Laura Wolff Scanlan

Professional Writer/UX Content Strategist/Journalist

United States

My skills bridge the worlds of journalism and UX content strategy. I craft compelling content to engage, inspire, and drive action. I have more than 20 years of experience working with international corporations, non-profits, advocacy groups, ad agencies, academia, and U.S. federal and state governments.

I am:

-An active listener, critical thinker, decision-maker, planner, and project manager.

-Inquisitive and solution-oriented. You'll often hear me ask, "What if we say/do it
this way?"

-Deadline driven, reliable, smart (summa cum laude baby), and fun to work with.

Portfolio

Editorial/Long Form

National Endowment for the Humanities
LeVar Burton

Wrote article for National Humanities Medal awarded to LeVar Burton by President Biden at White House ceremony on Oct. 21, 2024. LeVar Burton's impact as a storyteller spans time and space.

National Endowment for the Humanities/White House Interview
Author Tara Westover Interview for National Humanities Medal

WHITE HOUSE CITATION Tara Westover, for turning American life into literature. Tara Westover's memoirs of family, religion, and the transformative power of education, has moved millions of readers and served as a powerful example of how the humanities can set people-and a Nation-free.

The National Endowment for the Humanities
04/19/2021
Oz: America's Fairy Tale

"Dorothy really set the stage for little girls getting out of the house and going on adventures the way that boys do."

Chicago Public Schools
10/21/2021
Chicago Roadmap Progress Report

I created the inaugural report for the Chicago Roadmap, an equity-driven initiative between Chicago Public Schools and City Colleges of Chicago to provide a seamless transition to post-secondary options for all Chicago students.

The National Endowment for the Humanities
06/03/2022
Joe Papp and the Transformation of American Theater

With a simple yet radical idea that Shakespeare, the greatest writer in the English language, was not the property of the educated, or the middle class, or the upper class, but everybody, Papp took Shakespeare to the people of New York, free of charge.

The National Endowment for the Humanities
Records of the Salem Witch Trials

Trouble in the tiny Puritan village started in February 1692, when eleven-year-old Abigail Williams and nine-year-old Elizabeth Parris, daughter of Reverend Samuel Parris, began acting strangely. The girls complained of bites, contorted their bodies, threw things, and fell into trances. A doctor's examination concluded they were suffering from the evil effects of witchcraft.

The National Endowment for the Humanities
When the Show Can't Go On

Nevada had the unlucky distinction of having the highest jobless rate in the country after the pandemic hit. With COVID-19's arrival, nonstop crowds, the lifeblood of Vegas, became danger zones. On top of that, many who go to Vegas don't usually go to be careful.

Northwestern Law Reporter
Managing Editor, Magazine

Developed a 60-page magazine to enhance the Law School’s reputation, increase alumni donations, increase corporate gifts, and improve national rankings.

Humanities magazine
The Gorey Details

In Edward Gorey’s whimsical world, elegantly dressed Edwardian men and women teeter on the brink of demise, uninvited creatures take up residence in dreary mansions, and hapless tots are alphabetically disposed of one by one in rhyming dactylic couplets..

The National Endowment for the Humanities
11/12/2020
Executive Function Special: An interview with Phoebe Stein

Without an understanding of our histories, our stories, the context for this particular historical moment, and people's experiences that have led up to these moments, without that, it's impossible to know really what's at stake.

Humanities magazine
Super Role Model

Just as American men left their homes for the battlefields, and millions of American women left their homes for the workforce, Wonder Woman left the safety of her all-female home ...

The National Endowment for the Humanities
Letters from Strangers

"And, you dear stranger, how are you coping?" wonders another. "Are you a reader, a gardener, a woodworker, a musician, an artist, a chef, a craftsperson?" These exchanges are from letters written...

NEH 50th Anniversary website
Afropop Worldwide

For centuries, the music of Africa has beat a melodious path around the globe, influencing existing traditions and creating new musical dialogs wherever it goes.

Humanities magazine
Comics and the Classical Tradition

At the Maryhill Museum of Art in Goldendale, Washington, the same museum that houses Rodin's The Thinker and objects d'art from the palaces of the Queen Marie of Romania, visitors can view images depicting a Victorian-era robot who fights alongside Teddy Roosevelt and Lawrence of Arabia; an historic journey through the U.S.

The National Endowment for the Humanities
Hollywood by Design

After starting modestly-handing pins to a seamstress, rolling fabric, and dressing animals-Head climbed her way up the studio ladder to become the most influential and famous American costume designer of the time...

Humanities magazine
Alexander Hamilton

In 1773, a wealthy Caribbean businessman saw promise in a West Indian orphan named Alexander Hamilton.

The National Endowment for the Humanities
The Art of Survival

Like many traditional quilts, the ones from Gee’s Bend, Alabama, are made from strikingly humble materials: worn-out denim, tobacco pouches, old bed sheets, fertilizer and feed sacks.

Author page
Humanities magazine

NEH is an independent grant-making agency of the United States government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities.

Content Creation/Strategy

Chicago Public Schools
10/01/2024
Together We Rise: CPS Strategic Five-Year Plan

Part of cross-functional team to produce strategic plan document and website. Responsible for marketing aspects such as plan naming, subheads, infographics, etc.

Chicago Public Schools
09/23/2024
GoCPS UX Website Content Strategy/Writing

GoCPS allows families to explore and apply to nearly every CPS school and program through one online platform. Whether you are a current CPS family or new to the District, GoCPS is the gateway to finding the right school for you.

Chicago Public Schools
Intranet creation/migration

UX Content Lead/Strategist for website migration from Google platform to Optimizely (EPI). This included content mapping, taxonomy development, and page level template creation. For phase 1, I audited more than 3,000 webpages and worked with more than 100 content owners to reduce amount of content being migrated. For phase 2, I created a comprehensive style guide, templates for each page level, and worked with the content owners to best highlight important resources from a UX perspective. I...

Working Together Chicago
Website creation

Collaborated with a UX designer to create a website that connects adults with disabilities to schools offering meaningful, paid employment.

Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
Social Media Posts

🏳️‍⚧️ CPS supports our transgender and gender diverse students and staff. We are dedicated to providing safe and supportive spaces so our students can learn, thrive, and explore their full selves. 💙 Learn more at https://t.co/i3hwigosYh pic.twitter.com/EDMUPkbkt0

Pampered Chef
09/01/2020
Fall | Winter Catalog

Created copy strategy for redesign of 64 page catalog with portfolio of more than 300 products. Worked on collaborative teams including creative strategy, UX testing, and design execution. Wrote all copy including seasonal story, headlines, suheds, callouts, product descriptions, etc.

Amazon
Diehard on Amazon

Wrote SEO titles, selling bullets, product descriptions, and A+ copy for Amazon.

Kenmore
Amazon copywriting

Wrote copy across many channels for Kenmore's biggest product launch in years including Amazon selling bullets, product description, A+ content, social media, PR materials, video support, etc.

Pampered Chef
Email Marketing

Writes all copy including subject lines, preheaders, headlines, deks, special features, and call-to-action buttons. Sent to more than 400,000 customers with highest monthly open rates and highest revenue results.

Pampered Chef Blog
09/09/2019
13 Smart Kitchen Tools You Never Knew You Needed

We're always looking for ways to make our lives a little bit easier every day. Sometimes though, we just deal with a challenge or annoyance out of habit or because we don't know there's another way.

Let's Connect!