DAVID WILLIAMS--STORYTELLER
Storyteller, Script Writer, Fiction Writer, Non-Fiction Science Writer, AI writer ( Prompt Engineer), UX writer, Songwriter, Animator, Cartoonist, Copywriter,
As a writer, "Williams works magic." Newsweek Magazine
David Williams
Resume
STORYTELLER
Phone: 720-308-0915
Email: danjo53@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realdavidwilliams/
Portfolio: https://danjo53.wixsite.com/davidwilliamswriting/
Portfolio: https://danjo53.wixsite.com/realdavidwilliams
PROFILE
PhD in Writing, BA in Anthropology. Emmy winning writer with PBS. Former Professor of Creative Writing, Environmental, Science Writing, and Literature. Strong background in the sciences, as showcased in the book The Trickster Brain: Neuroscience, Evolution, and Narrative. Skilled in all genres of writing, research, copywriting, content writing, as well UX writing & design, strategic planning, cartooning, animation, and graphic recording/whiteboarding. A versatile storyteller with creativity and expertise in multiple domains. Author with Random House. Founder of Trapdoor Media—a multi-media company.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in English/Creative Writing, University of Illinois at Chicago
M.A. in English, Northern Illinois University
B.A. Anthropology, Minor in English, Northern Illinois University
CERTIFICATIONS
AI Prompt Engineering in ChatGPT from Vanderbilt University, Human Factors in AI from Duke University, Career Essentials in Generative AI from Linkedin and Microsoft, Generative AI: the Evolution of Thoughtful Online Search from Linkedin and Microsoft, Contact Center Ai: conversational Design Fundamentals from Google, Digital Marketing Intensive from Boulder Digital Arts, UX Elements of Design from Google. Created the following animated videos to show users how AI works: https://youtu.be/iXpyd7MlaVM?si=lDKtlHuLEEsqAjxq AI Introduction
https://youtu.be/sRE6vjJuukk Prompts for ChatGPT
EXPERTISE & SKILLS
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Writing in all genres (fiction, non-fiction, copywriting, content writing, and more)
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Educator
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AI certification
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UX Writing
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Science & Environmental Writing
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Graphic Recording/Whiteboard artist/cartoonist
CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS
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Emmy Award-winning writer with PBS.
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Published author of The Trickster Brain: Neuroscience, Evolution, and Narrative, (Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group) as well as fiction books with Random House, and more.
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Former Professor of Writing. Face-to-face & Head of Fiction Writing Program within the English Department.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Editor-in-Chief/Head Writer/Cartoonist. Jan. 2 023—present.
A weekly news magazine that examines contemporary life through the lenses of neuroscience, evolutionary biology, genetics, and the Arts; NHM is a subsidiary of the Human Nature Forum: https://www.newsandhumannature.com/.
Founder, Trapdoor Media, Boulder, CO. Jan. 2017—Jan. 2024
Creative Media Arts company, providing creative media and instruction to a variety of clients on a variety of projects in multiple genres.
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AI PROMPT ENGINEER--Trained in AI Prompt Engineering from Vanderbilt University, Duke University, and LinkedIn. Prompt Engineering used in freelance work for customers such as GREEN OUR PLANET, NEWS & HUMAN NATURE MAGAZINE, and Illustrated Guides to AI and ChatGPT: https://youtu.be/iXpyd7MlaVM?si=nYCzgjND__IpdiBl, https://youtu.be/FJmrjDdiioc?si=dtIyCIXPdF0FtPBp.
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Cartoonist—worked for The Chronicle of Higher Education, Carlton Cards, Soultrader of London, Barons, String World, and The Rocky Mountain News.
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Graphic Recorder/Whiteboard Artist for ATT, McKesson, EDUCAUSE, and others. Attended conferences nationally and facilitated whiteboarding recording sessions during company meetings.
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Emmy winning songwriter for PBS KIDS—about animals and the environment. These songs have had over 100 million hits on YouTube. The Rhino Song became a hit in South Africa through the anti-poaching movement-- https://davidwilliamsanimals.wordpress.com/the-amazing-rhino-story/.
CU Boulder, Boulder, CO. August 2010-- January 2017
Professor of Writing and Literature
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Curriculum Development and Instructional Design for face-to-face and online courses.
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Taught courses in Creative Writing, Science Writing, Environmental Writing, Women’s Literature, African American Literature, Blues Music/Poetry, Business Writing, Shakespeare, and more.
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Founder of Eco Video Program, working with students to create environmental videos for YouTube.
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Taught media development for Environmental Writing with the goal to bring environmental issues to the greater public.
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Training in “Best Practices” for online education in collaboration with the University of Colorado (CU) Department of Continuing Education.
Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO. June 2008-August 2010
Professor of Writing and Literature
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Curriculum Development and Instructional Design for face-to-face and online courses.
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Taught a course on Man & Nature for engineers that covered Western and Eastern Philosophy, as well as Ethics, and the History of Environmental Worldviews from various cultural traditions.
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Won best teacher of year award from student input.
