Affiliations and Achievements:
Ph.D. Fellow, Research Center on Gender, Diversity, and Intersectionality, Brussels, Belgium
& Migration Institute, Granada, Spain February 2017 – Present
Build worldwide network in migrant and refugee policies, intersectionality, racial justice, and community development. Established international research coordination with scholars from Belgium, Spain, Latin American, and United States.
• Conducted qualitative and quantitative analysis with people of immigrant origin in United States.
• Publication of book chapter, “Igniting Political Representation in Times of Threatening Rhetoric: Voices from Women of Immigrant Origin” in upcoming book, Gender Equity and Political Development.
• Presented research at 15+ international conferences.
Project Manager, Oregon Consensus – National Policy Consensus Center, Portland State University, Oregon, U.S.A. October 2011 – October 2016
Managed projects integrating marginalized populations into democratic processes, building partnerships with leaders from vulnerable communities to foster collaboration on transformative policy. Analyzed results from stakeholder interviews to develop reports and recommendations to improve services. Built and mentored multicultural, cross-functional team, overseeing program and financial outcomes. Mediated high conflict discussions among diverse sets of stakeholders.
• Supervised 20+ senior contractors, associate staff, and student interns, and their project budgets.
• Established and implemented project evaluation framework for long-term projects.
• Negotiated and managed cooperative agreements, contracts, and grants of $1M+ with community organizations, state and federal agencies, and other public entities.
• Led mutually beneficial cost-effective negotiations with inter-governmental agencies and administered contracts worth $500k+.
Latino Program Manager, Rural Development Initiatives, Oregon, U.S.A February 2008 – August 2010
Managed volunteer trainers, including students, across rural northwestern communities, developing and enforcing policies, procedures, and program management controls. Mentored staff, creating work plans, allocating assignments, and reviewing overall performance by establishing and implementing evaluation process. Played key role in developing programs in Latinx communities across rural Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Spearheaded development and implementation of training materials for multi-level learners in Spanish and English. Provided technical support and grant administration to field-led projects.
• Grew funding for Latino programs by more than 50% by leveraging interrelationships with philanthropic entities and private donors.
• Trained 500+ rural community members, in Spanish and English, on leadership, community development, organizational development, economic development, and conflict resolution.
Rural Health and Sanitation Volunteer, Peace Corps, El Salvador February 2004 – February 2006
Developed evidence-based solutions to community needs in partnership with local leaders. Established partnerships with diverse stakeholders across the country, analyzing constraints to development and recommended courses of action. Coordinated program development, implementation, and performance monitoring plans with national and international agencies, managing cooperative agreements between community and agencies.
• Planned, developed, and facilitated training sessions to guide 30+ rural community leaders in establishing vision and strategic plan for community development needs.
• Conveyed community’s mission and needs to funders, policy-makers, and constituents, obtaining, and managing grants to fund infrastructure projects.
• Developed lessons and taught 50+ high school students on STEM subjects while including a gender equity framework.