Education and Professional Experience
EDUCATION:
Doctorate of Public Health degree took time off due to the
Master of Science degree
Human Services specialization
Marriage and Family Services specialization
Bachelor of Science degree
Family & Consumer Sciences specialization
Associate of Science degree
General Studies specialization
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Oklahoma State University
Cooperative
Extension Service
Area Coordinator-Community Nutrition Education
Programs-Green Country Unit
2023-Current
Adair, Creek, Muskogee,
Nowata, Okmulgee, Ottawa, Rogers & Tulsa Counties
●
Expanded
reach for nutrition education programming in the Northeast area of Oklahoma.
●
Provide
administrative leadership in multi-county nutrition education with the Expanded
Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) within the Family & Consumer
Sciences capstone program operations (targeting food safety, nutrition,
physical activity, and food resource management), including those related to
research-based program development, implementation and evaluation; creating and
supporting external relationship- building and partnership development; and
assist with financial resources and budgetary administration.
●
Supervise
Administrative Assistants (2) and Nutrition Assistants (11) within the Expanded
Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) focus. The work is based on community
based participatory research principles, seeking to engage the communities and
residents living in the communities to improve policy, systems, and
environments in a rural environment in respects to public health focused
nutrition education concepts.
●
Coordinate
hiring processes for paraprofessional staff and provide training on
implementation of state approved nutrition education curriculum.
●
Ensure
adherences to program budgets and funding constraints. Track and report other
financial support.
●
Collaborate
with partners to secure program funding.
●
Conduct
site visits to assess program content and teaching skills.
●
Establish
professional development opportunities for nutrition education staff. Conduct
regular training meetings to motivate staff to meet the needs of the various
audiences served.
●
Assist
with identifying needs and developing resources for diverse audiences.
●
Develop
partnerships to market program within the medical, education fields and
communities.
● Recruit volunteers to dedicate time to assist with expanding program reach through outreach efforts.
● Research and write grant proposals to increase unit funding and seek donations to allow for increase programming expansions.
Area Coordinator-Community Nutrition Education
Program-Tulsa Unit 2021-2023
Tulsa, Creek and Osage
Counties
●
Provide administrative leadership in multi-county nutrition
education with the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) within the Family
& Consumer Sciences capstone program operations (targeting food safety,
nutrition, physical activity, and food resource management), including those
related to research-based program development, implementation and evaluation;
creating and supporting external relationship- building and partnership
development; and assist with financial resources and budgetary administration.
●
Supervise Nutrition Assistants (5) within the Expanded Food and Nutrition
Education Program (EFNEP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) focus. The work is based on community based participatory research principles, seeking to engage the
communities and residents living in the communities to improve policy, systems,
and environments in a rural environment in respects to public health focused
nutrition education concepts.
●
Coordinate hiring processes for paraprofessional staff and provide
training on implementation of state approved nutrition education curriculum.
●
Ensure adherences to program budgets and funding constraints. Track and
report other financial support.
●
Collaborate with partners to secure program funding.
●
Conduct site visits to assess program content and teaching skills.
●
Establish professional development opportunities for nutrition education
staff. Conduct regular training meetings to motivate staff to meet the needs of
the various audiences served.
●
Assist with identifying needs and developing resources for diverse
audiences.
●
Develop
partnerships to market program within the medical, education fields and
communities.
●
Research
and write grant proposals to increase unit funding and seek donations to allow
for increase programming expansions.
South Dakota State University
Cooperative
Extension Service
Family & Community
Health Field Specialist III-SD State EFNEP & SNAP-Ed Coordinator 2018-2021
Extension Associate
2009-2018
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)-State
Coordinator
2016-2018
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Assistant
Coordinator 2009-2016
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education
(SNAP-Ed)-Associate
2009-2018
●
Provide administrative leadership in
statewide nutrition education with the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education
Program (EFNEP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education
(SNAP-Ed) within the food & families capstone program operations (targeting
food safety, nutrition, physical activity, and food resource management),
including those related to research-based program development, implementation
and evaluation; creating and supporting external relationship- building and
partnership development; and assist with the development of financial resources
and budgetary administration.
