Administrative Specialist

DHYANA R. PARKER

***** ****** ***** **

Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

240-***-**** (c)

Email: ******.******@*****.***

Security Clearance: Top Secret (Active)

Southeastern University Business Management, B. S. 1999 Washington, DC

Southeastern University Public Administration, Master's 2009 Washington, DC

Corporate Education Group Certified associate in project management 2018 Online National University Psychology (PhD) (In-Progress) 2028 Online

Professional Experience:

October 2024-Present Department of Agriculture Washington, DC

(Direct Hire – Currently under DRP Status)

Administrative Specialist for Rural Development – Human Resources

•Provided dedicated administrative support to the Human Resources Director and Deputy Director in their role to carry out the management and administration of human resource programs for RD, national headquarters office, and the state/field offices within the Business Center, located in St. Louis, Missouri.

•Served as the initial point of contact for both internal and external customers. Determines customer needs and requirements, refers to the appropriate resource person, and/or assists within the scope of knowledge and skill.

•Established and maintained liaison with functional offices such as human resources, budget/accounting, personnel security, information technology, etc., to coordinate action requests, requirements, and resolve problems.

•Received and analyzed incoming and outgoing correspondence and requests for action, i.e., meeting, conference, training, travel authorization, service contracts, and personnel, and determined proper disposition and assignment.

•Established and controls the schedule and appointment system, exercising independence in making and adjusting time commitments.

•Arranged meetings and conferences, coordinates participant attendance, makes follow-up contacts to confirm schedule obligations, maintains and monitors information data input and tracking system, and follows up on Directors’ commitments to ensure actions are taken promptly.

•Prepared and assembled materials for presentations, briefings, and meetings, and ensured properly formatted and coordinated with functional experts within the branches.

•Prepared correspondence, memoranda, reports, and other materials on a variety of matters related to the Directors’ delivery of human resource products and services. Establishes, maintains and updates and/or recommends changes as needed, the filing system(s), electronic and manual, for the Directors and the main office operations.

•Drafted and prepared responses to routine inquiries for HR Director and/or Deputy Director. Establishes, tracks, and maintains a log and status of controlled executive correspondence and handles any associated activities. Identifies outstanding overdue items and follows up with staff member(s) to ascertain the status.

•Proofed and edited documents for consistency, completeness, clarity, and accuracy of grammar and punctuation.

•Conducted independently and/or as a team member, reviews, studies, and projects to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of administrative.

February 2024-October 2024 HunaTek Washington, DC

(Contractor Department of State)

Executive Assistant to the Special Presidential Envoy for Sudan Thomas Perriello

•At the direction of the Special Presidential Envoy, ensured that proposals and orders are directed to the proper offices for implementation and prompt action.

•Accompanied the Special Presidential Envoy to international and domestic meetings and conferences, developing material and information on issues that arise.

•Worked with the Chief of Staff and the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate to track assignments, programs, and schedules.

•Ensured that all official communications to the Envoy are properly handled.

•Answered and referred to incoming telephone calls.

•Maintained schedule for Special arrangements, referring to other officials, and rescheduling appointments if necessary. Prepares and requests briefing memorandum for meetings; arranges for oral briefings and determines invitations to meetings.

•Made and acknowledged social arrangements and obligations for Special Envoy principals.

•Arranged travel, booked hotels, and handled passport, visa, and travel advance applications as needed. Prepares vouchers upon completion of the travel.

Transmitted and interpreted instructions from the Special Envoy front office to members of the staff and other officials in the Department.

•Transcribed notes during meetings as required.

•Carried out special assignments using a high degree of tact and diplomacy.

•Liaison for HR matters, e.g., performance appraisals, leave restoration, and awards;

• Acted as a proxy in the performance evaluation system for Federal employees.

•Served as Office Security Officer.

•Acted as liaison for GSO work orders, IT maintenance, and computer issues.

•Managed conference room schedule requests.

•Assisted new staff members, processed new hire paperwork, and coordinated equipment and security access.

•Maintained and processed time and attendance records for staff members.

•Served as the office’s point person on Freedom of Information (FOIA) requests; Maintains the database which contains all FOIA request, FOIA appeals; Maintains paper and electronic files of all requests and appeals; Drafts communications to requestors, including acknowledgement of receipt, status updates and decision letters; Reviews records and works closely with Agency staff to locate materials which are responsive to FOIA requests; Determines which, if any disclosure exemptions, apply to records; Adhered to response times as required by FOIA regulations.