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Served on English Committee for Best Practices in Writing, in which we did joint grading of assignments and talked over our responses to come to a collective consensus.
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Developed video essays on environmental issues with students for YouTube.
Metro State University, Denver, CO. August 1998--August 2008
Professor of Writing and Literature
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Curriculum Development and Instructional Design for face-to-face and online courses.
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Head of Fiction Writing Program within the English Department.
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Won best teacher of year award from student input.
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Served on English Committee for Best Practices in Writing, in which we did joint grading of assignments and talked over our responses to come to a collective consensus. Produced and directed a film with students titled I Love English in a Major Way, a 45-minute mockumentary about being an English Major.
TOP AWARDS & GRANTS
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Recipient of 2011 Encompass Research in China Cultural Exchange Travel Grant to meet with students from grade school to college, teaching environmental songs.
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Emmy Winner in Writing for work on The Big Green Rabbit, PBS television program.
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National Association of Parenting Publications Award, NAPPA, for children’s music, for the album Rainforest and Tropical Animals.
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Award in Songwriting for Route 66, from the Springfield Arts Council, Illinois Arts Council, and the National Endowment.
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Award in Literature for the short story, "A Living That Means Something," Illinois Arts Council.
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Folk Music Apprenticeship Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
David Williams holds a PhD in English/Creative Writing and a BA in Anthropology, but he is also a published researcher and science writer in the field of Neurohumanities (The Trickster Brain), combining data from Neuroscience, Evolutionary Psychology, and Cognitive Narrative theory to understand how and why we humans create stories and other forms of art. He is a former professor of Environmental and Science Writing and Literature at CU, and a Creative Writer in residence at numerous institutions. Constantly fascinated about the human condition, David writes about our triumphs and follies in a variety of genres.
The Trickster Brain: Neuroscience, Evolution, and Nature by David Williams looks at literature from an evolutionary, biological, and neurological perspective. He uses the Trickster character as he/she appears across cultures to demonstrate how stories reveal universal aspects of the biological mind. Williams brings together science and the humanities, demonstrating a critical way of approaching literature that incorporates scientific thought.
Review
David Williams tricks the reader into following in his fleet footsteps into the land of neuroscience, evolution, music, and other seemingly non-literary areas in order to flesh out something important about our evolutionary brains, namely our propensity for weaving stories. (Peter Swirski, author of "Of Literature and Knowledge: Explorations in Narrative Thought Experiments, Evolution, and Game Theory")
In The Trickster Brain, David Williams brings together the seemingly incompatible worlds of neuroscience, anthropology and literature with wit and scholarly flair. Williams does not shy away from the more contradictory elements of human nature in this ambitious book, and he leaves the reader with the knowledge that our own brains are tricking us into a better understanding of our most elemental natures. (Kayt Sukel, author of "Dirty Minds: How Our Brains Influence Love, Sex, and Relationships")
Taken as a whole, The Trickster Brain can be admired for its lofty goal, which is to connect a kind of cross-culturally realized narrative element to the biological design and function of the human brain. Folklorists may also admire Williams’ willingness to work across disciplinary lines. (Journal of Folklore Research)
ANIMATED SCIENCE DOCUMENTARY
BRAIN
AI PROMPT ENGINEER, CHATGPT, AI WRITER
The world is in the midst of enormous change with the introduction of AI, and with his passion for creative writing and science, his expertise in storytelling, anthropology and neuroscience, David became immediately fascinated with what AI can and will be able to do. He began using ChatGPT to investigate questions in neuroscience and evolutionary psychology, which ties into his book The Trickster Brain. And in 2023 he earned certificates in AI, Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT and more—from Vanderbilt University, Duke University, and Linkedin.
ANIMATIONS
Improve Your Kids Vocabulary With The Dinosaur Song
EMMY WINNING SONGWRITER from PBS
David's Emmy winnng songs for kids that appeared on PBS, have had over100 million hits on YouTube. He has also received awards in music from National Endowment for the Arts, Illinois & Iowa Arts Councils, & American Library Association. Click on ANIMALS BELOW to link to music videos, national reviews, and songs. Go to this link to learn how the Rhino Song became a hit in South Africa: https://davidwilliamsanimals.wordpress.com/the-amazing-rhino-story/
WRITING awards in fiction from
Illinois Arts Council, Iowa Arts Council, and more, award in MUSIC from National Endowment of the Arts.
AWARD WINNING CHILDREN'S AUTHOR
Alfred A. Knopf, & in The McGraw-Hill 5th Grade reader
15 YEARS AS WRITER IN RESIDENCE--ILLINOIS ARTS COUNCIL K-12,
2 YEARS PLAYWRIGHT-IN-RESIDENCE AT ROCKFORD AREA ARTS COUNCIL,
WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE AT KNOX COLLEGE, taught at UIC, NIU, METRO U, UC BOULDER, & CO SCHOOL OF MINES
TRICKSTER CAROUSEL cabaret band
click on CD for website
2021 SOLO ALBUM
Visual Artist
Award winner, curated by Smithsonian and other institutions, cartoonist for many newspapers, magazines, and card companies in the US and UK
