About

Photograph of adorable blond child in pink sunglasses

Hello! I’m Rebecca (Becca) Aviva Van Horn—a writer, illustrator, designer, and unapologetic early-1990s style icon. Before finding my way here, I worked in all kinds of places with all kinds of people, including street vendors in Chicago, poverty law attorneys, long-haul trucking safety inspectors, educators, and aspiring young writers. Through it all, I’ve never forgotten my Vermont roots. I love the smell of manure.

I’ve also never stopped creating. After earning my MFA in creative writing, I fell in love with the delight of visual storytelling through collage and graphic design. Today, my work brings together paper-cut illustration, texture, and pattern to tell stories for children about the quiet magic of being alive—stories of big hearts, ferocious wanting, and the soft ache of connection.

When I’m not making things, you can find me roaming the woods with my dogs, playing folk music, or reading at least three books at the same time.

EXPERIENCE

DESIGN

VISUAL STORYTELLING

  • University of New Hampshire, iLearnNH - Learning Designer (2020 - Current)

  • DigitaliBiz - Education, Learning, and Training Designer (2017 - 2020)

WRITING & TEACHING

WORD-BASED STORYTELLING

  • Nonfiction Editor - Outlook Springs (2021-2024)

  • Massachusetts Poetry Festival Presenter (2021): Teaching Poetry in the Virtual Classroom

  • University of New Hampshire - Literature & Composition Teacher (2015 - 2017)

  • University of New Hampshire - Connors Writing Center Assistant (2016 - 2017)

  • Nonfiction Reader - Barnstorm Literary Journal (2015 - 2017)

  • College Essay Workshop Volunteers in the Schools (2015 - 2017)

  • Upward Bound - Literature & Composition Teacher (2016)

  • Mister Bismuth Sketch Comedy Group (2013 - 2016)

  • Take My Word For It! - Creative Writing Teacher (2015)

  • Harvard Theater Summer Program - Artistic Director (2015)

  • 826 Boston - In-School Coordinator, AmeriCorps (2014 - 2015)

SOCIAL ACTION

HOW I REALIZED I DIDN'T WANT TO BECOME A LAWYER OR A UU MINISTER

  • MIT Hillel - Communications and Development Associate (2012 - 2014)

  • Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law - Training Associate, AmeriCorps (2011 - 2012)

  • U.S. Labor Education in the Americas Project - Program Coordinator (2010 - 2013)

  • Jewish Council on Urban Affairs - Community Organizer, AmeriCorps (2009 - 2010)

TOOLS

 

  • Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, After Effects, Photoshop, InDesign)

  • Procreate

  • Articulate 360 Suite (Storyline, Rise)

  • Camtasia and Final Cut Pro video editing

  • Drupal web design

  • Photography - Nikon Z50

  • MailChimp email marketing

  • Google Analytics

  • Canvas Learning Management System (Canvas Certified Educator)

  • Adobe Connect, Zoom, MS Teams

  • Trello, Kanban, Evernote

  • Advanced Spanish, Intermediate French

EDUCATION

 

UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

  • MFA in Creative Nonfiction, 2017

  • Coursework in memoir, essay writing, travel writing, poetry, composition, and teaching

UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

  • Certificate in Digital Design, 2022

  • Coursework in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and UX Design

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

  • Certificate in Instructional Design, 2019

BOWDOIN COLLEGE

  • BA with High Honors in Political Theory and Spanish, 2009

  • Summa cum laude (top 2% of class), Dean’s List (4 years), Phi Beta Kappa, Sarah and James Bowdoin Scholar, Senior Government Prize, Senior Spanish Prize

  • Outing Club Leader, Common Good Grant Leader, Alternative Spring Break Leader (Peru), Academic Mentor, Social Justice Chair

AWARDS

 

  • University of New Hampshire - Above and Beyond Award (2022, 2024 - nominated by colleagues; selected by management)

  • DigitaliBiz - Top Performer Award (2018 - nominated by colleagues; selected by management)

  • STAF Teaching Grant - University of New Hampshire (2017)

  • Nonfiction Prize Award Honorary Mention - University of New Hampshire (2017)

  • Full Funding Teaching Assistantship - University of New Hampshire (2015-2017)

  • Pushcart Prize Nomination - Best of the Small Presses (2016)

  • International Fish Poetry Prize Finalist (2016)

  • Elephant in the Room Contest Winner - Moment Magazine (2012)

PUBLICATIONS: Shuttle, Spindle, & Dyepot Magazine, The Atticus Review, Flash Nonfiction Funny, The Creative Truth, Quarterly West, Outlook Springs, Barnstorm, Dear Nana, Moment Magazine