Bio
ELIZABETH FERBER
w) 510-528-5439
m) 415-793-4160
eferber@aol.com
Education
Barnard College, New York – BA in English, 1988
New York University, New York – MA in Education, 1992
Columbia University, New York – Graduate Work in Writing, 1989 - 1990
Westchester Community College, Valhalla – Math and Sciences Courses, 2002 - 2003
University of New South Wales, Sydney – Public Health Masters Courses, 2003 - 2004
Professional Experience
Internal Communications Consultant, 2005 - present
Responsible for all internal communications at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco. Responsible for writing, editing, and copy editing all newsletters, developing communication plans, and creating medical center-wide communications.
Environmental Design Consultant, 2000 - 2004
Founder and President of Design Alternatives, an interior design firm specializing in environmentally sustainable building products, and “Healthy Home” consultations.
Editor, 2003
Printed materials for neo-natal intensive care unit at Westchester Medical Center. Welcome and discharge manuals for family members of premature infants.
Research Assistant, 2002 - 2003
Assisted neonatalogist at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, New York with research study regarding effects of breast milk on premature infants in the neo-natal intensive care unit.
Editor, 2002
Re-wrote and edited various handouts for patients and family medicine providers. Health Communication Project, American University of Armenia, Center for Health Services Research.
Teacher, 1989 - 1996
Lower School Teacher at St. Ann’s School, Brooklyn Heights, New York.
Teacher, Summers, 1984 & 1986
Assistant Teacher at Clearview School for Emotionally Disturbed Children in Briarcliff Manor, New York.
Development Worker, 1988
Worked on small-scale development and health-related projects in Senegalese village. Duties included helping with distribution of medication for anti-Malaria program, basic first aid, and infection prevention. Assisted at village school and planned recreational programs for village children.
Nurse’s Assistant, 1981
Assisted nurse practitioners at Planned Parenthood of Westchester, New Rochelle branch. Duties included patient intake and specimen analysis.
Writing and Editing Work
Photo Editor: Jewish New York by Ira Wolfman, 2002 - 2003
Selected and edited all images for the book. Copy-edited manuscript and all captions.
Freelance Writer, 1989 - Present
Professional freelance writer concentrating on environmental and health related topics. Published over ten books and several dozen articles in national magazines and newspapers.
Book Editor, 1989 - 1993
Book Review Editor for New York City weekly The Manhattan Spirit. Responsible for selecting titles, assigning writers, editing and writing reviews, and proofing final copy.
Publications
Books
The White House
(Writer. Chuck Fischer, Artist) Universe Publishing, 2004
America’s Most Beautiful Houses and Gardens
(Writer. Chuck Fischer, Artist) Universe Publishing, 2002
Why Am I Up, Why Am I Down?: A Guide To Bipolar Disorder
(Co-author with Roger Grant, MD) Dell Publishing, 1999
May The Circle Be Unbroken: An Intimate Journey into The Heart of Adoption
(Co-author with Lynn C. Franklin) Harmony Books, 1998
The Vegetarian Life: How to be a Veggie in a Meat-Eating World
Berkley Books, 1998
Steven Spielberg
Chelsea House Publications, 1997
Jane Goodall: A Life With Animals
Benchmark Biographies/Marshall Cavendish, 1997
Diabetes
The Millbrook Press, 1996
The Walker’s Companion: A Nature Company Guide
Time-Life Books, 1995
Yasir Arafat: A Life of War and Peace
The Millbrook Press, 1995
Soon Found, Soon Lost
Yardbird Books, 1995
Magazines & Newspapers
The New York Times Book Review
The San Francisco Review of Books
The Washington Post
New York Magazine
The Christian Science Monitor
Parents
Healthy Kids
E Magazine
The Utne Reader
House Beautiful
Metropolis
Better Homes and Gardens
Barnard Magazine
Brooklyn Bridge
Literal Latte
Standpoints Magazine
In Addition . . .
Featured Speaker, 2002 & 2004
Globe Trotters of New York meeting in New York City. Discussed traveling to remote, international locations, and moving to Sydney, Australia.
Featured Speaker, 1994
Barnes & Noble, Union Square, New York. Read selections from Soon Found, Soon Lost, my novel detailing the journey of an American woman in West Africa.
Recipient, 1988
Lenore Marshall Prize for Prose
Founder, 1985 - 1988
SCAAR (Student Coalition Against Acid Rain). Ran all aspects of the coalition from organizing petitions to presenting educational forums on pollution, Columbia University, New York.
Science Grant, 1984
Barnard College Student Grant to study effects of acid rain in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Certified Scuba Diver, 1993
NAUI certified. Trained in New York City. Certified in Turks and Caicos, British West Indies.
Proficient French Speaker
Several years of university level French.
Personal Experience
I’ve been a teacher, writer, editor, and passionate traveler for most of my adult life and am currently pursuing positions where all of my skills and interests converge. I have traveled extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Africa, Asia, India, Latin and South America, and have lived in Australia, England, and on both coasts of the United States. I’m presently contracted to write a book on Duke Ellington for publication by Roaring Forties Press in Fall 2007.