Professional Experience

United States Department of Education                                                  November 2015-November 2018

Program Analyst: Desegregation Assistance Centers and                         Washington D.C.

Comprehensive Centers                                                                                       

  • Provided technical assistance to 22 organizations receiving grants to provide support for all states and territories, schools, and districts to improve educational outcomes for students (approximately $55 million grant funds per year).
  • Provided technical assistance to 4 organizations receiving grants to assist with problems in schools occasioned by desegregation in all parts of the US (approximately $6.5 million grant funds per year).
  • Evaluated the impact of these organizations by analyzing how their strategies for intervention consider political environments, quantitative data, and stakeholder engagement including consultation with education professionals, families, and community organizations.
  • Developed and refined grant programs through the design of program logic models and service delivery models that guide the implementation of these grants.
  • Analyzed data for trends in request for assistance in desegregation of schools and requests for improvement in processes at the State Education Agency level.
  • Nominated to represent the Hispanic workers of a 4,000-person workforce as Treasurer of the Hispanic Employees Council.

Envision                                                                                                      May 2015-August 2015

Program Coordinator                                                                                  Vienna, VA        

  • Responsible for on-site implementation of three 8-day National Youth Leadership Forums focusing on business innovation with over 700 students participating.
  • Supervised operations team, office manager and scholar relations team totaling 13 members.

Hector Gonzalez Adolescent Residential Treatment Center      December 2014-March 2015

Youth Development Specialist                                                           San Antonio, TX

  • Supervised the security and conduct of a ward of 30 female students with behavioral issues.
  • Facilitated discussion groups and social and emotional development workshops for students as part of therapeutic treatment.
  • Responded to emergency situations using de-escalation techniques and first-aid techniques.

 

U.S. Peace Corps                                                                                        June 2012-August 2014

Educational Programs Advisor                                                                   Tigray, Ethiopia

  • Improved the capacity of locals to deliver effective English and health education programs.
  • Developed and maintained relationships with 6 primary and secondary schools and with local government officials to promote grassroots projects and workshops.
  • Used qualitative research methods as a research aid for a study conducted by Save the Children, titled WATER, HYGIENE AND SANITATION (WASH) IN RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN AMHARA, OROMIA, SNNP AND TIGRAY A report on the findings and recommendations of a multi-method qualitative research study for social and behavior change communication programming in Ethiopia:

https://ethiopia.savethechildren.net/sites/ethiopia.savethechildren.net/files/WASH%20Lo%20Res.pdf

  • Developed and facilitated training for first-time local camp counselors to participate in summer camps focused on gender equity.
  • Implemented HIV prevention and education programs reaching over 150 students.
  • Promoted and represented diversity within the Peace Corps by serving on the Cross Culture Committee.

Sue Duncan Children’s Center                                                                June 2009 –March 2012

Tutor                                                                                                            Chicago, IL

  • Provided education services to underserved families on the Southside of Chicago including tutoring, mentorship, and college and career prep.
  • Taught Reading and Math skills to children between the ages of 5 and 17.
  • Worked one-on-one with high school students to teach Physics and Calculus lessons.

Education

American University                                                                        August 2018-Present

  • Masters in Public Anthropology

 

The University of Chicago                                                               September 2007-June 2011

  • Bachelor of Arts Anthropology
  • Minor Human Rights
  • Produced a documentary film titled The Little Guys Are Gone, focusing on the significance of locally owned businesses in the Southside of Chicago: https://vimeo.com/243238569

Internships

Unite Here Local 1                                                                                     June 2009- Sept 2009

Research Assistant                                                                                      Chicago, IL

  • Researched vendors who placed bids to operate at O’Hare national airports for history of unfair labor practices.
  • Participated in strike against Congress Hotel along with hotel workers demanding better pay and benefits.

Skills

  • Fluent in Spanish (reading and writing); conversational Tigrinya and Amharic.
  • Skilled photographer with a strong interest in documentary photography and portraiture.
  • Proficient in use of Microsoft Access and Excel for analyzing large sets of data.