A little bit about me…
I use creative solutions to build systems that connect people. Working in higher education, fundraising, consulting, and retail management for 7+ years, I’ve always been a motivated self-starter. Throughout my
Experience
Assistant Director, Scholarships and Donor Relations
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON | INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT | SEP 2010-PRESENT
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION & MANAGEMENT
- Implemented Academic Works, the world’s leading grant and award management software,
campus wide to improve student access to scholarships and enhance cross-functional donor reporting - Formalized a Scholarship Program collaboration system to connect the Financial Aid, Academic, and Admissions departments dramatically reducing the time it takes to process and award scholarships and reducing errors
- Conducted one-on-one software training to all scholarship liaisons across campus and built a database of training resources to allow current and future staff to quickly integrate the software into their departments
- Ensured that all 1,000+ annual scholarship recipients met the requirements for over 500 scholarship funds
DONOR RELATIONS & FUNDRAISING
- Used innovative stewardship efforts to manage
a, highly-targeted portfolio of top-level donors securing donations ranging from $30,000 to $175,000 - Established donor stewardship programs that include high-level donor events, student video testimonials, direct donor/recipient interfacing, and a high-yield annual ‘thank you’ event that educates students on the power of philanthropy and allows student content to be sent to over 4,000 donors yearly
- Created a dynamic social media content program to connect students to their donors in a more organic way
EVENT PLANNING
- Assisted in the creation, management
and production of donor events including the yearly President’s Box for Men’s Basketball Games, the 500+ person annual Donor Societies event, and the Endowment Donor Event featuring the University’s largest legacy donors - Hand selected scholarship recipients to speak and attend every event as well as
connected them with their donors
Social Savant
THINK UP CONSULTING | APR 2008-AUG 2010
- Served as organizational ambassador and customer service liaison, responsible for maintaining external and internal relations
- Conducted research regarding : Trademark information, energy efficiency tax credits, telecom providers, Better Business Bureau accreditation
- Served as project manager for marketing and sales initiatives
- Served as IT coordinator, liaison to IT vendor
SPA Retail Coordinator
KIAWAH ISLAND GOLF RESORT | SPA AT THE SANCTUARY | NOV 2006-AUG 2007
- Built product training and monthly incentive programs to empower retail associates and increase sales to $330,000
- Optimized the inventory management and buying processes to lower cost of sales by 54%
- Expanded the vendor base to global markets to take advantage of cost savings and product diversity
Education
Master of Arts Communication
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON | 2010 – 2012
- Coursework included interdisciplinary courses in the MPA Program, Teaching Assistant for BA in Communication PR Capstone Course, excelled in Organizational and Leadership coursework
Bachelor of Arts Communication
COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY | 2002 – 2006
- Coursework included journalism and public relations fundamentals, was a contributing writer to several local publications, held silent auction at House of Blues Myrtle Beach
- Interned as Marketing Assistant at House of Blues Myrtle Beach in 2006 and as Public Relations Assistant and HTC&T in 2005
Skills: Technical, Creative & Networking
VIDEO PRODUCTION & EDITING
Plan, shoot, edit, and produce 12+ videos yearly that reach over 4,000 donors; self taught Filmora Wondershare Editing software and am currently teaching myself how to use the Adobe Suite of Editing Products
SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT CREATOR
Create a variety of social media posts including Facebook ads, videos and photo albums that showcase the many areas of philanthropy for CofC and post accordingly
PHOTOGRAPHY
Take bi annual headshots of scholarship recipients as well as document the different properties owned by the foundation that have been featured in many CofC publications; Have taken several photography courses to enhance my skill
MARKETING
Create ‘one pager’ dynamic, targeted pieces to send to Donors through large scale email marketing system [EMMA]
PHOTO EDITING
Self-taught Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator; have several photographs featured in many CofC publication
COPYWRITING
Research and write content for multiple publications across multiple platforms including our biannual Momentum publication and annual Donor Digest
EVENT PLANNING
Work on a team of 3 to produce 3+ high-level events that have grown in attendance every year
LAYOUT DESIGN
Create and edit yearly impact report for the CofC Annual Giving Fund, as well as average 6+ personalized, dynamic impact reports for specific donors
NETWORKING
Thrive on connecting people in any circumstance but have thoroughly enjoyed connecting scholarship recipients with their donors and vice versa
EMPLOYEE TRAINING
Enjoy creating onboarding manuals and clear concise systems that help employees flourish; I also enjoy using self-development tools to help work groups communicate better
Networking
Creative
Videography
Events
Myer’s Briggs:
ENFP
Strength finders
top five:
Connectedness
Positivity
Woo
Communication
Input
Awards, Volunteer & Networking
Staff Advisory Committee To The Office Of The President
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 2014-2016
- Served on committee responsible for advising the University President on campus-wide opportunities and initiatives
Association Of Donor Relation Professionals
BLAIR SCHOLARSHIP AWARD | JAN 2013
- Professional scholarship awarded to new donor relations and stewardship professionals who are focused on continued learning and career development
Additional Awards, Volunteer & Networking
ELLEVATE CHARLESTON WOMEN’S NETWORKING GROUP Member since 2016- TEDX CHARLESTON Venue Committee 2016 | 2017
- DINER EN BLANC Founding Member/Pedestrian Leader 2016-Present
- BLACKBAUD’S A DAY-IN-THE-LIFE OF A CUSTOMER
PANELISTS 2018