CPickens-WMF
About me
My career has spanned 20 years working in media, marketing, event planning, higher education, and GLAMs (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums). I earned a BS in Electronic Media from the University of Tennessee, where I spent a lot of time getting into trouble at the campus radio station. In 2014, I earned an MLIS from San Jose State University and soon began a career in academic librarianship as an instructional librarian at West Virginia University. In addition to pursuing an MA in English and Creative Writing, I currently teach first-year and general education courses and work as a freelance instructional designer.
Through my work, I bridge the gap between learners and information by leveraging my diverse expertise. Adult learning theory, instructional design models, and information literacy principles ground my approach. My passion lies in equipping individuals with the intellectual and emotional tools they need to thrive.
I'm based in Las Vegas, Nevada (Pacific Time; GMT-07:00) but have been fortunate to live all over the United States, as I grew up a Navy Brat.
When I'm not writing, teaching, or designing, I enjoy learning Italian, studying art history, struggling to meditate, and improving my digital photography skills.
My work
I am part of the Community Programs team at the Wikimedia Foundation. I joined the Wikimedia Foundation in July 2024 to explore connections between the knowledge existing on Wikimedia projects and specialized sources of data. I aim to make recommendations on what is missing on Wikimedia projects in identified topic areas by collaborating with volunteer communities to develop strategic worklists. Learn more about the pilot list-building service.
Contact me
cpickens-ctr@wikimedia.org