Table and Grunge, two global imprints of Static Media with a combined 15 million unique monthly visitors
-
Edited 300+ stories while serving in this role
-
Served as the temporary lead news editor for Grunge.com in the absence of the permanent lead editor
-
Trained brand standards to the new managing editor of all lifestyle brands
-
Had original pieces of writing turned into YouTube videos for the respective brands' YouTube channels
-
Served as a guest editor for other Static Media brands including Mashed, Daily Meal, and Explore
-
Mentored individual writers as part of talent acquisition
-
Trained new writers to work on these brands
Awards
2021
Library of Virginia Literary Awards
Nominee Non-Fiction
2020
Library of Virginia Literary Awards
Nominee Non-Fiction
2019
Library of Virginia Literary Awards
Nominee Non-Fiction
2017
Library of Virginia Literary Awards
Nominee Non-Fiction
Publications
Abandoned Tidewater: Forgotten Relics of Southeastern Virginia
Lost Attractions of Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads Murder and Mayhem
The Airship ROMA Disaster in Hampton Roads
American Spirit
A Rugged Gem (Imagery Only)
November/December 2021
A Slice of Smithfield
A Witch Comes to Surry
Summer/Fall 2019
Virginia Living Magazine
Yorktown: More than History
2019 Waterways Issue
The Cardington Chronicles
ROMA: A Forgotten Tragedy
Number 16 | April 2016