Resume

Summary

I am an educator, leader, writer, and youth advocate dedicated to engaging young people and adults with authentic, meaningful opportunities to learn, lead, and thrive I succeed in this by building and maintaining positive relationships; providing social and emotional support inside and outside of the classroom; creating inclusive spaces that acknowledge and honor a spectrum of human experiences; championing an organizational climate dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; and partnering with agencies, organizations, families, and communities in youth advocacy and social justice.

 Professional Experience

Senior Training Specialist, 2022-Present
University of Michigan

  • Design and facilitate professional learning opportunities for University of Michigan faculty and staff across all three campuses on the topics of leadership development, change management, organizational culture and climate, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

  • Collaborate with multiple stakeholders across the university to leverage the myriad learning and development resources and opportunities available to the faculty and staff.

  • Research and apply high-quality, cutting-edge learning and development practices for adult professionals.

  • Engage in data-driven quality improvement practices to ensure programs meet the learning and development needs of the university community.

Education and Communications Specialist, 2005-Present
Team Amate (Self-Employed)                                                                                                

  • Provide high-quality copywriting and editorial services across multiple industries (e.g., marketing, law, public utilities, and education) that increase customer/user engagement and loyalty.

  • Expand brand awareness by developing and implementing targeted and captivating digital campaigns via email and social media.

  • Leverage human-centered instructional design to create and facilitate virtual and in-person professional development experiences.

  • Create and lead enrichment programs that meet the needs of P-20 youth and provide opportunities for joy, creativity, discovery, and connection.   

Senior Learning and Development Specialist, 2021-2022
David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality                                                                                

  • Promoted and coordinated dozens of in-person capacity-building opportunities (trainings of trainers and professional development retreats) for clients and partners who seek trainer certification, generating increased revenue for the organization.

  • Supported a federally funded research study on the impact of high-quality youth programs on youth social-emotional learning skills by creating and editing training materials, collaborating and problem-solving with multiple stakeholders from outside organizations, and providing training, coaching, and technical assistance to research participants.

  • Increased quality by reviewing, revising, and cataloging assets for over 120 products and services.

  • All responsibilities as listed in the “Training Design and Delivery Specialist” position. 

Training Design and Delivery Specialist, 2020-2021
David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality                                                                                   

  • Created and facilitated innovative learning experiences rooted in adult learning theory for youth development professionals on a variety of topics that center on social-emotional learning in a wide array of modalities, including both synchronous and asynchronous virtual webinars, virtual interactive workshops, and in-person workshops (including local, state, and national conferences). s.

  • Managed project timelines and cross-unit teams to ensure the successful development, testing, and delivery of high-quality learning experiences by utilizing a design-thinking framework.

  • Leveraged evaluation data to engage in continuous improvement of training design and delivery unit as well as my practice as a designer and facilitator.

  • Supported internal diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice efforts by co-leading monthly affinity groups.

Senior Program Associate, 2017 – 2020
David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality                                                                                               

  • Served as a program management and youth-development expert for the Michigan Department of Education 21st Century Community Learning Centers Training and Technical Assistance Support Services team.

  • Coached program directors in the development and implementation of data-driven, multi-year, quality improvement plans that: comply with Michigan Department of Education grant requirements; add to skills and competencies of program staff; and improve youth experiences and outcomes.

  • Built leadership capabilities of youth work professionals, including directors, managers, and frontline staff, through targeted coaching and professional development.

  • Developed and facilitated workshops and trainings focused on evidence-based, promising practices to groups of up to 100 participants on various topics, including social-emotional learning, conflict resolution, community building, and youth voice.

Site Coordinator, 2012-2016
Eastern Michigan University Bright Futures After-School Program                                                                

  • Managed a 21st Century Community Learning Center that served 35 to 50 middle-school student participants daily.

  • Hired, trained, and managed program staff, volunteers, and vendors and provided individual support for reflective practices and goal setting.

  • Maintained a yearly budget for all site-level initiatives, resources, and staffing.

  • Developed a program curriculum that focused on social and academic skill-building, self-efficacy, leadership, STEAM, and creative expression within a safe and welcoming program space.

Project Manager, 2006-2010
Merkle (formerly ePrize Digital Marketing) 

  • Managed multiple teams of 10 to 15 members in the successful execution of projects based on each client's specific marketing requirements, budget, and scope.

  • Planned, coordinated, documented, and implemented over 80 individual online marketing promotions.

  • Administered three large loyalty programs with high-profile clients through ongoing website maintenance and program development.

Education and Certification

Master of Arts in Educational Studies, University of Michigan, 2011

Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature/Creative Writing, University of Michigan, 2006

Michigan Standard Teaching Certificate, K-8 all subjects, renewed 2021

  • Highly Qualified: Language Arts, Mathematics

  • Additional Endorsement: English as a Second Language

Community Involvement

Member at Large, 2023-Present
The Helm Foundation

  • Serve as a member at large for a Traverse City and Detroit-based organization that supports female-identifying people by advancing access to business and leadership programming.

Board Chair, 2020-2022
Local Circles     

  • Served as chairperson of the board for a Detroit-based youth-serving organization that engages teens in critical thinking and job readiness through youth-led research projects.

Co-Organizer, 2014-2015
Stand with Barb Webb                

  • Co-organizer of the Stand with Barb Webb movement, a year-long initiative to promote LGBTQ rights in Catholic educational settings.

 

Training and Assessment Certifications

  • Social Emotional Learning Methods, David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality, 2020

  • Youth Work Management Methods, David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality, 2017

  • External Program Assessor, David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality, 2016

  • Youth Work Methods, David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality, 2015