Director of Regional Initiatives

• Mar 2023 - Present

Data & Research Manager

• Dec 2021 - Feb 2023

Oversaw Advance CTE’s data quality and research initiatives, conducting cutting-edge research and providing direct support to state leaders as they work to advance quality and equity in CTE. Managed the Advancing Postsecondary CTE Data Quality Initiative, including: -- Cultivating the day-to-day relationships with and coordination of the ECMC Foundation, grant-funded states and contractors -- Overseeing all the final stages of the initiative’s first phase, including providing technical assistance, managing the community of practice, development and dissemination of resources, and development and submission of final state and funder reports, etc. -- Successfully developing a renewal proposal for $540,000 to extend the initiative for two more years -- Led the Credit for Prior Learning Shared Solutions Work Group, in service to the New Skills ready network, including the development of engaging work group meeting agendas, authoring an actionable Policy Benchmark Tool and overseeing the creation of a Credit for Prior Learning Messaging Toolkit -- Conducted a 50-state research project on CTE funding, including designing and administering a national survey of State CTE Directors, conducting key informant interviews and engaging relevant partners Show less

Director of Policy & Research

• Apr 2019 - Nov 2021

-- Directed all activities of the five-member Policy & Research team and executed workplans, staff assignments and standards of quality to ensure all projects are completed and aligned with organization’s priorities-- Anticipated emerging issues and interpreted policy developments, assessing their importance to the New England states, institutions and legislatures, and initiates research, technical assistance, legislative testimony or other appropriate efforts in response-- Authored policy and research reports and presentations, data briefs, and best practice tools for postsecondary education institution leaders, state policy makers and the public-- Planned and coordinated multistate projects and technical assistance efforts – such as staffing the Vermont Select Committee on the Future of Public Higher Education – requiring nuanced political judgments, a high degree of responsiveness to stakeholders, and a mature sense of priorities and concerns -- Developed grant proposals and applications to initiate innovative programs, for a cumulative total of over $1 million in funded projects -- Acted as project director for three grant-funded initiatives – High Value Credentials for New England (HVCNE), Connecticut Digital Technology Ecosystem Initiative (CT DTEI) and All Learning Counts: New England – overseeing project workplans, budgets, and partnership agreements Show less

Director of Strategic Initiatives, Special Assistant to the President

• May 2018 - Mar 2019

Responsible for providing chief of staff functions and for managing the development, coordination and execution of key strategic initiatives emanating from the Office of the President, including:-- Developing and shepherding an expanded portfolio of projects and initiatives to support the growth and progress of the organization-- Identifying and securing resources to carry out the organization’s activities and functions, including developing prospectuses and proposals for foundations and other funders-- Advising the president and senior staff on government and external relations, including engagement with legislators, legislative staff and other key policy makers-- Anticipating emerging issues, interpreting policy developments and assessing their importance to the states, institutions and legislatures to recommend research, technical assistance or other appropriate responsesActed as project director for the High Value Credentials for New England (HVCNE) initiative, supported by Lumina Foundation. Show less

Associate Director of Policy & Research

• Jan 2017 - May 2018

Implemented all of NEBHE’s policy and research activities, including:-- Worked closely on the development of grant prospectuses, including as the primary author of a successful grant application to Lumina Foundation, resulting in a $650,000 grant to implement High Value Credentials for New England-- Presented and disseminated policy analysis, data resources and expertise to diverse stakeholder groups-- Organized all aspects of the NEBHE’s Legislative Advisory Committee’s meetings, including managing membership and leadership of the committee, issue identification and agenda development, production and dissemination of state legislative session summaries and meeting managementAssumed responsibility for key aspects of NEBHE’s Commission on Higher Education & Employability, co-chaired by Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, such as:-- Commission member recruitment, across the six New England states and the higher education, business and policy sectors-- Prepared all meeting materials, including supporting research and analysis, agendas and annotations for Gov. Raimondo-- Managed the activities of the Commission’s working groups, working closely with industry champions, college and university presidents, legislators and agency heads to develop formal recommendations-- Production of communications materials for Commission members, including press releases and Op-Eds-- Curation, data analysis, writing and editing of the Commission’s final report, Learning for Life and Work Show less

Policy & Research Analyst

• Apr 2016 - Dec 2016

-- Developed policy reports and presentations, including: comparative analyses tracking trends over time or between states or sectors, promising or innovative practices or programs, policy solutions to pressing problems-- Assisted Policy & Research team in collaborating with the New England state legislators, governors’ offices, P-16 education councils, K-12 and state higher education leaders through NEBHE’s Legislative Advisory Committee and other avenues-- Responded to requests for data and research from state policymakers, higher education leaders, media, other external parties, and NEBHE colleagues-- Supported NEBHE President and CEO on special research projects-- Assisted in planning and running NEBHE meetings, conferences, and events-- Maintained current knowledge of issues and developments in higher education policy and practice and New England state contexts and challenges Show less

