Executive Assisant/Program Manager
Resume:
*** ******* ** ******, ******** Oaks, CA *****
************@*****.***
NOELLE McDONALD
PROFILE
Highly skilled professional with an extensive academic background, holding a master’s degree in English literature and experience in the fields of philanthropy, alternative dispute resolution, program evaluation, and education. Proven ability in research, writing, project management, teaching, and event planning. Viewed as being a connector of people and having a natural ability to communicate clearly and effectively in a variety of situations.
EXPERIENCE
PROGRAM ASSOCIATE, CONRAD N. HILTON FOUNDATION
May 2018 – present
Coordinate grantmaking activities for a portfolio focused on the field of Opportunity Youth workforce development and valued at over $30 million per annum;
Monitor grants and, working closely with program officers, contribute to all stages of their development, from the initial conversation about the proposal with potential partners, to approval, to final review, and then eventual closure of the project;
Schedule in-person and virtual meetings for the team and with the organizational staff at large, as well as regular check-ins with international and domestic partners;
Act as communications liaison in authoring articles and other social media-related materials pertaining to our grantee projects and events;
Ensure all grant requirements have been met and procedures followed when submitted for review, throughout the application process, and following approval;
Collaborate regularly with grantees as to any updates pertaining to their projects, including the timeline, budget, or any other grant-related requirements;
Develop and implement internal systems and processes to streamline and improve coordination of activities among team members (using Asana and Excel); and
Manage various phases of planning for and implementation of grantee-related events, including convenings and site visits, located in four geographies around the globe.
Serve(d) in a similar capacity for the Substance Use Prevention initiative during its phase-out period from May 2018-May 2020.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, CONRAD N. HILTON FOUNDATION
May 2013 - May 2018
Supported over eight team members of the international program department in various capacities, including organizing and maintaining records and databases, creating and tracking spreadsheets, scheduling appointments and managing calendars, making travel arrangements using Concur, and co-leading team meetings;
Drafted grant proposals when first being considered for submission and wrote project report analyses upon their completion;
Interfaced with staff and external consultants, partners, and grantees as appropriate, specifically around preparation of various events, site visits, and meetings; and
Helped develop and track annual team operational budget, including travel line items and other department-related expenses.
PROGRAM MANAGER, PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION at STRAUS INSTITUTE FOR ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION, PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
May 2000 – June 2002
Coordinated the Institute’s professional training programs which are recognized as the foremost of their kind, serving emerging lawyers as well as experienced mid-career professionals, businesspersons, and religious and community leaders;
Managed all aspects of event planning for related conferences, including researching venues, corresponding with speakers and attendees, developing registration systems, streamlining agendas, and collaborating with caterers and technical crews;
Edited and authored articles for quarterly magazine and designed and maintained department’s Webpage; and
Supervised student workers and managed their various roles as appropriate.
Enrolled as part-time student in alternative dispute resolution classes while employed (1 course shy of earning certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution).
ALUMNI RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE, PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
July 1998 – April 2000
Planned, organized, and managed alumni events, including dinners, auctions, and other fundraising efforts for the Law School;
Developed and maintained RSVP tracking systems for events and other spreadsheets to track donor communications and follow up efforts;
Served as communications liaison for alumni and the university by scheduling meetings with the steering committee, staff, and other community members;
Conducted ongoing stewardship activities, including scheduling phone calls and visits with prospective donors for the two-person department; and
Created publicity and other communications materials for the department, including those specifically for events and those for more general community-wide efforts.
ENGLISH TEACHER, COLIN MCEWEN HIGH SCHOOL
September 1997 to June 1998
Served as English teacher at private school in a one-to-one tutorial capacity to students grades 9-12 to help them complete requirements to obtain their diploma;
Administered exams to evaluate student progress and determine target areas of need;
Created and implemented course curricula and led routine class discussions;
Encouraged students to be their best and whole selves by providing academic, social, and emotional guidance according to individual needs.
EDUCATION
University of California, Los Angeles - Bachelor of Arts - English Literature, 1985 – 1989
Activities: Madrigal Singers, Education Abroad Program (Vienna, Austria), Dance
University of California, San Diego - Master of Arts, Comparative Literature, 1990 –1991
Pepperdine Law School – 10 units toward 14-unit Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2001-2002
Michigan State University – 20 units toward 40-unit Certificate in Program Evaluation, 2019-2020
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