Debbie Eisenberg Merion

Phone/Fax: (734) 663-1075

debbie@essaycoaching.com

    

 

Education:

Blanche McCrary Boyd Writing Intensive at the Key West Literary Seminar, Key West, Florida. Jan., 2005

Rob Wilder Writing Seminar, Taos, New Mexico. Nov., 2004

Natalie Goldberg Writing Intensive, Taos, New Mexico.  Aug., 2004 and Jan., 2003

 

 

Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Creative Writing student, September, 2003 – May, 2004

Computer Science student, April, 1981 - June, 1982, 1999

 

 

 

The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

School of Social Work -- Administration Program

M.S.W., December, 1978

 

 

 

The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

College of Literature, Science and the Arts

B.A. with high honors, May, 1977

 

EMPLOYMENT:

Present

 

Essay Coaching, Ann Arbor Michigan  http://www.essaycoaching.com

In this new service I coach prospective college and graduate students to bring out their best in their college admissions essays.

 

10/88 - Present

Spark Communications, Ann Arbor, Michigan   http://www.spark-com.com

I write fiction and non-fiction about issues (e.g. health and obesity) and feelings (e.g. loyalty and loss) that strike me as interesting, important, and topical.  I also write and produce short videos, specializing in humorous biographical and travel documentaries.

In Fall 2005, I will be helping individuals create their own ethical will through a course I’ve developed. 

9/2000 - 5/2002

Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, Michigan http://courses.wccnet.org/~demerion/
As a part-time faculty member in the English department,
I taught a three-credit college course called "English 208--Advanced Technical Communication." This is a required course at WCC for students seeking certification as a technical writer or web site professional. In this course, students use Microsoft Word to write professional documents and learn the documentation creation process from beginning to end.

3/85 - 2/88

Applied Intelligent Systems, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan

As senior technical writer, I designed, wrote, edited, and produced machine vision product documentation.  This included system guides for end-users in factories, hardware troubleshooting and repair manuals for engineers, and reference manuals for programmers creating development software or customer applications.  I also selected and customized a new electronic publishing system and trained staff in its use.  For marketing, I wrote brochures, took company photographs and videos.

6/84 - 2/85

Communitec, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan

Wrote computer manuals for manufacturing, accounting, and medical billing software.

 

5/83 - 10/83

Torch Computers, Ltd., Cambridge, England

Wrote documentation including electronic mail tutorial and reference manual; produced marketing materials.

8/82 - 4/83

Computer Information Centre, Ltd., Letchworth, England

Wrote user guides for small business software, debugged open item ledger system, produced marketing materials; provided software support

Awards:

 

2003

First Place

Detroit Society of Professional Journalist's 2003 Excellence in Journalism Award

Category of General Reporting, less than 50,000 publication

"The Depths of Despair," Feature in Hour Detroit, November 2002

1986 & ‘87

Awards of Achievement

Society for Technical Communication

"AIS-1100 Vision Programming System Developer's Guide"

"AIS-5100 Vision Programming System Developer's Guide"

1986 & ‘87

Awards of Excellence

Southeast Michigan Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication

"AIS-1100 Vision Programming System Developer's Guide"

"AIS-5100 Vision Programming System Developer's Guide"

1985

Certificate of Achievement

Southeast Michigan Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication

"Matchmark Inspection Station Operator's Guide"

 

Publications:

Ann Arbor Observer

 

September 2005        “Paper Cut – The U-M Picks Its Freshman Class” 

June 2001                 “Horse Listener”

October 2001            “Schools Spotlight”

October 2000            “Shakey Jake”

September 2000        “The Secret World of Going Public”

December 1999        “Armed Ann Arbor

June 1999                 “Bill Beck”

December 1997        “Joan and Will Weber” 

October 1997            “Tomas Chavez”

October, 1997           “Nude Millennium”

June 1997                 “Paul Bantle

February 1997          “WEMU Mardi Gras” 

January 1997            “Set and Bag Balm” 

February 1996          Anomalist 

November 1996        “The Lowbrow Astronomers’ Open House” 

May 1996                 “Quilting the Blues”

August 1996             “Lifers”

November 1996        “Colors the Clown” 

April and May 1996   “Soccer Begins at 40” 

December 1995        “PC Calendars” 

December 1995        Mervil Miller” 

September 1995        “Different Drummer” 

August 1995             “Bob Steglich 

July 1995                  “Fewer Tickets” 

June 1995                 “Club Wedd 

April 1995                “Long Lives Well Lived” 

March 1995              “No Reservations” 

January 1995            “Diane Argyle” 

December 1994        “Thrifty Skaters” 

December 1994        “The Fish Doctor” 

 

Community Observer

 

Summer 2002           “Falling Off the Edge”

Fall 2001                  “Horse Listener”

Summer 2001           “Breaking New Ground in Saline”

Fall 2000                  “Dream Cruise”

Spring 2000              “Gun Show”

Spring 2000              “Creatures Great and Small”

 

Other Publications

 

Spring 2005              “Doggedly Searching,” The Huron River Review

Spring 2005              “Obesity:  A Big Problem that is Getting Bigger,” Movement

Spring/Sum 2005      “My Grandmother’s Spirit is Showing Me Her Pearls,” Crazy Wisdom Community Journal

Win/Spring 2005       “A Hero’s Journey:  Savoring Life and Opening to Death When Breast Cancer Enters a Friendship,” Crazy Wisdom Community Journal

Spring 2004              “Beatrice,” The Huron River Review

March 2004              “Cantor Annie Rose,” Washtenaw Jewish News

November 2002        “The Depths of Despair,” Hour Detroit

April 2002                “Local Jewish Women Walk to Raise Funds and Awareness,” Washtenaw Jewish News

Jan. 1996                  “Please Release Me, Let Me Go,” Li’l Ones

February 1995          “One Woman’s Story of Survival,” Washtenaw Jewish News

December 1994        A Highway Paved with Gold?” Ann Arbor Ad Club Newsletter

 

 

ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

                                 Board Member, Lans Basin, Inc.—a Mallet’s Creek Homeowner’s Association

                                 Board Member, Michigan Theater

                                 Co-Founder, A.W. A. R. E—an Ann Arbor Women’s Stock Investment Group

                                 Board Member, Washtenaw Jewish News

                                 Member, National Writer’s Union

                                 Senior Member, Society for Technical Communication

                                 Member, American Mensa, Ltd.

                                 Member, Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce