Accomplished Diversity Inclusion Equity Champion

Posted on: 2019-05-31

SUMMARY

Results oriented diversity programs and recruitment professional with over 14 years of diversified experience helping organizations drive successful programs that impact diversity, inclusion, and equity. Excels at diplomatically collaborating with teams and senior leaders to design and execute practical strategies while also innovating and taking risks to find new solutions to complex questions. Proven success with improving processes, managing volunteers and internal/external partners, and executing exceptional programs and events. Demonstrated experience in human resources, recruiting, marketing, community partnerships, consulting, strategic planning, presentation skills, and program and project management.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Loyola University Chicago - The School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS)                        Chicago, IL

School at Loyola devoted to non-traditional, diverse adult students seeking bachelor’s degree completion

DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS: PROGRAMS AND RECRUITING                                         Aug. 2014 – Present

• Create and manage strategic initiatives to increase student recruitment efforts and promote programs. Includes project management oversight, program development, corporate and community partnerships, event execution, presentations, marketing, and analyzing data to measure growth and diversity recruiting. Efforts directly contributed to school’s growth of 175% since August 2014.
• Design and oversee custom scholarships to source and recruit students, including scholarships for low-income populations, minority groups and veterans. Support and advise student recipients.
• Launched and manage three advisory boards; recruited over 80 community leaders and industry executives. Lead engagement efforts; manage and facilitate board meetings.
• Oversee community college partnerships. Created 45 transfer agreements with colleges to date.
• Provide strategic direction to marketing teams on digital media plans and campaigns.
• Present and facilitate weekly to internal/external stakeholders.
• Coach and supervise Communications Manager and student workers on various projects.
• Served as Interim Marketing and Communications Manager (Sept. 2018 – Jan. 2019).

Human Resources Management Association of Chicago (HRMAC)                                                             Chicago, IL

Professional association for human resources professionals serving 7,000 HR professionals

DIRECTOR, EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES                                            June 2012 – Aug. 2014

• Directly responsible for program and curriculum, event planning and strategy, staffing needs, marketing, speaker recruiting and management, sales, budget, committee supervision and reporting/analytics for over 40 annual educational events. This included conference of 900 attendees, educational seminars, panels of high profile CEOs and executives and virtual programming.
• Increased overall evaluation results from educational programming by over 25%.
• Oversaw social media platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube; created presence on Twitter).
• Oversee hiring, management, and mentoring of associate level staff.

SmithBucklin Corporation                                                                                                                                                                   Chicago, IL

Professional services company providing consulting services to nonprofit organizations and professional trade associations

EDUCATION AND LEARNING SERVICES MANAGER                                                              Dec. 2010 – June 2012 

SENIOR COORDINATOR                 Dec. 2009 – Dec. 2010  

COORDINATOR                                June 2008 – Dec. 2009

• Directed strategy, educational program design, attendance, and budget goals for clients including Feeding America and international user groups for Oracle and Hewlett-Packard.
• Supported or led at least seven large-scale events yearly, totaling more than 25 educational events in under four years with attendance ranging from 200 to 10,000 global attendees.
• Created strategic plans for clients including goals for key initiatives, budgets, and benchmarks.
• Developed program curriculum for clients in various educational formats to ensure blended learning.
• Supported successful acquisition of new clients, generating revenue of $1 million in six months.
• Managed clients’ education budgets ($500,000 across accounts).
• Oversaw speaker management and contract negotiation for celebrities and keynote speakers.
• Screened, interviewed, hired, supervised and mentored associates and direct reports.

Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF)                                                                                       Washington, D.C.

Children’s literacy nonprofit organization

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS & COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR       Jan. 2007 – June 2008                        

• Implemented engagement and outreach strategies to educate members of Congress, governors, and other elected officials. Successfully advocated for continued flat federal funding of $25 million.
• Executed lobbying strategies, events and outreach to 535 congressional offices.
• Established community engagement network of over 4,000 volunteers to lobby Congress.

SENIOR PROGRAM SUPPORT REPRESENTATIVE                                                   Aug. 2006 – Jan. 2007

PROGRAM SUPPORT REPRESENTATIVE                                                                 Aug. 2005 – Aug. 2006

• Provided program support and resource allocation to 300 national programs (over 10,000 children) serving schools and libraries in low-income, diverse communities.
• Traveled to 30 national literacy sites to facilitate training sessions. Coached and trained 300 educators.
• Assessed and approved proposals for federal grants totaling more than $500,000.

EDUCATION and CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Diversity and Inclusion Recruiter 11.0, AIRS Certification                                                              May 2019

The Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University Chicago                                                                 Chicago, IL

Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Candidate (3.90 / 4.0 GPA)                                       Sept. 2017 – Present

Human Resources Concentration

The Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University Chicago                                                                 Chicago, IL

Mini-MBA Program (Certificate)      Aug. 2017 – Nov. 2017

The George Washington University (GWU)   Washington, D.C.

Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Psychology                                                       Aug. 2001 – May 2005

Graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa.

Presidential Academic Scholarship (merit-based).

The University of Sydney                          Sydney, Australia

GWU Study Abroad Program               Feb. 2004 – July 2004

Proficient with: Access, Adobe Connect, Advance, Articulate, Basecamp, Camtasia Relay, GoToWebinar, HTML, iMIS, LOCUS, Microsoft Office Suite, Salesforce, SharePoint, Slate, Sprout Social, Survey Monkey, Taleo, WebEx

ASSOCIATIONS and COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Current Active Associations: Association for Continuing Higher Education (ACHE); Chicagoland D&I Alliance; Chicago SHRM; Chicago Women in Philanthropy; City Club of Chicago; Human Resources Management Association of Chicago (HRMAC); IL Diversity Council; Network of Academic Corporate Relations Officers
• Chicago Women in Philanthropy: Programs & Capacity Building Committee June 2018 – Present
• Year Up: Regular Volunteer                                                 June 2017 – Present
• Women Employed: Adult College Success Council Member                                       2015 – Present
• SmithBucklin Corporate Social Responsibility Committee: Founding Member 2009 – June 2012
• Reading Is Fundamental of Chicago: Member Board of Directors          2008 – June 2012