Education
American University. School of International Service. Washington, DC.
2016 - 2021
Bachelor of Arts, International Relations with thematic focuses on Foreign Policy and National Security as well as Peace, Global Security, and Conflict Resolution, and a regional focus on the MENA region
Minor, Arabic
Magna Cum Laude, GPA: 3.67
Awards/Honors:
Dean's List: Fall 2016, Spring 2017
Dean's Merit Scholarship
American University Scholars (academic honors living-learning community)
Early Identification Program (scholarship skills acquisition program)
Relevant Courses:
Negotiating Israeli-Palestinian Peace, Spring 2021
Unlike typical research based capstone classes, this class was centered around a simulation of a diplomatic conference between delegations representing Israel, Palestine, and the United States. This offered a chance to put into practice the theories and methods of effective negotiation tactics and strategies.
Contemporary Middle East, Spring 2021
This course gave a comprehensive look at a lot of the political, economic, and social theories used to explain the happenings of the modern MENA region.
Homeland Security, Fall 2020
This course analyses the nature and character of terrorism threats and the vulnerabilities facing the United States to gain insights on the relationships between war and national security, and between the domestic, regional, and international dimensions of terrorism and war. This course builds a conceptual framework to analyze terrorism systematically and to distinguish between strategy and policy. It also focuses on the relationship between homeland security and the international security environment, including the U.S. interagency coordination process and the dynamic of international cooperation in the War on Terrorism.
Intelligence Community, Fall 2020
This course examines the agencies which make up the intelligence community and activities in which those agencies engage: collection of intelligence, counterintelligence, covert action, and analysis. The sources of conflict between members, direction and management of the community, secrecy and public control, and proposals for reform are also covered. Guest participants from research institutes and government; and independent authors.
CET Academic Programs in Jordan, Spring 2019
While abroad, I was able to take take a full language pledge and enroll in a total of four classes entirely in Arabic. Of the 16 credit hours I completed, six were dedicated to Modern Standard Arabic, four were Jordanian dialect, and the remainder were spent in content classes. The first course was Jordanian Society in which students discussed various aspects of Jordanian culture and its influences which culminated in a final essay. The other course was Current Issues in Arabic Media where students would analyze articles from various popular news sources from across the Arabic speaking world and do weekly presentations on the articles.
The World of Islam, Fall 2018
This class explores a multitude of topics and provides a solid foundation for understanding the theology, history, and contemporary affairs of Islam. It is designed to provide a means of understanding Islam and it’s contemporary dynamics, including terrorism, and provide tools for challenging terrorism, extremism, and building bridges of peace between different cultures and people.
Introduction to International Studies Research; Researching Islam, Fall 2017 and Spring 2018
Taking place over the course of two semesters, these corresponding courses build a foundation in the theories revolving researching, how to research, and finally the practical application of these skills.
Cross Cultural Communications, Spring 2017
This course taught students about cultural differences, where they originate, and how to overcome them in professional and personal settings.
Counterterrorism Policy and the American Presidency, Spring 2017
Although this class focused on post 9/11 policies put in place by Presidents Bush and Obama, it included the history of terrorism, the theories that attempt to explain the actions of terrorists, and counterterrorism strategies. Students also learned how to properly format and write policy memos in this class.
Visual Literacy, AU Scholars, Fall 2016
In this course, students improve their understanding of the visual messages in both still and motion pictures. Students learn through a photography project, filming and editing their own movie, and creating their own professional website with coordinating resume, stationery, and business card.
Languages
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Arabic: Intermediate verbal, reading, and writing.
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Spanish: Intermediate verbal, reading, and writing.
Computer Skills
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Wix website creator
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Microsoft Office Suite
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iMovie
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Social Media
Miscellaneous Skills
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Organization
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Grammar
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Written and Oral Communication
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Public Speaking
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Training/Instruction
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Customer Service
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Data Entry
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Administration
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Research
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Conducting Interviews
Experience
Validation Associate, Charities Aid Foundation America
July 2022 - Present
Validation Associates invite, correspond with, and review each of the international and domestic charity partners that are recommended to us by our donor clients. Since many of the charities are small and not familiar with some of the high-level financial and regulatory questions asked, communication must be concise and easy to understand while still being firm in order to adhere to IRS regulations and company policy. In order to succeed, I am required to be knowledgable of national and international grant-making laws which vary by country in addition to having a keen awareness of different communication styles and societal standards around the world. Reviews require an eye for detail and at any given time I was managing upwards of 100 applications simultaneously.
