they are inevitably reductive, especially for generalists or those who specialize in more than one field.

The problem with bios is that they change based on audience and context. For example, if I was submitting a poem to a literary journal, my bio might read something like this: 

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Isaac James Richards is a reader for Fourth Genre, a contributing editor at Wayfare, and a Pushcart Prize nominee. His work has appeared in LIT, OxMag, Contellations, Stoneboat, Red Ogre Review, El Portal, and several other venues. 

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Meanwhile, my LinkedIn bio might start like this instead: 

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Isaac James Richards is a public relations professional with a bachelor's degree in communications. He has worked as a content marketing writer for BYU Broadcasting and won the Stephen W. Gibson Entrepreneurial Communications Scholarship for his monetized YouTube channel, which boasts 1.2 million views. He is also the co-founder of Richards & Moore, LLC. 

Put simply, we all know that each of us maintains not one, but multiple identities, and those too are in a state of constant and continuous flux. For a defense of this view, see David Epstein's book: Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World.  Below you'll find a variety of personas clustered around different components of my professional experience. If you need a basic, one-size-fits-all bio, however, here it is: 

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Isaac James Richards received a B.A. in Communications and an M.A. in English from Brigham Young University, where he taught courses in the English Department, the School of Communications, and the Honors Program. He is an award-winning author of several poems, essays, and peer-reviewed publications in venues such as LIT, Oxford Magazine, and The Journal of American Culture. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Communication Arts and Sciences at Penn State as a University Graduate Fellowship recipient. 

Thanks for indulging my belief in the multifaceted self!