●
Supervise Nutrition Assistants within
the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) focus. The work is based on
community-based participatory research principles, seeking to engage the
communities and residents living in the communities to improve policy, systems,
and environments in a rural environment in respects to public health focused
nutrition education concepts.
●
Coordinate hiring processes for career
service staff and assist with the hiring process for non-faculty exempt
positions within the SDSU Extension Service.
●
Assist with securing program funding
for nutrition education programs targeting limited-resource individuals.
●
Ensure adherences to program budgets
and funding constraints. Track and report other financial support.
●
Collaborate with state departments,
non-profits, universities, other university personnel, and a multitude of
partners to secure program funding.
●
Maintain communication with staff;
hiring, train, support, and evaluate employees. Conduct site visits to assess
program content and teaching skills. Implement state/national program reporting
systems. Evaluate and upgrade curricula. Establish professional development
opportunities for nutrition education staff. Conduct monthly training meetings,
monthly conference calls and assist with annual leadership training to motivate
staff to meet the needs of the various audiences served.
●
Assist with identifying needs and developing
resources for diverse audiences.
●
Develop
partnerships to market program within Tribal, medical, education fields and
communities.
●
Recruit
volunteers to dedicate time to assist with expanding program reach through
outreach efforts.
●
Research
and write grant proposals to increase funding and seek donations to allow for
increase programming expansions.
Children, Youth &
Families At Risk (CYFAR) Project Leader
2004-2009
South Dakota State University Extension
● Maintained communication with staff. Conducted site visits to assess
program content and teaching skills of staff to ensure meeting the project and
community needs. Implement state/national program reporting systems. Evaluate
and upgrade resources. Identified needs and developed resources for diverse
audiences.
● In 2006. Worked with Standing Rock
Indian Reservation Tribal Leaders to establish a Wacipi in McLaughlin, SD to
celebrate life and community while honoring Lakota heritage. This is a
celebration to assist in addressing the high suicide rates in the community
amongst the youth. The McLaughlin School’s Annual Wacipi continues today.
● Assisted with securing program funding for programs targeting
limited-resource individuals. Ensured adherences to program budgets and funding
constraints. Tracked and reported financial support. Collaborated with a
multitude of partners to secure program funding.
RELATED EXPERIENCE
Program Assistant-Family & Consumer Sciences 1995-2001
The Ohio State University Extension, Carroll County
● Provided community-based nutrition education with limited resource audiences with a focus on food resource management, dietary quality, physical activity, and food safety. Adhered to federal grant requirements to secure funding including in-kind and other supplemental funding resources. Developed curriculum and additional resources to meet diverse audience needs.
● Assisted with securing funding and implementation of a successful school-based teenage pregnancy prevention grant provided by the Ohio Department of Children and Family Services. Provided consultation services to other communities and states on implementation of program developed to decrease teenage pregnancy rates.
● Presented at local, state, and national conferences. Published a professional article of program development.
LifeSkills of Canton Ohio
Teaching Assistant 2001-2004
● Assisted at risk youth and adolescents with completion of high school
requirements to earn a diploma. Assisted with teaching and grading assignments.
Communicated with adolescents and families on goal setting and assisting with
applications for college and career opportunities.
Ames Department Stores, Inc., Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland
Assistant Store Manager 1994-1995
● Provided specialization to stores with a declining sales revenue to
increase sales. Successfully assisted four stores (two in Ohio, one in
Pennsylvania, and one in Maryland) to increase revenues from a negative balance
to over a million dollars annually. Provided supervision and training of store
personnel in marketing and sales techniques. Provided promotional guidance and
placement of merchandise to increase impromptu
purchases. Managed financial aspects and security guidelines to improve
loss prevention activities. Oversaw payroll and accountability of all store
personnel as well as management of all financial actions of the stores
assigned.
Cornerstone Support Services, Carrollton, Ohio
Crisis Worker/On-Call
Crisis Worker 1994-1994
● Specialized in counseling services to individuals experiencing crisis.
Consulted with mental health professionals, law enforcement and state medical
personnel to provide resources to meet diverse
community member needs.