WALTER SMELT III
smelt3@gmail.com
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Education
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 2017
Master of Theological Studies in Religion, Literature, and Culture
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 2015
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Poetry)
Boston University, Boston, MA, 2007
Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Religion, summa cum laude
Professional Experience
Tutor to high school students in STAND program (Winter 2018 to present)
• Meet with Boston public high school students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds who are dual-enrolled in a community college English class to advise them on writing and reading assignments and college preparedness
• Adapt to week-to-week needs of multiple students and motivate them to succeed
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Freelance Editor of academic papers, application essays, etc. (Fall 2013 to present)
• Edit journal articles, course papers, master’s theses, and application essays, many from international graduate students in diverse fields, for structure, content, style, grammar, clarity, tone, and persuasiveness
• Work independently to meet strict deadlines
• Communicate with authors as needed to clarify points and ask for rewrites
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Freelance Writer for Harvard Divinity School’s website (Fall 2015 to Spring 2017)
• Developed and pitched ideas for articles about diverse issues within a multi-faith, multidisciplinary divinity school
• Interviewed faculty, staff, students, and alumni
• Wrote articles from institutional viewpoint and according to house style
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Instructor at Ivy League Summer Camp in Hunan, China (Summer 2016)
• Planned lessons and activities on American culture, etiquette, and science
• Taught students ages 5-14 whose native language was Chinese
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Contract Copy Editor at Progress Testing (Summer 2015)
• Edited educational testing materials for elementary, middle, and high school students for grammar, adherence to Chicago style, clarity, bias, and redundancy
• Worked both independently and as part of a team to meet strict deadlines
Writing Tutor at UF’s University Writing Studio (Fall 2013 to Spring 2015)
• Met in half-hour sessions with undergraduate and graduate students from diverse linguistic, cultural, and academic backgrounds to discuss revisions of course papers, application essays, theses, and dissertations
• Quickly assessed issues with papers and made suggestions for revision clearly, authoritatively, and gently, encouraging those insecure about their writing skills
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Graduate Assistant at University of Florida (Fall 2012 to Spring 2015)
• Taught 11 undergraduate courses, 9 of them independently, including Beginning Poetry Writing, Expository and Argumentative Writing, Professional Communication, and Argument and Persuasion
• Prepared syllabi and individual classes on writing and communication issues
• Taught in front of small classes while fostering active learning
• Graded and commented on papers to improve students’ writing
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Freelance Writer for UF’s Journal of Undergraduate Research (Fall 2012 to Fall 2014)
• Developed interview questions based on featured undergraduate research papers
• Interviewed featured undergraduate scholars from different disciplines
• Wrote profiles from institutional viewpoint to meet strict deadlines
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Classroom Assistant at a high school in Cádiz, Spain (Fall 2011 to Spring 2012)
• Prepared lessons on American culture to practice English-speaking skills through active learning
• Collaborated with Spanish teachers on translating materials and planning lessons
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After-school Teacher at Mason-Rice Elementary School (Spring 2008 to Spring 2011)
• Planned and led fun, educational projects and activities for elementary students
• Cooperated with coworkers on leading activities and ensuring children’s safety
Publications
Articles and profiles for Harvard Divinity School’s website and the Harvard Gazette (Fall 2015 to Spring 2017)
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Poem in Colorado Review (Spring 2018)
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Poem in Subtropics (Fall 2016)
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Translations of Spanish poems in The Battersea Review (Fall 2016)
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Translations of Spanish poems in the Harvard Divinity Bulletin (Summer/Fall 2016)
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Profiles of students in UF’s Journal of Undergraduate Research (Fall 2012 to Fall 2014)
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Poems in Poetry East (Fall 2013)
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Articles published in Spare Change News (Summer 2008 to Summer 2009)
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Articles on arts and entertainment published in The Somerville News (Winter 2008)
Honors and Awards
Graduate Orator at Harvard University’s Commencement (May 2017)
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Reader at Mass Poetry’s U35 reading series for young poets (reading Nov. 2016)
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Recipient of Beal Family Scholarship at Harvard Divinity School (2016-2017)
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Recipient of Harvard Divinity School Dean’s Fellowship (2015-2016)
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Student Speaker at Boston University’s Commencement (May 2007)
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Member of Phi Beta Kappa (inducted May 2007)
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