Executive Director

• Sep 2023 - Present

Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

• Oct 2022 - Aug 2023

Internal Functions • Provide leadership, coordination, consultation, assistance, strategic oversight, and direction regarding all EDI matters. • Work with the Managing Director and Artistic Director to create a template for EDI strategy/plan development at the senior management (i.e., director) level. All plans are to be integrated into the overall Playhouse EDI strategic plan. • Work with the Artistic Director and artistic staff to address barriers to diversity in art form. • Conduct a needs assessment and evaluation of EDI initiatives and activities throughout the organization, including the Board. • Report to and consult with the Board on a quarterly basis on progress related to EDI initiatives and prepare an annual report on short- and long-term goal accomplishments. • Cultivate and promote inclusive learning and work environments that encourage and support EDI initiatives. With the Education and EDI teams and the EDI consultant (as needed), create professional development opportunities and intentional EDI programs and initiatives for staff, Board, and Theater Council. External Functions • Support the Development Team in identifying and cultivating new sources of funding in our region related to relevant EDI initiatives. • In coordination with the Marketing Team, Theater Council, and appropriate Directorates, lead the establishment, growth, and retention of relationships with Black, Indigenous, (and) People-of-Color (BIPOC) communities and networks to develop a more diverse audience. • In partnership with the Managing Director, develop strategies and opportunities to recruit and retain a diverse workforce. Recommend policy, procedure, and structural improvements that remove barriers to staff, interns, and artists’ success. Show less

Executive Director

• Sep 2021 - Jul 2022

Strategic & Organizational Leadership • Held over 30 one-on-one meetings with HGFA constituents to analyze the organization's assets and opportunities • Developed the organization’s next five-year strategic plan in collaboration with students, families, the board, and staff • Communicate organizational goals internally and externally and measure progress towards achieving determined outcomes. • Identified areas within the organization to operationalize the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion and partnered closely with the board to enhance, implement, and measure these efforts to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive in its membership and culture. • Managed recruitment of 5 members of the Greater Bridgeport community to become board of director members. • In collaboration with staff, set the strategy for and oversee the high-level execution of all aspects of HGFA’s programming and operations, including student admissions, staff recruitment, curriculum, contracts, and facilities. • Served as fiscal manager of a $1.5 million operating budget and maintained the organization's positive financial position. • Provided oversight to HGFA’s financial and accounting operations, in collaboration with GFA. Staff Leadership • Provided strong, effective, clear leadership for a group of committed and talented staff members • Set high standards for professionalism, work product, and collegiality, and hold people responsible for maintaining them. Fundraising & External Relations • Developed corporate donor strategy to grow sources of revenue to support the current operating budget. • Strategically leveraged the board of directors' time and talents to achieve the greatest impact on the organization. • Served as a visible member of the broader local communities. This includes serving as the primary relationship manager with GFA, Horizons Bridgeport, Horizons National, and partner schools and organizations. Show less

Adjunct Professor

• Jul 2021 - Jul 2022

Adjunct professor teaching a 3-part series on the Essentials of Business Writing. Adjunct professor teaching a 3-part series on the Essentials of Business Writing.

Manager, Community Capacity Building

• Sep 2019 - Sep 2021

• Formed strategic partnerships with funders, cross-sector collaboratives, or organizations that have connections to or focus on constituent voice and leadership • Made funding recommendations to program officers for organizations working to strengthen resident/community voice and leadership •Developed and implemented a community outreach strategy to identify and engage community and resident leaders in critical geographic areas most affected by the opportunity gap (Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, and Danbury) •Created and conducted 5-part Community Conversation Series with over 200 attendees combined, which fostered dialogue through cross-sector community partnerships on issues like Resident Leadership, Environmental Justice, Voter Engagement, Systems Change, and Community Health Access •Designed six-figure grassroots funding and leadership program designed to amplify community voice and institute a grassroots funding strategy for FCCF •Led $25,000 investment partnership with Supporting Organizing Work in CT, a funder’s collaborative, focused building statewide infrastructure for community organizing and advocacy •Oversaw and Civic Education grant making for three fiscal years •Held 150 one-on-one meetings with community residents and leaders to gather and disseminate community knowledge to program officers to support community-centric funding recommendations Show less

Youth Development Program Director

• Jul 2017 - Sep 2019

•As Program Director managed 5 staff, 3 interns, and enrichment facilitators/contactors and as Summer Camp Director led 20 full-time staff, 4 teachers, and 10 Mayor’s Youth interns •Ensured overall performance of program met identified outcomes, including the expectation of an inspiring program culture that fostered strong academic performance and community engagement. •Developed and managed program’s six-figure operating budgets •Designed, collected, and interpreted key metrics to measure outcomes alongside continuous quality improvement. •Worked alongside the Chief Executive Officer and Development staff to develop and execute strategies for growth and expansion. •Fostered strong collaboration with Norwalk Public Schools. •Ensured the timely and thorough completion of program documentation as required by CT State Education Department standards, agency policy and procedures and quality assurance guidelines. •Represented the agency externally to develop and maintain effective working relationships with other agencies, non-profit organizations, donors, and administrative leaders. •Assured compliance with state and local regulations. Ensures that program standards are met and safety procedures are followed. •Created and managed Carver Foundation Alumni Association to support organizational goals, and strengthen the relationship between alumni, the community, and the Carver Foundation of Norwalk. •Managed $85,000 scholarship fund and application process and fund for graduating seniors and continuing college students. Show less

