Assistant Management
Resume:
Ryan Bodanyi
401-***-**** • ********@**.*** • *552 Beacon St, Apt 22, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
December 14, 2015
To Whom It May Concern,
I’m writing to apply for the Research & Data Analyst position with Info HighTech, which sounds like an ideal fit with the quantitative and data analysis skills I developed while earning a doctorate in public policy.
The latter comes from the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Affairs, where my research used a series of statistical techniques – specifically cluster analysis, OLS, and hierarchical linear modeling – to explore what cities and counties in the US are doing to mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions, and how these efforts influence local finance. Some of my data came from state and federal datasets, but I collected most of it using a MySQL-powered survey that I created and coded myself, and hosted on my own website. This survey went to 10,582 administrators and elected officials, representing 1000 randomly-selected local governments; I used the resulting data to analyze what local governments spend, save, and earn via their mitigation efforts, and why. Designing, defending, and conducting this research program has given me a sensitive understanding of what data can say and what it can’t – and the statistical and analytical skills to listen to it.
While at UW, I also spent four years working on other projects as a research assistant. During my first year, I conducted literature reviews and used ATLAS.ti to code interview transcripts. Later on, I contributed to a meta-analysis of 300 benefit-cost analysis studies, by assessing their content and quality with four dozen criteria. I also conducted an independent benefit cost analysis study, contracted by Multnomah County, regarding their use of geographic information systems. More recently, I spent six months working with the UW Center for the Study of Teaching and Policy on a state-contracted project that evaluates Washington’s new Teacher and Principal Evaluation Program (TPEP). This project included both qualitative and quantitative data collection, and required designing, fielding, and analyzing the results from four original surveys of nearly a thousand teachers, principals, superintendents, and administrators. All this work has required a rigorous attention to detail, as well as the ability to create, manipulate, and analyze data in a variety of databases and statistical programs. I’m preferential to STATA, with which I have four years of experience; I’ve used SPSS for three years.
As a Teaching Assistant, I spent years teaching graduate students how to use statistical techniques like multiple regression, logit/probit, fixed effects, and regression-discontinuity. The evaluations I received from students were often exceptional, near 5.0 on a 5-point scale – which speaks volumes about my ability to distill and convey abstract statistical methods so they can be used and understood. I’ve posted examples of my evaluations from statistics here, here, and here.
Before graduate school, my time was spent building campaigns for the National Wildlife Federation, Clean Water Action, and the Clean Air Task Force. Many of these were around complex policy challenges, and involved coalitions with multiple stakeholders. But I’m especially proud of the work I did for Students for Bhopal (SfB), an organization I founded in 2003, and led for five years. We worked to support the half-million survivors of the 1984 chemical accident in Bhopal, India, by building a broad international coalition; its membership eventually ranged from large organizations, like Amnesty International, to small community groups in pollution-impacted communities. And combined with the efforts of our own volunteers – spread across 50 US campuses and five continents – our pressure won an additional $330 million in compensation for the survivors, the provision of poison-free drinking water, the resumption of medical research in Bhopal, and other victories.
Inspiring people to work on a decades-old disaster – one with a convoluted legal and scientific history – often required salesmanship. Nor was that enough: I worked to empower volunteers with the knowledge, the training, and the confidence they needed to become leaders. My ability to develop strong relationships with them – providing advice, support, and constant encouragement; answering their questions and serving as a perpetual resource – often depended on my ability to communicate effectively, whether in person, over the phone, or by email.
In many ways, building something from scratch is a solitary endeavor. You often have to make decisions in conditions of ambiguity, live with uncertainty, solve unforeseen challenges, and bear the responsibility for success or failure. However I think SfB’s success is a strong testament to our ability to work collaboratively with our volunteers and organizational allies. We avoided many costly mistakes because of their constructive feedback, and our achievements were often the product of their creativity and critical thinking.
Advocacy is partisan work, and I’m proud of the work we did. But I left advocacy because I love immersing myself in data, and following where it leads. In this sense, the position with Info HighTech seems like a perfect fit.
So if you’re looking for someone with proven initiative, a strong background in research, and the data and analysis skills to hit the ground running, please let me know. I’ll be happy to chat more about my background and qualifications.
Yours sincerely,
Ryan Bodanyi, Ph.D.
Evans School of Public Affairs
********@**.***
Ryan Bodanyi
401-***-**** • ********@**.*** • 5552 Beacon St, Apt 22, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Dec 2015
Recent Ph.D. Graduate in Public Policy and Management with more than 7 years of experience as an Executive Director and campaigner at environmental nonprofits. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects in a deadline-driven environment; exceptional organizational, communication, and strategic planning skills. Experience with quantitative analysis, benefit-cost analysis, professional policy research, and website management and design.