Chair of the Happiness at Home Team, Charities Aid Foundation America
May 2022 - Present
This leadership position on the Happiness at Home Working Group involves organizing events aimed at boosting the morale of both in-person employees and personnel that work exclusively from home. The team reinforces the warm and welcoming company culture of CAF America by fostering engagement and camaraderie. The keystone event of the team is "Happiness Week" in which an event is planned for each day of the last week of September. 2022 represented a transitional period and intersecting timelines so I single-handedly corresponded with all of the 100+ employees at CAF America, organized the logistics of getting rewards to each person, and executed a trivia night based on facts about each of the coworkers that chose to participate. At the end of Happiness Week I was awarded a "Go the Extra Mile" award by the CEO of CAF America for going above and beyond with the planning and execution of the events.
Donor Services Associate, Charities Aid Foundation America
November 2021-July 2022
As a Donor Services Associate I was responsible for assisting both the Admin and Operations department as well as the Donor Services department. This is a very fast-paced role because it serves as the first point of contact for donor clients, charity partners, and any internal needs. I assisted with tracking donations for high level funds such as Bright Funds and Schwab as well as supply management for the office, monitoring the general information email and phone system, and generating tax receipts for donors. I also assisted in overhauling the receipting process, making it more accurate and efficient.
Food Safety Manager. Confetti Play Cafe. Washington DC.
October 2020-May 2021
This position requires a high level of time management as well as flexibility. On a typical day I was required to make full meals, prepare ingredients in advance, take orders, and collect payments all while ensuring the facility is in line with DC health code as well as maintaining Covid sanitization standards. Confetti also has a focus on children so on any day I had to also be prepared to lead art and movement classes for elementary-aged children.
Research Assistant. Office of Amb. Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University and former High Commissioner from Pakistan to the United Kingdom and Ireland. Washington, DC.
June 2018-August 2019
Head Research Assistant, Interim Program Coordinator, Transitional Teaching Assistant
August 2019-October 2019
Within this office, I have been given countless opportunities to improve my own research and editing skills. As a research assistant, I have been presented with publishing opportunities for my own work, which has given me practical knowledge of how to write journalistic articles. Some of my other duties also include gathering data and information for Amb. Ahmed's own columns and work, organizing and expanding systems within the office, as well as light editing of some internal documents. During the beginning of the Fall 2019 Semester I was able to also serve as Amb. Ahmed's Head Research Assistant, Interim Program Coordinator, and Transitional Teaching Assistant with responsibilities including organizing and facilitating the smooth arrival and welcoming of international guests, contacting high ranking public officials for research projects, assisting students in class, and recruiting students as research assistants.
Dog Walker. Wag!. Washington, DC.
August 2017-December 2018
As a dog walker, I have gained experience as an independent contractor. While I work for the app Wag!, my clientele is directly related to my personal performance. In order to create return customers, it is imperative that I am always on time or early, that I exercise a high level of responsibility considering that I frequently have to enter people's houses when they aren't home and that I am in charge of that dog and it's safety while it's in my care, and that I am constantly observant so that I can avoid potentially dangerous situations.
Server. The Inn At University Village. Massillon, OH.
May 2016 - July 2020
As a server at a nursing home, I work to ensure that the residents are served in a timely manner. On any given night, I serve an appetizer, main course, and dessert in under an hour to between 18 and 20 residents. This facility specializes in memory care, which has given me experience with being flexible so I can accommodate their needs. In addition, this position is essential and since it involves direct contact with a highly vulnerable population it was extremely important that I was responsible with social distancing and wearing a mask because the health and ultimately lives of the residents relied on my discretion and responsibility.
President. National Honor Society.
August 2015 - May 2016
As National Honor Society President, I led informational meetings every other week. I helped to organize and participated in a multitude of service projects for the community and fundraisers for the NHS chapter. I also set up different means of communication, such as social media and text notifications to get reminders out to members.
Broadcasting. Perry High School.
January 2015 - May 2016
Through this co-curricular, I learned the fundamentals of all aspects of the broadcasting profession. During my first year, I was on the daily school news. On camera I reported important information regarding my school and school activities from a teleprompter. Behind the scenes I worked the switch board and sound systems. Students also learn to edit and work together to make various commercials and intros for PHS News. My second year I had my own segment called Weekly Update, a play on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update. I researched my own news stories, wrote my own script, and edited my own videos. My segment was a part of a variety show, Revolution. The team was comprised of about 20 people and everyone had to work together to put the show together; I assisted in taking the videos for two other segments.
Extemporaneous Speaker and Point Secretary. Perry Forensics.
August 2012 - May 2016
As a United States Extemporaneous Speaker, I did extensive current events research. Every week, each competitor was required to read 100 articles on a variety of topics ranging from politics to the economy to international relations. In every round of competition speakers draw three questions and choose the one they feel they can answer the most thoroughly. We were then given thirty minutes to outline and prepare a seven minute speech containing between six and ten articles for support and we were not allowed to use any notes. In my speech career I became a member of the NSDA, I placed at a total of 25 tournaments, qualified to the state tournament four times, was a state quarter-finalist three times placing thirteenth in the state of Ohio, and served as Point Secretary for my team. Point Secretary is a leadership role with the responsibility of logging every rank of every member of the 100-person team each week in confidentiality. Additionally, I was awarded NSDA All-American which is a national award given to students that earn at least 750 NSDA points, maintain a 3.7 GPA or above, and earn at least a 30 on the ACT.