Professor of English

• Jan 2016 - Jan 2017

•Create syllabus for Expository Writing & Literature course•Teach students the basic principles of expository essay writing•Teach students how to develop clear, logical and engaging essays free of mechanical errors•Integrate technology into instruction to assist students in developing robust, well researched papers •Provide students with critique and timely feedback

Interim Assistant Director

• Mar 2016 - Jul 2016

• Served as a point of contact for enrolled graduate students• Redesigned program’s marketing material• Recruited adjuncts and visiting professors for Fall 2016 semester• Planned and hosted events (such as campus tours, Summer Creative Writing Day, Fall Writer'sWeekend and Annual MFA Graduation Reading) to engage prospective students, current students,and alumni• Acted as liaison between graduate students, program faculty, and Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences• Oversaw the maintenance of graduate student records and the annual student evaluation process• Received, reviewed, and monitored the progress of student applications• Followed-up and nurtured prospects via email, telephone, and sponsorship of campus visits• Met with students one-on-one to discuss academic plans and progress Show less

Creative Writing Instructor

• Nov 2015 - Mar 2016

•Facilitate creative writing workshops for students ages 8 to 18 •Provide students with critique and timely feedback •Provide one-on-one writing sessions •Assist in the day-to-day operations of the Westchester/Fairfield County branch •Manage constituent database •Create content for mass communications efforts •Plan and host student-focused creative writing readings and community events •Facilitate creative writing workshops for students ages 8 to 18 •Provide students with critique and timely feedback •Provide one-on-one writing sessions •Assist in the day-to-day operations of the Westchester/Fairfield County branch •Manage constituent database •Create content for mass communications efforts •Plan and host student-focused creative writing readings and community events

Organizer

• Sep 2013 - Nov 2015

• Develop and implement a recruitment and outreach plan with the goal of increasing constituent participation • Manage community outreach and community organizing events to bring awareness to education inequity • Manage all day-to-day operations • Manage social media accounts and website updates • Design, write and edit digital communications such as newsletter campaigns to ensure funders, board members and constituents are aware of the strategic goals, programs available and accomplishments within the organization and community • Manage volunteers • Work directly with Executive Director for 2015 to 2016 fiscal year strategic planning • Manage results-based accountability measures for organizational programs • Develop communication plan for annual giving campaign • Facilitate workshops to educate parents about the lottery process for Bridgeport’s schools of choice, public speaking and how to effectively community organize Show less

Graduate Assistant -- Editor

• Aug 2012 - Aug 2013

- Managed the editorial process and production of the journal - Collaborated with editorial staff to produce ideas for feature articles, solicit material from writers and artists and select work to appear in the magazine - Updated website and scheduled submissions for publication - Served as principal liaison to Manhattanville Graduate Creative Writing Department staff - Managed the editorial process and production of the journal - Collaborated with editorial staff to produce ideas for feature articles, solicit material from writers and artists and select work to appear in the magazine - Updated website and scheduled submissions for publication - Served as principal liaison to Manhattanville Graduate Creative Writing Department staff

Technical Writer

• Jun 2010 - Aug 2013

• Proofread and fact-checked installation manuals, product catalogs and marketing articles • Designed layout and formatted pages in Adobe InDesign utilizing templates • Collaborated with project managers, graphic designers, and photographers to paginate each page • Drove project deadlines to ensure documentation was prepared and printed for product launch • Proofread and fact-checked installation manuals, product catalogs and marketing articles • Designed layout and formatted pages in Adobe InDesign utilizing templates • Collaborated with project managers, graphic designers, and photographers to paginate each page • Drove project deadlines to ensure documentation was prepared and printed for product launch

Graduate Assistant: Poetry Editor

• May 2011 - Aug 2012

- Read and edited manuscripts - Selected manuscripts suitable for publication - Developed and managed editorial staff’s project plan - Read and edited manuscripts - Selected manuscripts suitable for publication - Developed and managed editorial staff’s project plan

Documentation Specialist

• Apr 2008 - Aug 2009

• Managed relationship between product suppliers and purchasing agents • Authored and edited specifications documentation • Trained interns and Project Engineers • Managed relationship between product suppliers and purchasing agents • Authored and edited specifications documentation • Trained interns and Project Engineers

Technical Writer

• Aug 2007 - Jan 2008

- Managed development of installation manuals - Developed new hire training materials - Managed development of installation manuals - Developed new hire training materials