Education
University of Washington, Evans School of Public Affairs Seattle, WA
Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management (June, 2015)
MS in Public Policy and Management (December, 2012)
Dissertation explores the environmental policy choices of local governments in the United States, using original policy and financial data collected from several hundred US cities and counties. The statistical techniques used include cluster analysis, OLS, and hierarchical linear modeling.
Graduate Research Assistant for the Center for the Study of Teaching and Policy (2015). Coded and analyzed survey data to evaluate Washington’s Teacher and Principal Evaluation Program (TPEP).
Graduate Research Assistant under Dr. Richard Zerbe (2012-2014). Completed a benefit-cost analysis for Multnomah County’s use of GIS technology; created & coded a database of 300 BCA studies.
Graduate Research Assistant under Dr. Ann Bostrom (2010-2011). Conducted literature reviews and synthesized data; performed content analysis and coding of interviews using ATLAS.ti to clarify mental models of decision-making; performed basic statistical analyses.
Teaching Assistant for 10 courses: Budgeting and Financial Management (three times), Managing Organizational Performance (twice), Quantitative Analysis I, Quantitative Analysis II (three times), and Quantitative Methods.
Co-founder and Treasurer of the Graduate Student Group for Pacific Northwest Policy Studies.
Senator, Graduate and Professional Student Senate (2012-2013).
Methodological coursework: Data Analysis, Analysis of Categorical Data, Social Statistics, Quantitative Methods, Data Management, Research Design, Qualitative Methods, Interviewing Methods.
Policy coursework: Advanced Microeconomic Policy Analysis, Public Policy Analysis, Policy Process, Institutions, Governmental Responses to Climate Change, Climate & Energy Policy.
University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
BA with High Honors in Environmental Public Policy (2003)
Oxford University Oxford, UK
Study abroad student in Environmental Policy and Politics (January to June, 2002)
Presentations & Publications
Plecki et al. Washington’s Teacher and Principal Evaluation System: Efforts to Support Professional Development, Final Report. University of Washington, Seattle. July, 2015.
Think Globally, Act Locally? Local Mitigation Within a Rational-Choice Framework. Dissertation. University of Washington, 2015.
Plecki et al. Washington’s Teacher and Principal Evaluation System: Efforts to Support Professional Development. Preliminary Report: State Funding for Professional Development Training. University of Washington, Seattle. April, 2015.
Anonymous referee, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory (August 2012; October 2013; April 2014)
“What is the State of Benefit Cost Analysis in Practice? A Quality Analysis of 300 BCA Reports” with Richard Zerbe at the Western Economic Association International 88th Annual Conference, July 2013
Bodanyi et al. An Analysis of Benefits from the Use of the RAPTOR and Bridge Geographic Information Systems. Benefit cost analysis report commissioned by Multnomah County, Oregon. June 2013.
Work Experience
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 Seattle, WA
Environmental Protection Assistant, STEP Summer Intern, June – August, 2012
Drafted the Tribal Environmental Resources Guide - a 70-page listing of technical resources, grants, and legal authority that tribal governments can receive from the EPA.
Developed an outreach and promotional strategy for the Guide’s rollout to tribal environmental leaders.
Created a password-protected, online platform that tribal governments can use to share data, grant applications, and other internal documents.
National Wildlife Federation Ann Arbor, MI
National Grassroots Organizer, February – August 2010
Coordinated NWF’s 65,000-strong network of Wildlife Action Leaders utilizing email, phone, and web-based communication strategies.
Co-organized a 3-day phone bank operation which contacted nearly 1 million American homes and generated more than 200,000 documented calls to Senate offices in support of comprehensive climate legislation.
Organized nationwide opposition to the Keystone XL (Canadian Tar Sands) pipeline. This included educational events, participation in public hearings, and comments to legislators and administrators.
Clean Air Task Force Ann Arbor, MI
Special Projects Coordinator, Diesel Campaign, August 2009 – January 2010
Responsible for national outreach and coalition-building within the environmental, faith-based, labor, and public health communities.
Designed template diesel emissions reduction policies for municipal use nationwide.
Performed an analysis of diesel emissions sources and remediation strategies for the DC metro area.
Clean Water Action, Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
Environmental Health Campaign Coordinator, February – August, 2009
Responsible for legislative and public campaigns to reduce diesel emissions; restrict Lindane, deca-BDE, and other toxic chemicals; and to phase toxics out of toys and children’s products.
Co-founded the Alliance for Healthy Air (www.allianceforhealthyair.org), a statewide coalition designed to advance diesel emissions reduction policies through the state legislature.
Coordinated Michigan’s participation in a nationwide study examining the chemical “body burden” of medical professionals.
Utilized a portable XRF analyzer to test children’s toys for the presence of hazardous chemicals.
Students for Bhopal Providence, RI
Executive Director & Founder, May 2003 – June 2008
Students for Bhopal, a US-based nonprofit with staff in the United States and India, works to support the half-million survivors of the world’s worst industrial catastrophe, the 1984 chemical gas leak in Bhopal, India.
