
Welcome to the Digital Resume of
Nancy E. Sheppard
Dedicated Editor, Nonfiction Author, Historian
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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
Expected June 2022
American Military University
2017
American Military University
Master of Arts
American History
Bachelor of Arts
History
Work Experience
March 2021 - Current
Local Daily Media
May 2011 - Present
Self Employed
May 2011 - Present
Self Employed
Managing Editor
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Managed a team multimedia and broadcast journalists in the production of a daily virtual newspaper
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Oversaw an increase in social media following on Facebook by 13.16% in less than a year
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Day-to-day experience using Google Suite (Sheets, Docs, Drive), Microsoft Office, and WordPress
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Copyediting and proofreading at least twelve written pieces a day from multiple writers
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Managing and working with both staff and community members from diverse communities to work towards goals of understanding and effectively communicating the impacts of racism, gender disparity, and other inequities that affect the most vulnerable members of the population.
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Create templates, style guide, operating procedures, and forms for staff to use in the line of their day-to-day work
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Project management of the day-to-day and long-term plans to include a daily production calendar with short-term and long-term goals to include improvement of production flow
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Working remote both independently, as management, and in a collaborative team
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Work closely as a member of the company's leadership team to collaborate on ways to embolden the growth of our readership across multiple platforms
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Oversaw the design and launch of a new website for Williamsburg Yorktown Daily (WYDaily.com)
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Compile and calculate data and analytics in readable reports
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Mentor a team of writers and broadcasters to inspire growth and improve readability of work published
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Final authority on all published editorial material to our publication
History Author and Lecturer
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Researched, wrote, and published four nonfiction history books about events of local, national, and international significance.
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Compile and archive oral histories across multiple channels and for many different institutions and persons.
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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.
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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.
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Nationally broadcast lecturer featured on CSPAN-3, WHRO-TV, and Hampton Roads Public Radio.
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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.
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Sponsored and authored the historical highway marker commemorating the ROMA disaster.
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Leveraged existing relationships and new external partners to fund the commissioning of a historic highway marker for the ROMA disaster.
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Collaborated with Hampton History Museum on the design and curation of a future permanent airship exhibit.
Editor-in-Chief
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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
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Provided compelling original photography and relevant historical imagery in support of newspaper articles
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Instrumental in conducting a rebranding of the newspaper including hiring consultants to help with new logo, layout, and help with distribution issues.
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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
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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
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Provided live feeds and video footage significant to the local area via social media.

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