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Undergraduate Studies ePortfolio

Kirsten TautfestPsychology, B.A., 2010

Personal Statement

As Western society and the greater world expand their genetic knowledge of what makes Homo sapiens a human

being, there shall be an increased need for persons who are able to explain the implications of this knowledge as it

applies to their personal lives, their society, and their culture. A broad world-view will be desirable as government

explores new regulations to keep up with new science and technologies. Balancing the needs of the scientist with

the viewpoints of religious practitioners shall become even more vital. My unique background shall help me to lead

the way as we charge further into the 21st century and beyond.

Growing up on a farm in Oklahoma gave me an appreciation for life and the science behind it. Involvement in

leadership, speech, and beef cattle projects through 4-H in my secondary school years further fueled my curiosity

and thirst for knowledge. My initial studies at Oklahoma State University were in animal science with an emphasis in

biotechnology. However, while I understand heredity and how DNA works, my mind could not handle the classes in

order to become a researcher. Professors at Wichita State University and DePaul University provided me with a

greater understanding of ethics, world religions, and the interplay between government policy and societal

implications.

As science expands and finds family tendencies toward violence can be trapped in mutations of gene(s), a secondary

degree obtained from Argosy University aided me in understanding the person behind the mask. This link between

psychological personality theory, social psychology, and applied ethical treatment in governmental

statues, courts, and healthcare policies lead me to want to seek a career in applied biomedical ethics. Through work

toward a master‟s degree in philosophy, I propose to explore how John Stuart Mill‟s Utilitarianism and his theoretical

descendants apply to a rapidly changing world view. How can we protect research dollars from governmental policy

changes every two years? How can the genetics behind the human machine be explained to the closed-minded

religious zealot? Or can their mind be changed? Can we seek a compromise that allows us to move forward

scientifically, but continue to protect society from those with genetically violent tendencies? Is the continued

manipulation of the human mind through pharmaceuticals ethically wise?

As an older graduate student, I will be able to bring life experiences into discussions with fellow graduate students. My life

has taken several detours, but I have always sought greater understanding. Currently, my ability to boil down a

complicated topic into a „sound bite‟ has helped in my position as local president of the local League of Women

Voters. In this election year, the voters of Oklahoma face eleven complicated and politically-charged state questions.

Being able to help the voters understand the ballot questions has been rewarding. I look forward to a teaching

assistantship in order to greater hone my educating skills.

Resume

(This resume only reflects my past skills, and not where I would like to be in my career.)

KIRSTEN TAUTFEST

PO Box 2196

Stillwater, OK 74074-7047

Home: 405-743-2337 Cell: 405-612-8558

Fax: 866-668-4761 ktautfest@gmail.com

Keywords

Training and Development. Management. Project Management. Customer Service. General Office. Cash Handling. Restaurant/Bar.

Security Officer (Former IL PERC (20-hr unarmed security, OK CLEET certifiable)). Marketing. Promotion. Retail. Shipping &

Receiving. Business to Business. Supervisor. Promotional Materials. MS Office. Internet. Creative Writing. Technical Writing.

Research. Detail Oriented. PC Proficient. Self-starter. Merchandising. VIP Relations. Press Releases. 60 wpm.

Bookkeeping, Quickbooks. WorkFlows.

Objective

Seeking new challenges in an exciting environment.

Summary of qualifications

Four years background in construction and real estate in self-employment position.

Customer service skills in retail, hospitality, in-bound telemarketing, and restaurant. Problem solver dealing with difficult customers.

Computer proficient and quick learner of new programs and materials. Self starter who likes to get the job done and done right. Detail

and organization-minded.

Staff training and deployment with an eye to maximum job ability combined with maintaining maximum customer satisfaction. Payroll

management in a 1099 setting.

Newsletter production, promotional materials design, POP & POS merchandising displays. Marketing campaign. Live concert

promotion. Negotiated contracts for live performances. Copyright and trademark law research as pertaining to the music

industry.

Former IL Certified security officer with 20-hour training certificate. Qualified for site security, event security and loss prevention.

(Please contact me directly for a details work history).

Reflection

The past few years I have been studying psychology to obtain a

second‟s bachelor‟s degree, as a supplement to my first

bachelor‟s degree in philosophy. Doing an entirely online

program, heavy with reading and writing, has been a major

challenge as I worked to balance my current life situation with

the deadlines in the compressed setting. A strength is my writing

skills, when I am allowed the time to get it right. My primary

weakness is procrastination.

I do not want to pursue graduate work in a compressed 8-week

format. I would prefer the traditional in-person interaction as I

pursue further work in ethics. This will allow me to perform

better.

Table of Contents

• Cognitive Abilities: Critical Thinking and Information Literacy:

The Bloody Leap: Interview with the Vampire through the eyes

of Kierkegaard

• Research Skills: Relief of depression symptoms in adult

women through participation in group sports activities.

• Communication Skills: Rules by which a great coffeehouse

may be reduced to a small one

• Ethics and Diversity Awareness: (untitled) file name: Muslims

America Hate The Siege-DePaul-Fall1998.pdf

• Foundations of Psychology: Letter to Freud

• Applied Psychology: Voice of Child: Terror at School

• Interpersonal Effectiveness: (found in slideshare app files):

State Questions 2010 (ppt used as an outline for a public

presentation)

**See my box.net account on LinkedIn.com profile.

Critical Thinking

Please see all the files in the file “LinkedIn

Profile” in Box.net application on

LinkedIn.

My Future in Learning

I read constantly. I have plans to get a MA

in Applied Ethics, but this is about five

years down the road.

Contact Me

Thank you for viewing my

ePortfolio.

For further information, please

contact me at the e-mail address

below.

ktautfest@gmail.com