•Mentored junior specialists and interns assigned to the office and received temporarily assigned personnel.

July 2023-November 2023 MEC Energy Washington, DC

(Contractor Department of State)

Senior Administrative Specialist to the Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA/FO)

•Served as the executive administrative specialist to the Assistant Secretary (A/S), and in this role, is responsible for arranging, referring to other officials, or rescheduling appointments as deemed necessary with little to no supervision; handling all requests for meetings and appointments; deciding the distribution of the A/S’s time; and preparing or requesting preparation of briefing materials indicating purpose of appointments and outlining background data.

•Arranged for briefings by appropriate officers, as well as discussed with officials invited to meetings called by the principal, the subject of the meetings to ensure the A/S is properly informed and has the necessary information to execute U.S. foreign policy objectives.

•Served as the primary POC between the A/S and the 7th Floor, the Bureau offices, and offices throughout the Department.

Serves as a primary point-of-contact for the A/S with the White House, interagency, and external contacts.

•Received schedules and makes proper disposition of telephone calls coming into the office, referring to the A/S only those calls which, in his/her judgment, cannot be answered, referred to others or handled by him/herself. Makes available as necessary background or informational material to which the A/S may wish to refer.

•Served in a sensitive and trusted liaison capacity between the A/S and other offices in the Department. Assures that the FO staff is currently informed on the A/S’s plans and commitments as well as cognizant of the status of matters under discussion or consideration.

•Transmitted and interpreted instructions from the A/S to other officials in the Department. Provides back-up assistance to the Front Office executive leadership team.

•Support the SCA/FO Chief of Staff and Special Assistant in coordinating activities across the SCA Front Office and seven component policy office desks, ensuring all the policy, planning, logistical, and operational requirements of SCA principals are met daily.

•Guided and mentored the work of three contract schedulers who support the four Deputy Assistant Secretaries and PDAS. As required, serve as backstop FO Office Manager and Staff Assistant.

•Assisted in scheduling large meetings and conferences. Select time and location, notify participants, ensure that all required materials and services are provided promptly, attend the meetings, take notes, and prepare reports of the proceedings.

•Accurately purge files or perform other file disposition actions by established procedures. Effectively supervise or perform annual file inventory. Where appropriate, responsible for the accurate receipt, control, logging, safekeeping, and necessary action on all classified material received.

•Helped enhance the ability of the office to support overall mission requirements through performance of one or more of the following: Used database or spreadsheet software to accurately enter, revise, sort, calculate, and retrieve data for standard reports; use graphics software to provide graphic symbols, charts, and graphs for viewgraphs or paper presentations; or accurately and promptly transmit and receive documents and messages electronically using a PC or a workstation.

•Requested office supplies, printing support, and related materials. Prepare and submit requisitions and track requisitions for timely completion.

•Prepared time and attendance and travel requests for SCA/FO Staff.

•Served as Proxy for A/S and other SCA/FO Principals for processing performance evaluations.

•Unit Security Officer for SCA/FO

May 2023-July 2023 Swingtech, LLC Washington, DC

(Contractor Department of State)

Executive Assistant

•Maintained the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary’s calendar, established meeting priorities, rescheduled, and arranged for substitute representation as appropriate.

•Made travel arrangements for the Deputy Assistant Secretary, including securing travel and hotel reservations, passports, visas, and other travel documents. Review, analyze, and screen visitors and incoming phone calls determine the nature of the request, routing issues of overriding and crucial importance to the Deputy Assistant Secretary and all other correspondence to the appropriate staff, and personally provide routine or procedural information.

•Made proper disposition of all communication coming into the office; recommends staff assignment for action based on knowledge of priorities, staff workload, and program goals.

•Reviewed, drafts, and processes correspondence for most non-technical matters; identifies items that need to be brought to the attention of the supervisor and refers to the appropriate staff member; uses a variety of software in support of the office (e.g., Microsoft Office, E2 Solutions);

•Maintain liaison – as needed – with senior officials both within and outside the Department. Make independent decisions on selected matters that can be resolved within expertise. If necessary, engage bureaus and offices in anticipation of the Deputy Assistant Secretary’s needs.