In its first two years, when I served as its only staff person, Students for Bhopal (SfB) grew to encompass several hundred active volunteers in nearly 70 chapters across five continents (http://www.bhopal.net/old_studentsforbhopal_org/ActiveUniversities.htm). Overall, more than 10,000 people participated in SfB actions worldwide.
Built a broad coalition that included human rights organizations (Amnesty International), labor unions (PACE, the Steelworkers and others), student groups (American Medical Student Association, Sierra Student Coalition, SEAC and others), Indian organizations (Association for India’s Development, Asha for Education), environmental NGOs (Greenpeace), and other pollution-impacted communities worldwide.
Organized an international Day of Action that led to an additional $330 million for Bhopal survivors (http://www.bhopal.net/old_studentsforbhopal_org/Victories.htm#Compensation).
Skills
Computer Skills
Statistical & analysis programs: Stata, SPSS, R, ATLAS.ti.
Productivity programs: Microsoft Office Suite.
Professional web design portfolio includes www.spartacusx.com and www.utatransit.net. Adept in Dreamweaver, PHP, and MySQL; I’ve custom-built web-to-fax systems, automated email campaigns, online petitions, and other interactive website applications.
Online organizing includes extensive listserve management experience, and the use of social media and online actions to mobilize volunteers and achieve campaign goals. In June 2004, more than 2500 people sent the Indian government a customizable fax via our website; this won their support for a cleanup lawsuit in the US. In 2006, the Indian government agreed to provide poison-free drinking water to 15,000 people in Bhopal after it received 3500 faxes and 6000 emails from online actions we designed and hosted.
Logistical & Organizational
Coordinated five national conferences, including three for Students for Bhopal (2005-2007), a conference on the chemical industry at the University of Michigan (2002) and a symposium at the Rhode Island School of Design (2005). Responsibilities included developing the content and schedule; publicity; inviting speakers and arranging travel; and coordinating housing, food, and transit for as many as 70 attendees.
Coordinated month-long nationwide tours by two Bhopal survivors in 2003 and again in 2004.
Collected and maintained the first complete archive of the ~50 films made about Bhopal. Collected and organized a similar archive of nearly 25,000 Bhopal-related photographs.
Communication & Media
More than 100 public speaking engagements, with years of experience addressing audiences as diverse as the 2004 World Social Forum, the American Medical Student Association (2005-2007 national conferences) and universities such as MIT and Johns Hopkins.
Experience writing several hundred press releases; briefs for congressional staffers; talking points for negotiations and media interviews; grants for funders; research reports; action alerts; planning guides; and web and email copy for our volunteers.
Experience with print, radio, and television interviews. Also collaborated with the History Channel to produce a short documentary about Bhopal for their Modern Marvels: Engineering Disasters series in 2004, and with the Yes Men on their 2009 feature film The Yes Men Fix The World.
Specific interpersonal skill sets include years of experience in facilitation; conflict resolution; coalition-building; negotiation; and recruiting, motivating and inspiring volunteers.
Management & Organizational Development
Founding member of the Dow Accountability Network Steering Committee (2004-2007). Collectively, Steering Committee members were responsible for overseeing an annual budget of $150,000; developing the vision and strategic direction for the Network; and hiring, training, and supervising a full-time Coordinator.
Steering Committee member of the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal, the international umbrella for all Bhopal-related efforts (2004-2007). Collectively, ICJB Steering Committee members were responsible for grantwriting and fundraising; program and campaign evaluation; strategic planning; budget oversight; and organizational and campaign development.
As the Executive Director of Students for Bhopal, I successfully managed SfB’s organizational growth by adding an elected Advisory Board, additional staff in India, and volunteer-led workgroups. Designed and managed corporate, shareholder, and international campaigns; trained and supervised paid staff, interns, and a network of several hundred active volunteers.
Political
Lobbying and legislative advocacy contributed to an 88-20 bipartisan vote in the Michigan House of Representatives in favor of a bill to restrict Lindane use.
Successfully lobbied 55 members of the US Congress to support more than $5 billion in funding for diesel emissions reduction as part of the 2009 transportation reauthorization bill.
Won the support of 20 members of the US Congress for a letter to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2006, and for Amicus briefs to support Bhopal survivors in their lawsuit against Union Carbide in 2003 (9 representatives) and 2006 (11 representatives).
Worked with city councils in Seattle, San Francisco, and Cambridge, MA to pass resolutions calling for justice in Bhopal.
Miscellaneous
Basic Spanish. Formerly proficient, but without regular practice for the last 10 years.
Developed a 50-page legal guide for direct actions; an online “skills toolbox” for volunteers (http://www.bhopal.net/old_studentsforbhopal_org/SkillsToolbox.htm); and fact sheets, briefing memos, brochures, and other resources.
Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound; find lost items with uncanny accuracy.
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