Elizabeth Alva
PORTFOLIO
WORK EXPERIENCE
Our Lady of Peace Church & Shrine - Special Projects August 2024 - January 2025
Manages special projects for Marian Shrine in Santa Clara, California with 900,000 annual visitors. Responsibilities included creating promotional materials for visitors and developing graphics and special projects for parish marketing and website maintenance to be launched in 2025.
EWTN Vatican - Photography and Multimedia Apprentice November 2023 - July 2024
Covered all main Vatican events and papal audiences on behalf of EWTN and developed EWTN Travel App. Responsibilities included capturing and distributing pictures to networks, translating and quality checking news reports in Spanish and English, working to build social media growth, publishing newspaper articles, and creating graphic designs for special events to launch the development of EWTN Next.
World Youth Day.com - Photographer August 2023
Covered all main World Youth Day events as a part of the World Youth Day.com team. Participated in press conferences, documented interviews and released images to various news outlets.
Mar Qardakh School - Head of Media and Religion Teacher September 2022 - July 2023
Taught fundamentals of religion to students in grades six through nine at International Baccalaureate accredited school in Erbil, Iraq. Responsibilities included full-time classroom presence as well as assisting in events and supervising of students during lunch hours. As head of media, managed school website and social media pages, covered various events as photographer and produced graduation videos.
ACI MENA - English Assistance and Author September 2022 - June 2023
Edited and revised articles into English translations from Arabic for international audiences. Assisted in social media translations and wrote articles for ACI MENA covering ongoing events in Erbil, Iraq.
Franciscan University of Steubenville - Head Student Marketing Photographer 2021-2022
Photographed events around campus for marketing and communications department, and worked with marketing team to create content released in social media, print and digital formats.
Abound Communications - Editorial Assistant May 2016 - present
Transcribed and edited recorded interviews published in books and professional articles. Reviewed and edited book drafts for content and style. Updated content on business website and advised business media strategy.
Transcribed and edited recorded interviews published in books and professional articles. Reviewed and edited book drafts for content and style. Updated content on business website and advised business media strategy.
Debate Institutes- Instructor August 2017- August 2022
Taught debate and public speaking after-school programs for children ages 8 to 15 for various schools and educational centers around the Silicon Valley, CA.
Taught debate and public speaking after-school programs for children ages 8 to 15 for various schools and educational centers around the Silicon Valley, CA.
The JP2 Project - Social Media and Marketing Intern February 2019 - May 2019
Coordinated marketing plans and managed social media for study abroad organization. Provided marketing photography and collaborated with management to implement a social media marketing plan.
Coordinated marketing plans and managed social media for study abroad organization. Provided marketing photography and collaborated with management to implement a social media marketing plan.
Our Lady of Peace Church and Shrine - Communications Intern May - September 2017
Oversaw photography of special events for parish with 900,000 annual visitors. Assisted with social media and weekly bulletin as well as summer camp communications.
Oversaw photography of special events for parish with 900,000 annual visitors. Assisted with social media and weekly bulletin as well as summer camp communications.
EDUCATION
Franciscan University of Steubenville - Bachelor of Arts
Majors in Theology and Communication Arts, holding a concentration in Multimedia. Thesis seminar focused on Catholic tradition with an emphasis on Theology of the Body.
LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
EWTN- Summer Academy July 2023, 2024
Took part in the Summer Academy at EWTN where participants on panels from 20 countries focused on learning and discussing more the role of communications, truth and media as journalists within the Catholic Church. In 2024, served as a Tutor on the Leadership Team. Reviewed applicant submissions and assisted with participant selection, small group leadership and day to day conference operations.
Saint Jerome Fellowship January 2022 - May 2022
Member of student fellowship studying Old Testament scripture in a seminar format. Memorized scripture, and participated in discussion and essays focusing on scriptural studies.
Member of student fellowship studying Old Testament scripture in a seminar format. Memorized scripture, and participated in discussion and essays focusing on scriptural studies.
EWTN Franciscan Presents August 2019 - May 2021
Work as floor director for several one-hour television series episodes that aired on the Eternal Word (international) Television Network. Managed time cues, communication with talent, and makeup. Also received training for camera use.
Work as floor director for several one-hour television series episodes that aired on the Eternal Word (international) Television Network. Managed time cues, communication with talent, and makeup. Also received training for camera use.
World Youth Alliance March 2019
Participated in a gathering for the World Youth Alliance in Madrid. Represented young adults and students from Poland and created a proposal to European Parliament to improve youth political engagement and appreciation as well as to promote human dignity in government. Received a Youthpass from the European Commission for contributions made.
Participated in a gathering for the World Youth Alliance in Madrid. Represented young adults and students from Poland and created a proposal to European Parliament to improve youth political engagement and appreciation as well as to promote human dignity in government. Received a Youthpass from the European Commission for contributions made.
Competitive Team Policy and Parliamentary Debate September 2014 - May 2018
Competed in Team Policy and Parliamentary debate at tournaments nationwide, with over 400 hours spent in competition. Served as a small group leader teaching students how to research well. Nationally ranked debater and speaker.
Competed in Team Policy and Parliamentary debate at tournaments nationwide, with over 400 hours spent in competition. Served as a small group leader teaching students how to research well. Nationally ranked debater and speaker.
AWARDS
EWTN Summer Academy Participant and Tutor in 2023 and 2024.
Serra Service Award for over 250 hours of registered volunteer service.
European Commission Youthpass for contributions made to the European Parliament via the World Youth Alliance
Top ten national debate team Ranked 10th in the nation for Team Policy debate 2017, qualifying for the National Championships in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
SKILLS
Fluent in English and Spanish, beginner level Italian
Proficient in all Adobe extensions and work at a professional photojournalist standard
Effectively meet deadlines, communicate clearly and work under pressure
Videography and camera operating abilities
See portfolio for photography samples and published articles.