Jr./Sr. Director and Stage Manager. Perry Theatre.
August 2014 - March 2016
I began participating in theatre during the 2013 musical Mame as a member of the Arts and Props crew, which paints all set pieces and controls hand props. I stayed a crew member for the fall children's show Winnie the Pooh, and then was promoted to crew head for the 2014 musical Li'l Abner. I was selected to be Junior Director in the fall of 2014 and served in the position for the children's show Cinderella and the 2015 musical The Addams Family. After training for the entirety of my Junior year, I became Senior Director and Stage Manager for the children's show Ice Cream Secrets and the musical Monty Python's Spamalot. As Sr. Director and Stage Manager my responsibilities included: overseeing curtains and scene changes, training the Jr. Director, ensuring that the crew has props, costumes, makeup, etc. in order for the cast, making sure that the correct cast members were in their places, notifying cast and crew of changes in the rehearsal schedule, and serving as a liaison between cast, crew, and adult directors.
Delegate and Secretary General. Ohio Model United Nations.
September 2010 - December 2015
As a delegate, I researched the country I was representing and created unique resolutions to solve global problems. I attended Junior OMUN in march of 2011 and 2012, representing the countries of Chile and Somalia. At the conference in 2012 I was elected by a delegation of 1,500 of my peers to the position of Secretary General for the following year. As Secretary General I helped run the program, read resolutions before the General Assembly, and I wrote and presented the State of the World Address. In December of 2012 I began attending Senior OMUN and over the following four years I represented Dominica, Peru, Venezuela, and Morocco. I was an authorship speaker all six years. I also received the awards of Outstanding Delegate and Outstanding Leadership throughout my time on the team.
Buckeye Girl's State.
June 2015
Buckeye Girl's State, put on by the American Legion Auxiliary, is a week-long state government simulation. Throughout the week, I took a law test, helped campaigns, designed my own non-profit, and worked as a page for the fact-checking agency of the legislative branch.
National Student Leadership Conference on International Diplomacy.
June - July 2014
This conference helped better my leadership skills. There was a simulation where students created their own countries equipped with a tax system and infrastructure plans, daily leadership exercises, and a United Nations simulation where I represented Australia in the debate over nuclear nonproliferation. As a part of this conference, we took trips to the Saudi Arabian embassy to learn about the culture, the World Bank to learn about its economic and humanitarian impact, and the United Nations for an in-depth tour.
Community Involvement and Volunteering
Assistant. Montgomery County Chinese American Youth Talent Show.
February 2017
As a volunteer I helped by managing the performers. I ensured they were in the wings on time, that they had any equipment they needed, and that they went out on stage when they were supposed. In addition, I helped parents into the audience as it was appropriate.
Volunteer. Hall Of Fame Marathon.
April 2016
I helped with the Canton Pro Football Hall of Fame Marathon by cheering on runners at the halfway point.
Easter Bags for Akron Children's Hospital.
March 2016
I helped organize an event for the members of National Honor Society where we made bags of candy, activities, and decorations for the children in Akron Children's Hospital. I assisted in organization, buying supplies, and putting the bags together.
Ambassador. International Outreach Program for Education in Nigeria.
March 2011 - December 2015
The International Outreach Program for Education in Nigeria, or I-OPEN, is a program that builds schools in Nigeria along with raising money for especially needy Nigerian families. As an I-OPEN Ambassador I helped my school organize and participate in fundraisers.
Worker. Stark County Board of Elections.
November 2015
Although I was originally assigned to a district, for the majority of the day I assisted by sitting at the entrance of the precinct and looking up people's addresses so that I could direct them to the correct district. Although I was technically paid, the volunteer opportunity was given as a fundraiser for the speech team, so students that did it were required to turn their earnings in to the coaches.
Volunteer. Perry Rotary Turkey Trot 5K.
November 2015
On the first day of registration I was given the job of finding the correct t-shirt as participants completed their registration. On the second day I worked at a computer putting in competitors information to pull up the correct bib.
Volunteer. Dog Pound Fundraiser.
September 2014
As a volunteer I helped by collecting money at the bake sale portion of the fundraiser and I assisted with tear down after it was over.
Volunteer Coach. Ohio Model United Nations.
September 2013 - March 2014
I coached the middle schoolers by helping them create resolutions, do research, and prepare speeches. As a coach I also went to Columbus with the kids for the duration of the three day conference.