"I write the world I want to see."

EDUCATION

Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans

Bachelor of Arts, Mass Communication, May 2005

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

AROA (A Round of Applause), Baton Rouge, LA

Member, Board of Directors

A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that works with youth, ages 12-19, to create their own quarterly magazine.

Public Relations Consultant – December 2011 to December 2017

Assist Marketing Director with coordinating the communication efforts, including press releases and media outreach.

PROJECTS

Plank Road Corridor Master Plan Project, East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority, February 2019 – Present

Public Relations Consultant: Production of news/press releases and media advisories; media curation and scheduling, including the coordination of on-site press; writing and creative for weekly e-newsletter, "The Redevelopment Authority Review;" and photography services, including the management of the "I #ImaginePlankRoad" photo campaign.

Black Out Loud Conference, LLC, August 2018 – Present

Public Relations Consultant: Design and implement photo marketing projects, press campaigns, and web materials; processes include advising, writing, and photography. Also create and promote programming for on-going mission of celebrating black visibility in select fields of work. Served as media liaison and marketing assistant for inaugural conference in August 2018 which yielded more than 200 attendees. Featured speaker on the ‘Artrepreneurship’ panel at the 2018 Baton Rouge Entrepreneurship Week.

“Love, Whitney,” New Venture Theatre, Nov. 2014

Artistic Staff: Wrote two poems for choreography and performed one poem. Performed three sold out shows to audiences of over 300 each night.

ORGANIZATIONS

100 Black Women - Metropolitan Baton Rouge Chapter  

Member; Photography/Public Relations  

A diverse group of change agents advocating for black women and girls through community service and leadership. 

National Council for Marketing and Public Relations

Member

Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Inc.

Member; Vice-President, Eta Chapter, New Orleans – 2004-2005

An invitation-only undergraduate and professional level sorority for women in all professions with volunteer services as an integral part of membership responsibility. 

AWARDS

2016 Best Feature Story, 2nd Place, Division 6, Louisiana Press Association Better Newspaper Awards, June 2017 (writer)

2015 Best Overall Sports section, Division 4 – Weekly Citizen, Louisiana Press Association Awards, June 2016 (editor)

2015 Best Publication, Advertising, Division 4 - Paint it All Pink, Louisiana Press Association Awards, June 2016 (editor)

Xavier University 40 Under 40 Young Alumni Award Class, November 2015

Sue Weinstein Excellence in Volunteerism, May 2015

SELECT PUBLICATIONS

ACADEMIC 

Rose, Leslie D. "Criminal Minded." St. James Encyclopedia of Hip Hop Culture, edited by Thomas Riggs, St. James Press, 2018, pp. 99-101.

Rose, Leslie D. "Native Tongues." St. James Encyclopedia of Hip Hop Culture, edited by Thomas Riggs, St. James Press, 2018, pp. 311-314. 

Rose, Leslie D. "The Northeast." St. James Encyclopedia of Hip Hop Culture, edited by Thomas Riggs, St. James Press, 2018, pp. 329-333. 

ARTICLES

“Abdullah Muflahi reflects on the loss of his friend and how his convenience store became a local protest landmark,” [225], May 27, 2017

“Heroin hits home: An Ascension Parish mother hopes to use son’s death to save others,” Weekly Citizen, March 20, 2016

“Alvin Temple offers program centered on clean eating, exercise,” The Advocate, Aug. 17, 2014

“Funky Fashion Advice: Q & A with funk legend, Bootsy Collins,” DIG Magazine, Oct. 23, 2013

POETRY

The Newsroom, Next Left Press, Nov. 2015

“Needles,” co-written by William Brian Sain, All Def Digital, Dec. 17, 2014

Various, Indiefeed: Performance Poetry, Episodes 1189, 1272, 1332, 1403, 1492, 1539, and 1594, June 2013 – Jan. 2016

“Conversations with my drunken brother,” Passages North, April 12, 2012

“Live, Laugh, Love,” Borderline Online Poetry Journal, Vol. 2 – Issue 4, 2011