Nancy Ellen Dodd

Currently Ms. Dodd serves as editor of the Graziadio Business Report, an online business practitioner''s journal written by faculty of the Graziadio Business School at Pepperdine. She also served as editor of Marshall, a USC academic/alumni magazine, and started the Marshall Review, an online journal for the Marshall School of Business at USC. Ms. Dodd began her journalistic career as managing editor of Elan magazine, a lifestyle and arts magazine. She has also served as consultant to other non-fiction writers and to start-up magazines. More than 125 of her articles have been published in local and national publications. A writer and editor with many voices, Ms. Dodd received her master''s in Professional Writing from USC with a concentration in screenwriting and an MFA in playwriting at the USC School of Theatre. She has had a play and a short film produced, received awards for her fiction, and had her short stories published and aired on public radio. Ms. Dodd also teaches screenwriting as adjunct faculty in Seaver College at Pepperdine University.

Education

University of Southern California

Master of Fine Arts
School of Theatre, Playwriting, Los Angeles, CA
Thesis: Pitter-Patter, Guit, full-length plays; “Miss Anne,” one-act play

University of Southern California

Master of Professional Writing
Professional Writing Program, Dramatic Writing/Screenwriting, Los Angeles, CA
Thesis: Seventy Times Seven, full-length screenplay

CSU, Bakersfield

Bachelor of Arts, English
Minor: Communication

West Hills College

Associate degree, English
Coalinga, CA

Curriculum Vitae

Education

University of Southern California

Master of Fine Arts
School of Theatre, Playwriting, Los Angeles, CA
Thesis: Pitter-Patter, Guit, full-length plays; “Miss Anne,” one-act play

University of Southern California

Master of Professional Writing
Professional Writing Program, Dramatic Writing/Screenwriting, Los Angeles, CA
Thesis: Seventy Times Seven, full-length screenplay

CSU, Bakersfield

Bachelor of Arts, English
Minor: Communication

West Hills College

Associate degree, English
Coalinga, CA

Areas of Expertise

Teaching Experience

• Co-teach with Tom Shadyac (prominent feature film director, screenwriter, and producer) “Writing for Screen and Television,” CRWR 410, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA, Spring 2007
• “Writing for Screen and Television,” CRWR 410, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA, Fall 2006
• “Writing for Screen and Television,” Com 410, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA, Spring 2006
• “Introduction to Playwriting,” UC Riverside, Extended Education, Riverside, CA, [hired to teach, Spring 2004, class canceled]
• “Writing - Realizing Your Dream,” Bakersfield College Adult Ed., Bakersfield, CA, Fall 1999
• “Writing - Realizing Your Dream,” Bakersfield College Adult Ed., Bakersfield, CA, Winter 1999

Professional Experience

• Academic Editor, Participating (non-teaching) Faculty: Graziadio Business Report, Pepperdine University, Graziadio Business School, 2004-Current Responsibility for academic online peer-reviewed journal for business practitioners. Responsible for editorial content, peer review, redesign, expanding circulation, increasing prestige of journal and school’s faculty; developing and Editorial Review Board of faculty and executives. Since August 2004, I have increased visits to the website from under 500,000 per year to over 1,000,000.
• Editor: Marshall Magazine, University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business 2000-2004 Alumni magazine with readership of 55,000+; Responsibility for editorial content, assigning articles, editing, proofreading, deadlines, etc.; overseeing freelancers
• Creator and Editor: Marshall Review, University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business, 2003-2004 Initiated and started this publication online as an academic/business practitioner journal; Responsibility for concept, editorial content, assigning articles, editing, proofreading, deadlines, etc.; overseeing freelancers
• Consultant: Social Science Journal, University of Irvine, 2002 Consulted with director of Social Science alumni relations and editor to initiate a start-up journal
• Managing Editor: Elan Magazine 1988-1990, 1994-1995 Consulting Responsibility for assigning articles, artwork, photography, arranging celebrity interviews; editing and proofreading articles; coordinating advertising, circulation; promoting events

Productions

Film

• “My Father’s Footsteps,” 5-minute short film, Culver Palms Church of Christ to accompany series on The Sermon on the Mount, November 5, 2006
• “The Hero,” 37-minute short film, produced by More Pony Pictures, December 2002, released March 2003

Plays

• “My Father’s Footsteps,” staged reading, Fall Literary Arts Festival, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA, October 30, 2006
• “A Special Gift,” 10-minute children’s play, SPICE Christmas Program, Grand Junction, CO, December 8, 2003
• “Pitter Patter,” full-length play, Beverly Hills Actors Studio, Los Angeles, CA August 2003 accepted for production
• “Disposable,” scene, The Skylight Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, May 21, 2003
• “Disposable,” one-act play, 24th Street Theatre, Los Angeles, CA April 25-26, 2002

Publications

Non-Fiction

Book

• Following Through: A Guide to Writing and Structuring Your Novel, 1998, a creative writing workbook: (80 pages, self-published for workshop attendees and sold on amazon.com)

Monthly Magazine Feature

• Better Nutrition, monthly feature for Heath & Beauty Aids, June 1997 - December 1998

Articles Published

• 125+ articles and interviews (including celebrity interviews) published in a variety of magazines and newspapers in local, regional, national venues (clips and list available)

Creative Writing

Inspirational Writings

• “Our God,” Christian Woman, May 1971

Poetry

• “The Soul Upon the Loom is Woven,” Expressionists: Magazine of the Arts,, Pepperdine University, vol. 35, 2004 - 2006
• “Awakening,” The Fresno Bee, “Profile 74” Supplement, October 20, 1974

Short Stories

• “The Copy,” Orpheus, A Literary Journal of CSU-Bakersfield, 1995-1996
• “Tiny Tears,” Innisfree, Spring 1995
• “The Portal,” Elan, January/February 1995
• “Sumpin’ Bad’s Happen’ At My House,” Elan, 1995 accepted for publication

Public Readings and Showings

Film Showings

• “My Father’s Footsteps,” inspirational short, Culver Palms Church of Christ, November 5, 2006, January 21, 2007
• “The Hero” shown Short Mondays Short Film Festival, Hollywood, CA, January 5, 2004
• “The Hero,” Ranked in the Top 20 most viewed short films (#12), ifilm.com, Dec 2003 (currently listed in shorts “war/combat” category)
• “The Hero” shown California Independent Film Festival, Livermore, CA, November 1-2, 2003
• “The Hero” shown New Orleans Film Festival, New Orleans, LA, October 9-16, 2003

Public Readings

• “The Soul Upon the Loom is Woven”, poetry, Expressionists: Magazine of the Arts Gala and Book Signing, Malibu, CA, April 19, 2006
• Tough Guy, excerpt from draft of novel, Writers of Kern, Bakersfield, CA, May 15, 1999
• “The Wedding Night”, Writers of Kern Christmas Program, Bakersfield, CA, December 21, 1996
• “The Coffee Pot”, Writers of Kern Christmas Program, Bakersfield, CA, December 17, 1994

Radio Broadcasts

• “The Cottage,” “Valley Writers Read,” NPR Valley Public Radio, 89.1, Fresno, CA, broadcast March 5, 1997
• “Tiny Tears,” “Valley Writers Read,” NPR Valley Public Radio 89.1, Fresno, CA, broadcast May 15, 1996
• “Cordelia,” KKCC FM Cable Radio, Bakersfield, CA, broadcast November 28, 94
• “Tiny Tears” KKCC FM Cable Radio, Bakersfield, CA, accepted for broadcast
• “The Eyes of Mark” KKCC FM Cable Radio, Bakersfield, CA, accepted for broadcast

Honors and Awards

Academic

• Top 10 finalist in the Graziadio Business School Innovation Challenge (ideas for improving the school and programs), Pepperdine University, 75 entrants, 2006
• Graziadio Business Report received the CASE 2006 Silver Award for Web-Based or Electronic HTML External Audience Newsletters (based on the redesign I initiated and managed development of), Pepperdine University, 2006
• University of Southern California School of Theatre Commencement Speaker, Los Angeles, CA, May 2006
• Seventy Times Seven, full-length screenplay, University of Southern California, Phi Kappa Phi Student Recognition for Meritorious Achievement, 2000

