Professional Experience
Learning & Information Design Lead
Sharing Environment & Energy Knowledge (SEEK) Project | U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)/Training Resources Group, Inc. (TRG) | January 2020 - Present
I serve as the strategic advisor and lead developer of systems, processes, tools, and resources for evidence-based learning and adaptation. This role requires critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to understand and incorporate principles of cognitive psychology. With the ultimate objective of transforming data and information to knowledge that is accessible, interesting, and easy to digest, my role also requires multidisciplinary expertise in:
graphic design,
data visualization,
writing and storytelling,
UX design,
knowledge management,
monitoring and evaluation, and
data analysis.
This position was a promotion from my role as the project’s monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) specialist. I continue to lead the project’s MEL activities and hold primary responsibility for the implementation of the MEL plan with leadership and oversight of project staff who support these activities. Additionally, I manage or advise on activities across each of the four USAID offices the project supports (Forestry and Biodiversity, Energy and Infrastructure, Global Climate Change, and Water) in four different task areas (training, knowledge management, communications, and organizational development/facilitation). This includes:
Leading the development of multiple interactive dashboards to support learning and adaptive management, as well as more efficient and effective operations. This work has included capturing key information on activities across USAID’s global construction portfolio; assessing and understanding capacity-building efforts for an Agency-wide global climate change initiative; performance reporting on USAID-funded websites and communications efforts to inform decision making; and monitoring project and activity budgets and overall performance.
Leading, writing, designing, and developing all project reporting—reporting which has received consistent high praise. Notably, recent feedback that our reports “really set the bar among implementers.”
Advising on and developing practical tools, resources, and approaches for learning and adaptive management.
Developing tools and resources to enhance communication and collaboration among USAID staff and implementing partners, including web-based systems and processes to share knowledge and resources.
Designing learning products such as factsheets, workbooks, posters, and guides that capture key messages and information. Much of this work has been a hybrid of graphic design, data visualization, and technical writing.
Evidence of the quality and value of my work is apparent in the yearly contractor performance assessment results (CPARS) and, on a number of occasions, working with other organizations and projects at the request of the client to advise on the development of tools, processes, and products. I’ve developed and advised other mechanisms on activity management and tracking tools, as well as reporting and learning products.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Specialist
Sharing Environment & Energy Knowledge (SEEK) Project | U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)/Training Resources Group, Inc. (TRG) | June 2018 - January 2020
As a MEL specialist, during project start-up I conceptualized the project’s approach to MEL and developed the project’s MEL Plan in collaboration with USAID colleagues, SEEK partners, and technical leads. This included:
Creating a strategic results framework that aligned with the project’s theory of change.
Developing key performance indicators that would measure progress towards achieving strategic objectives and serve project-level learning as a whole while also meeting the needs of each office, individually.
Outlining efficient and effective methods and instruments for data collection, and analysis.
Detailing specific and practical approaches for how we would use data and information to support learning and adaptive management.
After submitting and receiving approval of the MEL plan, I was primarily responsible for all aspects of implementation. In this role I:
Coordinated with staff across all technical areas to product high-quality and useful quarterly and annual reports. This required distilling large volumes of information to provide concise, compelling narratives that captured key accomplishments and learning, as well as designing layouts, graphics, and charts.
Advised and consulted on the development of data collection instruments.
Designed, created, and managed multiple databases.
Processed, cleaned, and stored complex data sets across the project and prepped data for use in reporting and the development of dynamic dashboards.
Developed graphics, interactive dashboards, and other resources and tools that effectively communicate the significance of data and information.
Investigated, explored, and analyzed data to identify patterns and trends.
Presented key insights and advise activity managers to support strategic decision making.
Additionally, I supported efficient and effective project management and operations through the development of technical tools and resources, such as a dynamic budget tracking dashboard as well as a budget estimator tool which greatly streamlined the project’s work planning process.
Other responsibilities included the graphic design of many learning resources on tight timelines, from the development of workbooks for large events like USAID’s Global Water and Development Workshop and the Global Infrastructure Workshop, to fact sheets on USAID programs and initiatives.
Project Associate
Environmental Communications, Learning, & Outreach (ECO) Project | USAID/TRG, Inc. | September 2015 - August 2018
Lead development of a 1-day deep-dive learning session on collaborating, learning, and adapting.
Designed periodic internal newsletters and developed graphics to visualize data and information.
Tracked all activities across the project to collect, consolidate, and analyze data for quarterly reviews and bi-annual reports, ensure high data quality standards.
Established close relationships with all portfolio managers and project teams to understand, synthesize, and share information.
Developed in-depth MEL reports for ECO-supported Offices on their respective training programs, including recommendations for future programming.
Technical Writer
Post-Graduate Research Fellow, Oak Ridge Institute for Science & Education (ORISE) | US Army Public Health Command-Europe | December 2012 – September 2015
Designed, developed, and managed the Environmental Health Engineering and health Risk Management Division’s internal SharePoint site, including a wiki site and resource library to share tacit and explicit knowledge, as well as interagency regulations.
Facilitated improved communication and collaboration within the Division and between other Division in the Command, designing tools to coordinate and track projects.
Compiled and analyzed statistical data on sanitary survey findings at water treatment plants in Germany and the Netherlands.
Created and updated standard operating procedures, fact sheets, and guides.
Coordinated with and assisted staff on proper grammar, punctuation, style, and logic.
Foreign Service Intern
Department of State, US Embassy Oslo | Aug - Dec 2008
Researched and drafted reports on current climate change policies, programs, partnerships, and initiatives. Played a key role in managing and planning the 2008 Presidential Election Night Gala, which included over 1,000 guests. Managed communications between guests, external organizations and embassy staff, keeping an extensive and organized spreadsheet of all guests. Worked with the Public Affairs section to plan meetings and presentations with Norwegian high school students. Attended a meeting with Norwegian foreign ministry officers to discuss the upcoming climate change conference and drafted a cable to inform State Department officials in Washington. Attended high-level meetings on behalf of the Embassy to report on specific objectives. Planned, created informational packets, and attended events and conferences hosted by the Embassy.
Lead Framer
“You’ve Been Framed” Custom Framing Shop, Ramstein, DE | 2012
The role required intense focus and attention to detail, often working with one-of-a-kind, irreplaceable, and valuable items.
Managed and organized all custom orders and timelines to ensure deadlines were met. Assessed work load daily and assigned tasks for team, as needed. Was responsible for challenging and unique tasks to ensure quality and completion of projects in a timely manner.
Received Employee of the Quarter Award for the 2nd Quarter of 2012 as well as Outstanding Civilian for 86 Force Support Squadron for the 2nd Quarter of 2012.