Resume

ckayla888@gmail.com | linkedin.com/in/kayla-cortez-515b31218

Education

  • University of California, Merced - Completed in May 2024
  • B.A. in Global Art Studies

Work and Volunteer Experience

UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art

  • December 2024 - Current
  • Engagement Guide
  • Proactively engage with visitors in the galleries, encouraging open-ended conversation and creating a deeper appreciation for the artworks.
  • Helped facilitate the MAKE Program that guided guests to create their own original artworks by using similar materials and techniques inspired by past exhibition artists.

UC Merced Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities

  • August 2023 - May 2024
  • Media and Marketing Intern
    • Created promotional materials leading to a 43% increase in event attendance using Adobe Illustrator and Canva, including the tenth annual Integrity Weeks.
    • Developed and produced a video guide for our new office location on campus using Adobe After Effects and Procreate, garnering over 8,000 views.

3PM Marketing - May 2025 - Current

  • Freelance Photography Assistant
    • Support content production through managing equipment setup, breakdown, and tracking equipment.

La Brea Tar Pits & Museum - September 2024 - November 2024

  • Interpretive Volunteer
    • Engaged visitors by making complex scientific information accessible and inspiring curiosity.
    • Continuously keep up to date on the ongoing discovery of Project 23, an on-site project at the La Brea Tar Pits & Museums, providing accurate information.

UC Merced La Galería - February 2024 - May 2024

  • Intern
    • Tracked curated artwork for the Bobcat Art Show, maintaining accurate documentation and inventory by using Google Sheets.
    • Assisted in artwork preparation, including framing and measuring dimensions, ensuring proper preservation and presentation.

UC Merced Art Gallery - August 2023 - May 2024

  • Intern
    • Produced educational videos such as the Day of the Dead Exhibit with historical context to enhance the visitor’s experience.

Projects

Trauma Resource Institute

  • September 2025 - December 2025
  • Email Campaign Intern Recommended accessible email design improvements to increase user engagement using Canva, Google Docs, and MailChimp to contribute to End-of-Year Scholarship Fund strategy.

Wellness Ranch Therapy

  • February 2026 - Current
  • Local SEO Strategy Intern
    • Improving local search visibility through SEO optimization strategies using SEMrush to not only rank on traditional search engines, but also AI platforms (Open AI, Gemini, and more).

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

  • October 2024 - November 2024
  • Archive Volunteer
    • Reviewed and verified AI-generated transcriptions of handwritten journals, field notes, and collection records. Using FromThePage, a crowdsourcing platform for archives and libraries.