Fiction

• “Afternoon Critique with Kat Martin,” Winner, novel Category (20 pg); excerpt: The President’s Trigger, Writers of Kern (WOK) Contest, Bakersfield, CA, February 1997
• “The Cottage,” 2nd Place, Short Story excerpt from Teacups, “To Get Ink” WOK Conference, Bakersfield, CA, September 21, 1996
• Finalist, WOK Inkslinger Contest, Novel Category; excerpt from Teacups, Ch 1, Bakersfield, CA, September 1995
• Finalist, WOK Insklinger Contest, Ch 1, excerpt The President’s Trigger, Bakersfield, CA, September 1995

Plays

• “The Award,” Semi-Finalist, Malibu International One Act Play Festival, Malibu, CA, 2006
• “Disposable,” Finalist, One-Act Play, USC 2002 Jerome Lawrence One-Act Play Competition, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, April 2002

Poetry

• “The Soul Upon the Loom is Woven,” Best Sonnet, Class Award, Renaissance Literature, CSU, Bakersfield, Fall 1994

Screenplays

• Seventy Times Seven, Semi-Finalist, Kairos Prize, $50,000 Bi-ennial screenplay competition, 2006

Participation in Academic/Professional Forums

• Ethics Seminar sponsored by Act One/Pepperdine University at City of Angels Film Festival, DGA, Hollywood, CA, October 19, 2006
• “The Screenwriter: Creator and Cultural Leader,” a retreat for screenwriters, faculty, and students, Pepperdine University, co-chair, April 7 & 8, 2006
• “Stories that Matter: A Forum on Screenwriting and Vocation,” evening panel with leading screen and television writers, Pepperdine University, co-chair, March 9, 2006

Grants Received

Pepperdine Voyage/Lilly Endowment Grant:

• Co-produced with Pepperdine Visiting Professor Todd Bouldin, Esq., “Stories that Matter: Screenwriting as a Vocation,” with seven screen and television writers as panelists, Pepperdine University, March 2006
• Co-produced with Pepperdine Visiting Professor Todd Bouldin, Esq., “The Screenwriter: Creator And Cultural Leader,” A Retreat for Screenwriters and Students, April 2006
• Kerr-Erwin Foundation Fellowship in Writing, University of Southern California, MPW program, 2000

Academic Proposals

Proposal for MFA in Screen and Television Writing, Pepperdine University, Humanities and Teacher Education Division, 2006 (in progress, program start planned for Fall 2008)

Faculty Committees

2006-2007 University Faculty Assessment Council, Pepperdine University

2005-2007 GPS IRB (Graduate and Professional School Institutional Review Board), Pepperdine University

2005-2006, Associate University Librarian Interview Committee, Pepperdine University

Writing Workshops Given

• Pepperdine WLA Staff Writing Workshop, Los Angeles, CA, 2006-Current
• Private creative writing workshops 2003-Current
• Bi-Weekly: Facilitator, Fiction Study Critique Group at Russo’s Bookstore, Bakersfield, CA, June 1998 – August 1999
• “Following Through” Workshop, Palmdale Christian Writers Group, Palmdale, CA, May 11, 1999
• “Following Through” Workshop, High Desert Branch California Writers’ Club, Victorville, CA, March 13, 1999
• “Writing & Writer’s Block” talk, WIN-WIN Writer’s Group, Fresno, CA January 9, 1998
• “Following Through” Workshop, Lake Isabella/Cerro Cosco Community College, Lake Isabella, CA July 31, 1998
• “Following Through” Workshop, City Books, Ridgecrest, CA, June 20, 1998
• “Following Through” Workshop, Russo’s Bookstore, Bakersfield, CA, May 9 & 16, 1998
• “Structuring Your Novel” Workshop, Writers of Kern, Bakersfield, CA, March 21, 1998
• “Writing and Publishing Articles” Writers of Kern, Bakersfield, CA, November 15, 1997

Current Professional Affiliations

New Playwrights Foundation Workshop

Former Professional Affiliations

California Writers Club

IWOSC – Independent Writers of Southern California

Writers of Kern