Campus Involvement
Reviewer, Clocks and Clouds, American University
May 2020-Present
For around a year now, I’ve worked for one of American University’s undergraduate research journals, Clocks and Clouds. In addition to providing feedback to the submitted work, I’ve also had the opportunity to help direct the focus of the publication through recommendations and discussion of the merits of submissions.
Coursework
SPA Leadership Program, American University
August 2018-Present
In addition to several courses discussing theoretical and academic understandings of leadership. This program also allowed me to work on two research-based social justice-related projects. The first of which was a group project focused on campus fossil fuel investment. This culminated in an event partnering with Fossil Free AU in a discussion of the impacts of fossil fuel investments and ways that American University could consider divesting. The second project I worked on individually and focused on the benefits of equitable access to after-school programs for working parents and children. I partnered with Jubilee Housing’s Teen Center and started a fundraising campaign with local restaurants to support college visits and programs for students.
Campus Involvement
Director of Professional Development, Leading Women of Tomorrow, American University
July 2020-April 2021
When I applied for the role of Director of Professional Development, Leading Women of Tomorrow (LWT) hadn’t existed at American University for years and as one of the members of the first e-board, I had the opportunity to help build this organization from the initial nine e-board members to the over fifty members we have currently. We were also recently recognized by the Center for Student Involvement as one of the clubs that had the greatest engagement since American University went online. My role in this organization was to plan, develop and host virtual events like schedule planning, resume workshops, speaker events, and graduate/ law school informational sessions. To do this I reached out to connections I and other e-board members had with individuals and organizations to bring expertise to these areas.
Professional Development
Field Organizing Intern, Eugene DePasquale for Congress, Cumberland County, PA-10
August 2020-November 2020
In the Fall of 2020, I worked on a congressional campaign for the seat of my home district in Pennsylvania. Through this experience, I had the opportunity to work on a project for voter registration with businesses in the district. We developed a QR code linked to PA voter registration and flyers about voter registration. I worked with businesses in areas with historically low voter registration to get this information to them. I also had the opportunity to help plan voter outreach events including a policy discussion with students and other more fun events like “Jeopardy with DePasquale.” In addition to making constituent calls, I also led phone banks and trainings for volunteers helping with constituent calls.
Professional Development
Intern, Judge Thomas Placey, Cumberland County Courthouse, PA
May 2020-August 2020
As a courthouse intern, I did research for memos and cases, helped to draft opinions, and answered calls. I also learned about the leadership of a courtroom, Judge Placey and I talked about the power of a judge to set the environment of their courtroom. As I had the opportunity to watch cases with other judges I began to notice how body language and tone of voice could shift the behavior of everyone in the room. The thing that left the greatest impression on me was how Judge Placey intentionally made juvenile court or any cases with kids actively involved less intimidating, talking to them, engaging them in their cases, and helping them to understand the process.
Professional Development
Legislative Intern, Representative Chrissy Houlahan, PA District 06 Office, Washington, DC
January 2020-March 2020
As an intern, I did basic office management work of answering calls, sorting mail, and visiting other offices for signatures. But I also had the opportunity to lead and work on projects with the other interns including working on a policy history of several issues related to issues with upcoming bills. I also started preparing to lead tours until the COVID-19 pandemic halted this.
Campus Involvement
Program Leader, First-Year Complex Problems, American University
March 2019-December 2019
As a Program Leader for Complex Problems, I acted as a resource for students for class-related material and other forms of professional development. I held office hours on an individual basis and with groups to help students with class material/ projects, scheduling, campus involvement opportunities, and advice in looking for internships. Additionally, I led the class in two activities outside of class. The first was an event on campus of watching a documentary related to class and the second was a museum trip where I facilitated discussion about the pieces related to class.
Campus Involvement
Member, AU Ambassadors, American University
February 2019-March 2020
As an AU Ambassador, I learned leadership skills by working with many different groups. For overnight and day visits I had the opportunity to introduce AU to one or two students, answering their questions and helping them to get a sense of the school. I also helped with accepted student days where I answered questions and shuttled large groups to different locations around campus. A majority of the work I did in the program was leading tours of 20-25 parents and students around campus discussing the schools, involvement opportunities, resources, and programs. I gained confidence in my public speaking ability while also learning to think on my feet and adapt. I learned to manage tours around poor weather and campus construction. I became more aware of addressing the needs of the group, with an accessible route and/or information more related to the interests of the specific group. I also had the opportunity to train and mentor new AU Ambassadors through their tour training process.
Community Service
Group Leader, Explore D.C., American University
August 2019
As a Group Leader, I helped with welcome week for freshmen by volunteering with Explore D.C. It was two days of service with the non-profit Urban Teacher where my group and I helped to prepare classrooms and materials for classes. I led the group around DC, for many of them it was the first time traveling by metro. I also facilitated a positive group dynamic and created a community among these students who didn’t know each other at the start of the program.
Community Service
Volunteer Tutor, D.C. Reads, American University, Columbia Heights Village, D.C.
January 2019-May 2019
As a D.C. Reads tutor, I traveled biweekly to an afterschool program in Columbia Heights where I helped students individually with their homework, read and talked with them, and facilitated group activities. Usually, after homework time, I would lead a group of three to four students through STEM-related activities about magnets, space, or solar ovens to make s’mores.