Meet Meghan Edwards, Communications Specialist
QIP Communications Specialist Meghan Edwards always has had a love of writing and challenging herself.
“I’ve always loved writing and tackling difficult problems, so that’s what you could say brought me here,” she said.
“Meg’s enthusiasm and sharp mind are wonderful assets,” QIP Editorial Director Sarah Ensor said. “In addition to being a writer and editor, Meg is a savvy communications strategist. She is always expanding her knowledge and skill set to provide clients excellent service.”
Meg works primarily on a contract that acts as the technical assistance arm of the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) Grant Program. She is part of a team that provides communications support to the SLDS Grant Program, including writing, design, graphics, formatting, and editing products such as issue briefs, guides, toolkits, and web pages.
Meg, who has worked for QIP since 2018, said she finds the work of SLDSs important and rewarding because they are helping to provide educators with the tools they need to give children the best education possible.
“Especially now, given how everything has been upturned because of the pandemic, SLDSs are going to be incredibly important in figuring out the effects of it and also helping to highlight certain inequities that have come up as a result,” she said. “Being able to support that work is really exciting.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted her work, as well, necessitating the creation of a virtual version of SLDS’s annual Best Practices Conference in 2020 and again this year. The conference normally takes place in the Washington, D.C., area.
One of the biggest challenges Meg has faced occurred early in her time at QIP when she worked on her first SLDS toolkit, a collection of online resources about a particular topic. Her background in digital content was useful as she pulled information together, distilling it into web-friendly language and an easily navigable group of web pages.
Meg said she enjoys the supportive and caring culture at QIP. She pointed to the company’s Diversity & Inclusion Team, which was proposed in 2020 and immediately put into action. The team, of which Meg is a member, has met regularly and developed a Diversity & Inclusion Plan, including recommendations that already have been put into practice.
“It’s incredible how genuine everything is and how supported I feel,” she said.
Before joining QIP, Meg worked as a digital content manager, reading specialist, and writing tutor. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Mary Washington and a master’s degree in English language and literature from George Mason University. She also has earned her Google Analytics Individual Qualification, which covers basic and advanced Google Analytics concepts.
In her free time, Meg enjoys playing video games and creating costumes for cosplaying at conventions. “When you hear about those nerds that dress up and go to conventions, that's what I do,” she said.
The costume she’s working on now is a character from the latest “Resident Evil” video game, which she described as a “scary Victorian lady with a doll.”
“I’m excited to use it at conventions but also to scare the children in my neighborhood,” she said.
