Experience

Pima JTED

• United States
• Primary and Secondary Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Research & Development

  • Sep 2023 - Present

  Supporting the relationships, investments, and partnerships that will lead Pima JTED, our students, our industries, and our community to success. Supporting the relationships, investments, and partnerships that will lead Pima JTED, our students, our industries, and our community to success.



Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education

• United States
• Education Administration Programs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Outreach and Engagement

  • May 2021 - Present

  The Director of Outreach & Engagement is responsible for creation and management of the Rural Learning Network, a multisector, statewide network of stakeholders that come together around issues, challenges, and strategies that affect educational and economic success in rural communities across Georgia. This role also drives regional and local partnerships, programs, and connectivity between the Partnership's statewide policy agenda and on-the-ground realities facing nonmetro communities and regions in the state. Show less

• Coordinator of Strategic Partnerships

  • Jun 2017 - May 2021

  The Strategic Partnership Coordinator is an “on the ground” role, helping communities, especially those in low income and rural areas, be strategic with their education improvement efforts. By liaising with the Georgia Partnership’s multiple partners, the Coordinator helps communities in assessing their strengths and specific education needs and “connecting the dots” of varying improvement efforts, so that the lives of students – from their well-being to their education to their career choices – are impacted positively. Show less



Great Promise Partnership

• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Appalachian Site Specialist

  • Oct 2013 - Jun 2017

  Great Promise Partnership is a nonprofit devoted to the educational attainment and workforce development of Georgia's youth. GPP achieves these goals by creating relationships between high schools and local employers across the state, targeting students at high risk of dropping out of high school to go to work for part of their day, and receive mentoring and life skills support. Merrill develops, manages, and expands GPP sites across Northwest Georgia, ensuring the needs of the students, schools, and employers are met successfully and that all sectors of the community are involved in creating this pathway to success for the states most vulnerable youth. This position involves heavy focus on relationship building, problem solving, training, and the implementation and reporting associated with a Federal ARC Grant. Show less



Our Local Foods - Thornhill Farm

• Intern

  • Aug 2012 - Aug 2013

  Thornhill Farm is a value-based organic farm in McClellanville, SC, with 10 acres of vegetable production in addition to chicken, pig, and sheep husbandry. The farm servesthe community in many ways, including through Charleston restaurants, CSA members, the Thornhill farm store, and the Our Local Foods Cafe. Thornhill Farm is also home to Adaptive Gardens, a nonprofit serving young people with developmental disorders through agricultural therapy and hands on job and life skill development. Merrill was responsible, along with the team, for sowing, transplanting, maintaining, harvesting, handling, and packaging produce. Team members also participated in farm planing, including crop rotation, soil management, and selection of varietals. Team members developed expansion plans for restaurant sales as well as managed the Farmer's Market. Show less



Carolina Youth Development Center

• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Performance Development Facilitator

  • Mar 2010 - Aug 2012

  Oversaw professional development programming for high and low management foster care youth in residence at Carolina Youth Development Center through the Bakker Career Center. Such programming includes job and workplace readiness training; the managing of onsite worksites including retail, gardening, food service, and autocare worksites; resume and interview skills; and job search and job coaching for residents eligible for community employment. Additional responsibilities include community outreach, including development and implementation of programs serving other foster youth or community residents, and inter-agency/inter-organizational collaboration. Show less



Catalyst Corps

• Project Coordinator

  • Jun 2009 - Mar 2010

  Catalyst Corps is a local consultancy for nonprofits providing guidance in and implementation of strategic planning and process-related best practices. • Managing conversion of client’s database (25,000+ entries) to Blackbaud software (eTapestry) • Co-planning of special and fundraising events, including development of marketing materials and facilitation of planning committee meetings • Provision of direct support for transition to new procedures and best practices within client organizations Show less



Peace Corps

• United States
• International Affairs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Education Sector, Madagascar

  • 2005 - 2007

  • Teaching projects: Planned and conducted English classes for a total of 490 students grades 7-10 over 2 years, plus individual and group adult English classes • Girls’ Life Skills Camp: Planned and co-facilitated a 5-day sleepover camp of 40 adolescent girls in coordination with UNICEF and 7 Malagasy counterparts • Orphanage program: Developed curriculum for summer courses for 60 girls aged 3-14 in English, art and dance at Akany Avoko, a home for orphans, wards of the state, and delinquent young girls. Show less



AmeriCorps

• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• VISTA, Roxboro, North Carolina

  • 2004 - 2005

  • Leadership Plenty: Coordinated and facilitated an 8 week local leadership training course for 15 adults • Asset Approach Survey: Developed a survey with 5-county area Department on Aging to determine living standard of senior citizens in the service area • County Development Plan: Supported strategic planning of economic and educational development in Caswell County undertaken by the Rural Community College Initiative, 21st Century Communities, and the Small Business Development Center • Launch of Latino Center: Co-facilitated focus groups totaling 250 participants to assess the needs and goals of rapidly growing local Latino community Show less