Alexander Michael Murray
I first realized I wanted to be a storyteller after seeing Jaws at way too early of an age. I must have been around 5 or 6 (too young to see floating eyeballs and half-eaten Robert Shaw) and I was spellbound by the magic that was unfolding on my family’s small, brick-like television: the beautiful, sweeping cinematography of 1970’s Martha’s Vineyard, the impeccable dynamic of Roy Schneider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Shaw, and the thrilling practical effects of “Bruce” the animatronic shark.
From this early age, I realized the power that writing and storytelling have in this world. To write and to tell stories is to engage in one of the world’s oldest traditions, dawning back to primordial fireside speeches and ancient cave drawings. This theme of writing and storytelling has always been present in my life; from my early days of interning at Stanford News Report my junior year of high school to becoming the Editor-In-Chief of The Viking Magazine at my high school and earning my Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at UC Santa Barbara, writing and storytelling has always been a key aspect of my life. While I have little experience writing professionally, I have a wide range of interests in various fields of professional writing: copywriting, editing, technical writing, scriptwriting, and publishing. Among the topics I am interested in writing about are the environment, politics, media/entertainment, culture, literature, and sports.
Having lived everywhere from the vibrant Bay Area to the windswept shores of Scotland to underneath the sunny, teal-colored skies of Santa Barbara, I have had the privilege of living a rich and full life for someone so young. I have traveled to England, Scotland, Denmark, Holland, France, Spain, Germany, Canada, and Israel, with plans to visit all seven continents at some point soon. When I am not working hard to further my fledgling writing career, I have a wide range of hobbies that keep me busy: sewing, personal writing projects, photography, cooking, hiking, camping, making my way through the BFI 100 Greatest Movies of All Time, and active social life to name just a few ways I pass the time. Although the term “renaissance man” is probably thrown around too much, I truly believe that living a holistic and well-balanced life is the key to both professional success and personal happiness.
Ultimately, I believe I am at the point in my professional career to make the decision to pursue my writing more seriously and transform it from a passionate personal hobby into my full professional pursuit.
Resume
University of California, Santa Barbara
Bachelor of Arts
in Political Science
Overall GPA: 3.79
Awards: Graduated with High Honors, Dean's Honors - Spring 2020, Fall 2019
Noted Courses: Public Policy Analysis, Energy Politics, Politics of the Environment,
Comparative Environmental Politics, US Political Communication, Political Interest Groups
Concentration in American Politics, with other interests in International Relations,
environmental politics, media studies, and public policy analysis
August 2018
- July 2020
Education
Work Experience
February 2022 - July 2022
Stanford, CA
Office Admin Assistant
Office for Religious
and Spiritual Life -
Stanford University
Responsible for creating department newsletter via Mailchimp
Creating event posters via Canva and advertising through Mailchimp, social media
Assisting in helping to create University Praise and Worship (UPW) Bulletin, including editing and technical assistance
​
General office admin. duties include: creating a welcoming environment for students, troubleshooting problems for deans and other office workers, completion of minor tasks (printing and delivering items to and from the office, etc.)
Student Teaching Assistant
PS 155: Congress -
University of California,
Santa Barbara
Working with fellow Student and Graduate TAs, under the guidance of the professor, to run a 6-week simulation of the workings of the House of Representatives, the lobbying system, and the media system
Running multiple class sections via Zoom, three times a week, and assisting students in drafting legislation, political strategy, and administrative work required for the simulation
Spring Quarter 2020
Goleta, CA
Cashier/Food Preparer
Caje Coffee Roasters
​
Maintaining customer relationships and experiences through quick service and excellent communication while also ensuring the creation of quality food and beverages in high-pressure, high-demand situations
Working 20-hour weeks while still achieving academic success and attending UCSB as a full-time student
October 2019 - April 2020
Isla Vista, CA
Barista
Philz Coffee - Forest Avenue​
Creating and serving high-quality coffee drinks and food
Cleaning the store, washing used brewing equipment, stocking various supplies and setting up for the next day’s shifts
Developed key customer service skills, including adaptability, empathy, and efficient handling of customer interactions
Summer 2017 - Fall 2017
Summer 2018
Palo Alto, CA
Network Technician
(Paid Internship)
Responsible for configuring, installing, and troubleshooting Cisco Wireless Access Points (WAPs) and network switches in the student residences.
University IT - Stanford University
Summer 2015 and 2016
Stanford, CA
Technical Skills
Awards
Proficient in Adobe Suite products (InDesign, Lightroom, Photoshop), Microsoft Office
products (Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Outlook) and Canva
Proficient in Mailchimp and social media services: Facebook, Instagram, Reddit
Desire to improve and ability to acquire new skills and learn services/products
Eagle Scout (Troop 87, Mountain View, CA - 2014)