Director of Diversity, Compliance, and Title IX

• Jul 2022 - Present

Director Of Development

• Sep 2021 - Jul 2022

Accountable for major gift fundraising including cash or property gifts of $25,000 or more. Collaborated with community stakeholders and the USD community by developing strategies for identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors for all approved fundraising priorities at the university. Accountable for major gift fundraising including cash or property gifts of $25,000 or more. Collaborated with community stakeholders and the USD community by developing strategies for identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors for all approved fundraising priorities at the university.

Vice President of Institutional Advancement

• Feb 2020 - Jun 2021

Responsible for creating awareness and raising private support for the College’s academic and social good missions. Helps the College advance its missions via fundraising, alumni relations, constituent communications, and partnership development. Skilled in leading teams and has been able to secure several hundred thousand dollars in support on behalf of the College.

Director, Coordinator, Attorney

• Jul 2018 - Feb 2020

Director of the Heman Sweatt Center for Social Good and Leadership- implemented programming to advance social good and inspire leaders. Successfully hosted panels, lyceum series, and East Texas' first TEDx event. Experienced in community building and creating partnerships; Designing, organizing, managing, and leading people, talent and events; Interacting with diverse populations including LGBTQIAGNC; Maintaining budget and assessing programs. Title IX Coordinator- responsible for overseeing Wiley's response to Title IX reports and complaints, including providing a prompt, effective, and equitable intake, investigation, issuance of findings, and timely resolution of Title IX complaints reported by students, employees, and third parties.Developing, maintaining and presenting training and educational materials related to Title IX protections, responsibilities, and campus/community resources. Assisted with developing, implementing, and coordinating Wiley's strategic efforts to prevent sexual violence and sex/gender discrimination.Developed, implemented, and monitoring policies, procedures, and practices to comply with federal and state legislation; Monitor and evaluate existing programs, policies, procedures and changes in law to ensure effectiveness. Developed assessment tools and annual reports for Wiley. General Counsel- Providing practical and timely legal advice, strategic direction and guidance to senior leadership, staff and faculty on a variety of legal matters; Collaborate and coordinates with College officials and departments to provide legal education and support; Conducts in-depth legal research, drafts memos, policies, letters, or other work product to support the Office of the President; Handling litigation claims; Responds to public records requests, subpoenas and other outside requests related to legal matters; Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts. Analyzes legal risks for different courses of action being considered by the College. Show less

Attorney & Counselor at Law

• May 2008 - Jul 2018

Diligently and zealously represented clients by attending hearings and trials, drafting all Probate, Criminal, Bankruptcy and Family Law pleadings, schedules and sofas; attending mediation; experienced in direct and cross examination, taking pleas, resetting cases and negotiating with opposing counsel and parties and reading and drafting contracts Counseled business clients on “start-ups”, negotiating, drafting and reviewing contracts. Provided business advice to clients on forming corporations, corporate operations, and the rights and responsibilities of officers. Overseer of legal activities of the business. Supervised two Law Clerks and one secretary. Delegated assignments, conducted studies on administrative and operational activities including fiscal operations, purchasing, equipment usage, staffing patterns, work flow and space utilization. Interpreted legislation, ordinances, laws and legal descriptions. Drafted pleas, memos, briefs, and policy & procedure to ensure compliance with laws, policy and local ordinances. Provided pro bono legal services to poor and disadvantaged members of the community through Lilly Grove Church Legal Clinic/ Seminar, Participant in Harris County Criminal Attorneys Association Second Chair Program Propounded discovery including requests for disclosures, production, and interrogatories and answered the same via release/objection to the requested information. Show less

Attorney Search Director

• Sep 2017 - Mar 2018

I strive to place top level attorneys in elite firms by developing, fostering, and maintaining relationships with both clients and candidates. I strive to place top level attorneys in elite firms by developing, fostering, and maintaining relationships with both clients and candidates.

Project Manager

• Nov 2015 - Aug 2017

Joined as contract attorney, quickly promoted to project manager through a series of increasingly responsible management tasks based on strong leadership skills and performance. Managed 140 employees at three locations. Increased profit by bringing projects to completion ahead of schedule. Delegated work assignments, resolved internal disputes involving employees. Trained & directed new hires. Joined as contract attorney, quickly promoted to project manager through a series of increasingly responsible management tasks based on strong leadership skills and performance. Managed 140 employees at three locations. Increased profit by bringing projects to completion ahead of schedule. Delegated work assignments, resolved internal disputes involving employees. Trained & directed new hires.

Contract Attorney

• May 2008 - Nov 2015

Examining employees; drafting declarations; propounding discovery and answering the same. Determining responsiveness of discovery documents. Previous team lead, second tier and QC review, privilege team including drafting the privilege log. Experienced in the use of Clearwell, Velocity, Zantaz, Kroll, Ringtail, Needlefinder, Iconect, Kroll, Relativity and Linksys software. Examining employees; drafting declarations; propounding discovery and answering the same. Determining responsiveness of discovery documents. Previous team lead, second tier and QC review, privilege team including drafting the privilege log. Experienced in the use of Clearwell, Velocity, Zantaz, Kroll, Ringtail, Needlefinder, Iconect, Kroll, Relativity and Linksys software.

Legal Document Coordinator

• May 2012 - Oct 2014

Supervised, delegated and coordinated the work of 45 line staff employees, two subordinate managers and three administrative office assistants Served as project Manager for various projects throughout the office and worked directly with Chief Deputy and elected official. Worked with outside agencies and other county departments with reference to County Clerk/Recorder Services. Interpreted legislation, ordinances, laws and legal descriptions. Evaluated policies and their effectiveness; recommended revisions to ensure compliance. Trained staff, prepared work performance evaluations, responsible for all departmental hiring and staff promotion and also the termination of employees including determining and applying disciplinary activity. Show less

Criminal Justice Instructor

• Nov 2007 - Jan 2011

Conceived comprehensive lesson plan to teach criminal justice subjects: Intro to Criminal Justice Systems, Constitutional Law, Communications for Criminal Justice Careers & Security Management Presented dynamic lectures using the Internet, PowerPoint, handouts, and the Socratic Method. Trained, motivated, and mentored students equipping each with the necessary skills to enter the work force in the field of criminal justice. Conceived comprehensive lesson plan to teach criminal justice subjects: Intro to Criminal Justice Systems, Constitutional Law, Communications for Criminal Justice Careers & Security Management Presented dynamic lectures using the Internet, PowerPoint, handouts, and the Socratic Method. Trained, motivated, and mentored students equipping each with the necessary skills to enter the work force in the field of criminal justice.

Specialist Clerk

• Aug 2001 - Jul 2004

Supported six (6) people with answering phones, filing documents, drafting documents. Scheduled appointments and managed special products as assigned. Experienced in secretarial work of all kinds including operating office equipment. Supported six (6) people with answering phones, filing documents, drafting documents. Scheduled appointments and managed special products as assigned. Experienced in secretarial work of all kinds including operating office equipment.

Recruiter/Systems Manager

• Dec 1999 - Apr 2001

Responsibilities included fulfilling many HR duties including maintaining HR records, recruiting, training, hiring and terminating all package handlers and overseeing disciplinary actions. Supervised 18 package handlers loading and unloading freight trucks, three quality assurance personnel, all drivers attending work on my shift, and one secretary. Developed delivery plans and strategies to improve work flow and productivity. Devised creative and cost-effective incentive and morale-boosting programs that increased employee morale, satisfaction and productivity. Show less