Miranda Casanova-MacDonald
377 Oldstone Ct.
Simi Valley, CA, 93065
EDUCATION
California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA
Major: English (Creative Writing/Advocacy Concentration)
UC Davis, Davis, CA
Major: English (Creative Writing Concentration)
Phone: -
Email:-
August 2016- Present
September 2015- March 2016
Moorpark College, Moorpark, CA
Major: English
August 2012 - December 2014
Los Alamitos High School, Los Alamitos, CA
Honors Courses: Spanish
June 2012
WORK EXPERIENCE
Organizer/Keynote Speaker- California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA
October 2017
Organized and facilitated a “Difficult Dialogue” event informing students, faculty and staff about Cerebral
Palsy and how to better communicate/coexist with their disabled peers/colleagues.
Contributing Writer- Skirt! Magazine
February 2017
Wrote a personal essay on sisterhood as an only child with a best friend who became my sister.
Contributing Writer - USA Today College Section
August 2014 – October 2014
Wrote articles having to do with college life experiences and provide tips for college-aged readers.
Contributing Writer - Hello Giggles Blog
August 2014
Invited to write an essay for Zooey Deschanel’s website that makes an effort to provide a positive online
environment for women. Wrote about how I learned to love my wheelchair.
Personal Tutor - Moorpark College, Moorpark, CA
April 2014 - Present
Tutored Moorpark College students after school. Specialized in English and Spanish.
Writer - ACCESS Program, Moorpark College, Moorpark, CA
May 2014
Contributed in the development of a “survival guide” brochure for incoming students with disabilities
informing them about ACCESS (Accessibility Coordination Center & Disability Support Services) and
college life with a disability that is distributed across campus.
Panel Speaker - ACCESS Program, Moorpark College, Moorpark, CA April 2014
Participated in a panel of students with disabilities to educate incoming students with disabilities about
Moorpark’s ACCESS program.
PUBLICATIONS
Casanova-MacDonald, M.G. (2014). Five Lessons from a Transfer Student. USA
Today College Edition. August.
An article containing five lessons/tips that I have learned since being at Moorpark College to reach fellow or
prospective transfer students.
Casanova-MacDonald, M.G. (2014). Navigating College with Cerebral Palsy. USA
Today College Edition. August.
An article detailing my experiences as a community college student with a disability in an effort to reach
those in similar situations.
Casanova-MacDonald, M.G. (2014). How I Came to Love my Wheelchair. Hello
Giggles Blog. August.
A two-page essay in which I wrote about my journey toward accepting my disability/wheelchair.
Casanova-MacDonald, M.G. (2013). The Inspiration I Needed. Moorpark College
Essay Anthology. May.
A narrative essay written about a former teacher who, in high school, inspired me to go after my dreams in
life, and still continues to be a significant part of my life.
Casanova-MacDonald, M.G. (in preparation). The Girl on the Red Scooter.
Independent Publisher: Amazon
A true-life novel detailing my life as a wheelchair-bound individual starting from birth and ending after my
last year at Moorpark College.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Motivational Speaker - CA
2010 - Present
Speak to high school and college students, educating them bout life with a disability.
Coastal Clean-up 2014 - Simi Valley, CA
September 20, 2014
Helped pick up trash and clean up a local park in an effort to raise awareness about keeping our
environment safe and clean.
Sinaloa Middle School Career Fair - Simi Valley, CA
April 26, 2013
Presented at Sinaloa’s school-wide event in which eighth graders take a day to explore various colleges and
job opportunities available to them.
AWARDS
Moorpark College Essay Anthology Winner
May 17, 2013
Essay nominated and accepted to be included in Moorpark’s literature anthology as part of the narrative
essay section. Shared and read across all Moorpark College English courses.