Legislative Aide to Sen. Mike Barrett

• Jul 2014 - Apr 2016

Fifty percent of time devoted to committee-related duties (Senator Barrett was, at that time, Chair of the Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight. The committee’s primary investigation was on homeowners insurance rate increases in 2015.), such as: -- In a short time, became knowledgeable on rate filing practices, actuarial standards, and insurance regulation -- Conducted an analysis of the status of competition in the Massachusetts home insurance market -- Participated in meetings with various industry stakeholders and experts in the field in order to advance the committee’s working knowledge of the topic and identify key lines of questioning -- Managed committee hearing preparation including logistics, invitations, and drafting questions to ask of witnesses -- Co-wrote a report synthesizing the Committee’s findings Fifty percent of time devoted to legislative duties, such as: -- Provided topical expertise to Senator Barrett on issues including transportation (particularly ridesharing regulation and emerging transportation resources), technology, and healthcare costs -- Provided Senator Barrett research memos on accessibility standards in transportation, the environmental impacts of ridesharing, civic technology, and healthcare cost trends -- As point-person for three of Senator Barrett’s towns, coordinated budget amendments with other legislative offices, worked with local organizations and municipalities on events and initiatives, and provided constituent services to residents of those towns -- Scheduled Senator Barrett’s meetings -- Responded to large volumes of constituent emails in a timely, informative manner -- Recruited, hired and managed interns Show less

Consumer Insights Co-op

• Jan 2012 - Jul 2012

-- Assisted the Consumer Insights team with day-to-day tasks while taking responsibility for longer term projects -- Managed monthly in-market ‘Pulse Checks’, consisting of drafting surveys, coordinating dissemination of surveys to Regional Merchandise Representatives with the US Merchandising teams, analyzing results, and completing a report -- Created category decks for Yoga, Cycling, Aerobics, and Dance, which were composed of competitor analysis and participation data -- Managed two kids research initiatives- from focus group logistics to discussion guide development and reporting -- Worked in conjunction with the Studio Fitness team on Cardio Dance and Instructor Insights projects, made up of survey drafting and programming, managing translations (including personally translating surveys and guides into French), and analyzing findings -- Reviewed vendor data on Global Tween Trends and aggregated this data into a digestible PowerPoint, finally presenting the report to the head of the Kids team Show less

Legislative Intern

• Sep 2011 - Dec 2011

-- Attended and took note of MEP Balcytis’ committee and delegation meetings (Budgetary Control, Industry, Research and Energy, Transport and Tourism, Delegation for China, and Delegation for the US) -- Edited important internal communications regarding MEP Balcytis’ committee work -- Drafted amendment proposals for the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy -- Summarized EU Commission white papers for MEP Balcytis’ review -- Attended and took note of MEP Balcytis’ committee and delegation meetings (Budgetary Control, Industry, Research and Energy, Transport and Tourism, Delegation for China, and Delegation for the US) -- Edited important internal communications regarding MEP Balcytis’ committee work -- Drafted amendment proposals for the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy -- Summarized EU Commission white papers for MEP Balcytis’ review

Social Media and Oceans Program Intern

• Feb 2011 - Jul 2011

-- Tracked news articles regarding catch share fishery management in New England and entered relevant information into database -- Conducted a quantitative and qualitative analysis of relevant news articles in order to provide the Oceans team with an accurate depiction of catch share management in the media -- Developed a social media plan for the Oceans program that reaches out to fishermen, elected officials, the press, and interested parties -- Wrote a literature review examining the media’s portrayal of the former “days-at-sea” regulations in New England Show less

Finance Assistant

• Mar 2011 - Jun 2011

-- Consulted with hosts about the logistics of each fundraising event -- Prepared event invitations and donor cards for each fundraiser -- Drafted and sent out thank you and fundraising letters -- Prepared briefs about the fundraising events for the Congressman and his staff -- Recorded, electronically in myNGP, each check received from donors -- Prepared call sheets on possible contributors for the Congressman -- Consulted with hosts about the logistics of each fundraising event -- Prepared event invitations and donor cards for each fundraiser -- Drafted and sent out thank you and fundraising letters -- Prepared briefs about the fundraising events for the Congressman and his staff -- Recorded, electronically in myNGP, each check received from donors -- Prepared call sheets on possible contributors for the Congressman

Campaign Co-op

• Jan 2010 - Jul 2010

-- Assisted the Campaign Manager and Finance Director with projects such as gathering information on statewide races, pertinent city and town information for visits, etc. -- Derived the receipts, cash-on-hand, expenditures, and average monthly expenditures of each gubernatorial ticket for the monthly finance report and meeting agenda -- Gathered daily news clips regarding the campaign and utilized social media tools to expound the administration’s achievements -- Drafted invitations, as well as arranged and sent out the mailings for each fundraising event -- Prepared briefs for the Lieutenant Governor and his staff for campaign and fundraising events -- Staffed the Lieutenant Governor at campaign and fundraising events Show less