EDUCATIONAL BACKGROND
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, B.A. May 1999
G.P.A. 3.8, Sum Cum Laude
Double Major: African-American Studies, International Relations
- Senior Thesis: The Impact of Multinational Corporations in the Developing World.
- Study Abroad Program: Central America (Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua), spring
1998.
- Areas of Study: International Development and Globalization.
RELEVANT WORK AND TRIP-LEADING EXPERIENCE
International Travel Programs, Facilitator/Coordinator, January of 1999-January 2008:
- Nicaragua, January 2006, January 2007, 2008 (two weeks), Adjunct Professor: Proposed trip to
two universities, designed program and university partnership. Coordinate all logistical aspects
of this educational partnership between the University of Virginia and the Bluefields Caribbean
University (BICU) in Nicaragua where two professors teach a ten-day course to 45 U.S. And
Nicaraguan students on “The Challenges of Managing Sustainable Development.”
- Nicaragua, March of 2004 and March of 2006(ten days each trip): Coordinated all logistical
and leadership aspects of the Cross-Cultural Education and Leadership trip to the Caribbean
Coast for 12 students and 2 professors from the University of Virginia. The purpose of the trip
was to immerse University students in a cross-cultural learning environment.
- Cuba, January of 2004 (ten days): Co-led an academic trip of 13 students to Havana for the
Latin American Studies Program and the Carter G. Woodson Institute of African-American
and African Studies at the University of Virginia. Co-led the trip to provide support in
language translation, cross-cultural communication issues and general student well-
being/engagement.
- Nicaragua, December of 2003 (ten days): Led a planning trip to the Caribbean Coast for one
professor from the International Residential College at the University of Virginia.
- Honduras, August of 2002 (ten days): Co-led a ten-day construction-service trip to for St. Paul’s
Episcopal Church. Responsible for in-country logistics related to language translation and
cross-cultural communication and understanding.
- Nicaragua, May of 1999 (four weeks): Immediately after graduating from college, led a group of
27 students from the University of Virginia to live with families and volunteer with Habitat for
Humanity, as well as to participate in reforestation and eco-tourism projects. Responsible for
all in-country logistics and facilitation of reflection discussions.
Office of Student Life, University of Virginia, Coordinator for Latino/Hispanic Programs,
August 2003-August 2005:
- Planned, coordinated and implemented leadership development and diversity training
programs for student organizations and for the Office’s Latino/Hispanic Peer Mentoring
Program.
- Coordinated support, cultural and leadership programs for Hispanic, Latino and Latin
American (LHA) students/student leaders; and facilitated meetings, trainings & all program.
- Advised, mentored & provided guidance for individual Latino/Hispanic students on issues
ranging from career choices (employment/graduate school), personal issues, leadership
challenges & more.
Bridges to Community, Inc., Nicaragua Project Coordinator, Scarborough, NY and Caribbean
Coast, Nicaragua (Siuna), May 2002-March 2003:
- Managed long-term service projects for the non-profit, making organizational contacts,
expanding public relations within the local community of Siuna, Nicaragua and facilitating
service trips for U.S. colleges and university students.
- Developed the initial Dartmouth-Siuna Partnership for Education, Service and Cross-Cultural
Understanding to allow faculty and students from Dartmouth College to establish a long-term
relationship with a Nicaraguan educational institution for exchange, research and development
purposes.
United States House of Representatives, Office of Congresswoman Julia Carson, Legislative
Assistant, March 2001-November 2001.
- Wrote briefing memos, speeches, and Congresswoman’s work for the Subcommittee on
International Financial Institutions and the Congressional Black Caucus (community
development, racial equality and diversity, low-income housing, and urban poverty) including
all organization for the Congresswoman’s session within the nationally-attended
Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference.
- Met with constituents, lobbyists, special interest groups, non-profit representatives and more
to expand the Congresswoman’s community relations; to represent her to special committees
and to act as a constituent liaison.
United States Senate, Office of Harry Reid, Legislative Correspondent, March 2000-February 2001.
- Wrote and sent out Daily Whip Alert, outlining the next day’s floor activities, to all
Democratic Senate offices.
- Wrote constituent letters and coordinated development and logistics for the Inaugural African-
American Leadership Conference (attended by 100 leaders from Nevada).
RELEVANT TRAINING AND WORKSHOPS
- The Art of Mindful Coaching, 2-day workshop on coaching skills for the workplace;
Charlottesville, V.A., May 2005. http://septetcoaching.com/
- The Coaches Training Institute, 3-day workshop on co-active coaching skills; Washington, D.
C., July 2003. http://www.thecoaches.com
- Asset-Based Community Development Institute, 3-day workshop; Savannah, Georgia,
November 2001. Institute is part of the Community Development Program at Northwestern
University's Institute for Policy Research. http://www.northwestern.edu/ipr/abcd.html
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