Tessa Raye Urbanovich
tessa.urb@gmail.com ➢ 661.478.2106
WELCOME!
I’m ready & excited to merge my professional worlds—to combine the variety of skills I’ve developed over the last four years in the tattoo & arts realm with my extensive communication background in nonprofits and academia. I hope to embody this integration in the nonprofit sector in order to further mission-driven work I believe in—specifically to support the deeply important work of and to bolster the expansion of BeLoved Hospice.
Education
Chapman University Orange, California
Master of Science (M.S.) in Health & Strategic Communication - May 2019
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Communication Studies with a minor in English - May 2015
Professional Experience
Business Ownership & Operations in the Arts & Tattoo Industries
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Owner & Tattoo Artist ~ Tessa Raye Tattoos
Oct 2021 - Current
Managing & coordinating the entire business, including:
Administrative (bookkeeping, planning for and filing business taxes, recording and tracking business expenditures
Marketing & Communication (Client communication across 3 platforms; marketing material
Tattoo and Design
Relationship management
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Co-owner ~ Aunties' Arts & Tats ~ 07/2024 - 09/2025
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Communication & Research Work in Academia, Nonprofit Sector & Food Science
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Research Scientist ~ North Mountain Consulting
May 2020 - March 2022
Designed & conducted original marketing research for food science clientele.
Communicated results in accessible, digestible resource materials distributed to both stakeholders & the general public.
Designed materials & resources for clients, including training manuals, web content & presentations
Created/maintained NMC’s website
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UCPath Generalist ~ University of California Santa Cruz
Jan 2020 - May 2020
Bolstered & supported Staff Human Resources’ (SHR) transition into the UCPath system by developing training materials, co-facilitating campus wide training to staff clients, troubleshooting to provide in-the-moment support to SHR, & developing/executing module testing plans alongside UCPath Systems Analyst and involved SHR teams.
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Communication Studies Adjunct Instructor ~ Crafton Hills College, California
June 2019 - Aug 2019
Utilizing adult learning theory, prepared and facilitated discussion-based class lectures, activities, and assignments to encourage active learning and student engagement for a summer Interpersonal Communication course.
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Consumer Research Associate ~ The Good Food Institute
April 2019 - Aug 2019
Designed and conducted original academic & marketing research alongside GFI’s Senior Research Scientist.
Developed results-based resources distributed to both stakeholders & the general public.
Reviewed previously published research to develop overview resources for researchers in the field.
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Graduate Teaching Associate ~ Chapman University, California
Aug 2017 - May 2019
Utilizing adult learning theory, prepared and facilitated discussion-based class lectures, activities, and assignments to encourage active learning and student engagement for two Business Communication sections per semester.
Independently managed these courses, including all grading, grade tracking, office hours, student support, and student communication.
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Development Associate ~ Mercy For Animals
May 2016 - March 2017
Managed donation processing workflow and processed incoming donations, including the documentation and assurance of correct tracking, allocation, and timely acknowledgment.
Drafted and regularly updated acknowledgment letters and processed gift-related mail.
Developed multiple SOPs to streamline department workflow, including gift tracking processes, a systems manual, and design improvements of the donor data reporting and email preference systems.
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Outreach Intern ~ People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
June 2015 - Aug 2015
Promoted farmed animal welfare through empathy-building, narrative-based virtual reality technology called iChicken.
Traveled to various cities in 14 U.S states, resulting in the distribution of over 2,000 vegan recipe books and fact sheets.
Represented world's largest animal rights organization by discussing its mission with over 1,200 folks, maintaining a positive & professional composure in the face of the sensitive issue of animal cruelty.
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Communications Intern ~ The Bolsa Chica Conservancy
Jan 2015 - June 2015
Created content for and maintained the Conservancy's online social media presence, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Wordpress.
Assisted in production and script writing of numerous promotional videos.
Co-wrote award-winning recognition application.
Developed content for newsletters, press releases, and website pages.
