Tricia Psarreas - Biography

Biography

Tricia Psarreas was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, to Anna and Costas Psarreas, both of Greek descent. She continues to live in Lynn, Massachusetts with her husband Jeffrey Murray.

Psarreas attended Lynn public schools throughout her education and completed her senior year of high school at North Shore Community College, where she participated in the college’s Honors Program. She later pursued a degree in English with a concentration on Professional Writing from Ellis College of the New York Institute of Technology, graduating summa cum laude in July, 2006. In 2007, she was awarded Ellis’s Most Outstanding Graduate Student and nominated for the GREAT Student award based on her undergraduate work. She still holds the title of Ellis's Most Outstanding Graduate.

Tricia Psarreas began writing as a young child, and continues to develop her literary skills in academic, professional, and literary endeavors. She began a freelance writing company, The Brighter Writer, which caters to clientele on five different continents and currently employs six other writers, most of whom are also NYIT alumni. The company offers writing, editing, and online layout and marketing services. Psarreas also offers one-on-one writing and publishing consulting sessions in person, online, and through mediums like Skype. Her company prides itself on its personal touch developing freelance projects, and it has received praise from its many clients.

Due to her company’s success, Psarreas has become a member of the Elance Customer Service Council, a small group that represents thousands of freelance writers. Her academic and literary success also provided her with a seat on the New York Institute of Technology Business Advisory Board through NYIT's School of Management.

Psarreas is active in many volunteer organizations focusing on education, environmental, political, and poverty issues in the Massachusetts area. She worked closely with the Massachusetts public school system, tutoring local Massachusetts children in English, and serving as a special education mentor with Lynn Classical High School and Greater Lynn Mental Health and Retardation Association (1999–2002). Additionally, Psarreas worked closely with MassPIRG, a citizens’ advocates group in Massachusetts. Through MassPIRG, Psarreas registered over 1000 18-24 year old students to vote in 2004, taught five Lynn elementary schools about water preservation with MassPIRG’s Water Watch, and raised a significant sum of money for its Hunger and Homelessness program. Psarreas also sponsors a child from Honduras through Children International, a global child sponsorship organization.

Tricia Psarreas plans to merge her professional and service activities by continuing to speak to high schools and colleges about some of the prevalent issues in her book Freedom’s Rein, such as domestic abuse, eating disorders, and the writing process. She is also a strong advocate for the Massachusetts-based charity Raising a Reader MA, for which she appeared as a celebrity author at their 2010 Goodnight Moon Gala.