Other Fun Stuff
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200-Hour Yoga Alliance certified yoga instructor from Himalayan Yogini Yoga School in Pokhara, Nepal (2019)
TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certified (2020)
Experience building websites quickly (and awesomely) with both Squarespace & Wix
Advanced ability to reliably conduct both qualitative and quantitative research, through interviews, focus groups, surveys, experiments, content analysis, and more.
Earthbag Training Course Completion in Ghyampesal, Nepal (2015)
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Urbanovich, T., & Bevan, J. L. (2020). Promoting environmental behaviors: Applying the health belief model to diet change. Journal of Environmental Communication. doi:10.1080/17524032.2019.1702569
Szejda, K., Urbanovich, T., & Wilks, M. (2020). Accelerating consumer adoption of plant-based meat: An evidence-based guide for effective practice. Five Working Papers. Washington, DC: The Good Food Institute. Available at go.gfi.org/plant-based-meat-consumer-adoption
Tukachinsky, R., Brogan-Freitas, E., & Urbanovich, T. (2019). Overcoming ingroup favoritism in parasocial contact to promote support for public health policies: The role of narrator perspective and self-disclosure. International Journal of Communication, 13, 4553–4571. Retrieved from https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/12379
Bevan, J. L., Urbanovich, T., & Vahid, M. (2019). Family communication patterns, received social support, and quality of care in the family caregiving context. Western Journal of Communication. doi:10.1080/10570314.2019.1686534
Szejda, K., & Urbanovich, T. (2019). Meat cultivation: Embracing the science of nature. Project Report. Washington, DC: The Good Food Institute. Retrieved from https://www.gfi.org/files/GFI-Draft-Meat-Cultivation-Report-v8.pdf
Szejda, K., & Urbanovich, T. (2019). Plant-based and cultivated meat diffusion of innovation: Profiles of U.S. early adopter consumer segments. Research Report. Washington, DC: The Good Food Institute. Available at go.gfi.org/alternative-protein-early-adopter-US
Szejda, K., Dillard, C., & Urbanovich, T. (2019). Initial consumer perceptions of cellular agriculture nomenclature: A qualitative analysis of word associations. Research Report. Washington, DC: The Good Food Institute. Available at go.gfi.org/cultivated-meat-word-associations
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Spring 2019 ~ Awarded the Jennifer L. Bevan Outstanding Graduate Student Award
2017-2019 ~ Full graduate tuition fellowship, Chapman University
Spring 2019 ~ Graduate Student Travel Grant ~ Awarded for: Applying the health belief model to diet change. Presentation of competitively accepted paper at 2019 Western State Communication Association Conference in Seattle, WA.
December 2018 ~ Graduate Creative/Scholarly Grant Recipient from the Office of Graduate Studies at Chapman University. ~ Awarded for: Leveraging masculinity messages in meat reduction campaigns targeting college-aged males.
Fall 2018 ~ Graduate Student Travel Grant ~ Awarded for: College student disclosure about prescription stimulant misuse: The relationships of motives, stigma, and relevance to peer and self disclosure. Presentation of competitively accepted paper at 2018 National Communication Association Conference in Salt Lake City, UT.
January 2018 ~ Graduate Creative/Scholarly Grant Recipient from the Office of Graduate Studies at Chapman University ~ Awarded for: Applying the health belief model to diet change.
2013 - 2015 ~ Dean’s Honors List
2013 - 2015 ~ Magna Cum Laude
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Urbanovich, T., & Bevan, J. L. (February, 2019). Applying the health belief model to diet change. Paper competitively accepted for presentation at the Health Communication Division of the 2019 Western States Communication Association conference, Seattle, WA.
Urbanovich, T., Atchekzai, J., & LaBelle, S. (2017). College student disclosure about prescription stimulant misuse: The relationships of motives, stigma, and relevance to peer and self disclosure. Paper competitively accepted for presentation at the Health Communication Division of the 2018 National Communication Association, Salt Lake City, UT.