•Establishes and maintains multiple types of office records to enable quick and efficient retrieval of information, purges files as appropriate.

•Prepared and submitted requisitions for office supplies, printing support, and related materials based upon personal assessment of the Deputy Assistant Secretary's requirements, or as specifically requested.

•Provides administrative support for meetings and conferences – e.g., schedules, gathers background materials, reserves appropriate facilities, clears, and escorts visitors; attends as required to provide administrative support.

•Served as backup to other ENR secretaries as needed.

•Served as Backup Staff Assistant

March 2023-May 2023 Cape Fox Washington, DC

Administrative Analyst (Contractor Department of State)

•Efficiently transfers application data into the ASIV unit’s web-based case management system, including accurately transcribing names, application dates, and employment information for adjudication by unit case workers, achieving a processing rate of at least 30 cases per day when core work responsibility is only case data entry.

•Identified data entry errors and discrepancies; recommend corrections and take remedial action when possible.

•Analyzed applications for evidence of previous participation in the SIV program, or previous denial from participation, and flagged such prior participation and reasons for denial.

•Mentored and provided regular feedback for new employees working only on data entry cases.

•Used Microsoft Outlook to monitor a shared office inbox, appropriately flagging messages for further action by ASIV unit personnel. Sends document verification requests by email to employers, achieving a processing rate of at least 10 cases per day when the core work responsibility is only verifications. Reviews and analyzes responses received to ensure accuracy and completeness. Follow up as needed.

•Validated employer data by verifying points of contact, email addresses, and phone numbers. Updates ASIV’s web-based case management system and Microsoft Access with up-to-date information

•Generated weekly statistics, spreadsheets, and various reports. Provided cultural analysis and strategic support. Performed other duties as assigned.

November 2022-March 2023 Goldbelt Washington, DC

(Contractor Department of State) Office Management Specialist

•Maintained the Deputy Assistant Secretary’s calendar, established meeting priorities, rescheduled, and arranged for substitute representation as appropriate.

•Made travel arrangements for the Deputy Assistant Secretary, including securing travel and hotel reservations, passports, visas, and other travel documents. Review, analyze, and screen visitors and incoming phone calls, determine the nature of the request, routing issues of overriding and central importance to the Deputy Assistant Secretary and all other correspondence to the appropriate staff, and personally provide routine or procedural information.

•Made proper disposition of all communication coming into the office; recommends staff assignment for action based on knowledge of priorities, staff workload, and program goals.

Reviewed drafts and processes correspondence for most non-technical matters; identifies items that need to be brought to the attention of the supervisor and refers to the appropriate staff member.

•Maintained liaison – as needed – with senior officials both within and outside the Department. Make independent decisions on selected matters that can be resolved within expertise. If necessary, engage bureaus and offices in anticipation of the Deputy Assistant Secretary’s needs.

•Established and maintained multiple types of office records to enable quick and efficient retrieval of information, and purged files as appropriate.

•Prepared and submitted requisitions for office supplies, printing support, and related materials based upon personal assessment of the Deputy Assistant Secretary's requirements, or as specifically requested.

•Provided administrative support for meetings and conferences – e.g., schedules, gathered background materials, reserved appropriate facilities, cleared, and escorted visitors; attended as required to provide administrative support

• Served as backup to other ENR secretaries as needed.

•Served as Backup Staff Assistant

•Processed Development Finance Corporation (DFC) request for EB.

August 2022-October 2022 Tivoli Washington, DC

(Contractor Department of State)

Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations

•With the direction of the Assistant Secretary, ensured that proposals and orders are directed to the proper offices for implementation and prompt action. Transcribed notes during meetings as required.

•Accompanying the Assistant Secretary to international and domestic meetings and conferences, developing material and information on issues that arise.

•Worked with the Special Assistant in the CSO Front Office to track assignments, programs, and schedules.

•Ensured that all official communications to the CSO Front office are properly handled. Answered and referred to incoming telephone calls.

•Maintained schedule for Front Office principals - arranging, referring to other officials, rescheduling appointments if necessary.

•Prepared and requested briefing memoranda for meetings; arranged for oral briefings and determined invites to meetings.

•Made and acknowledged social arrangements and obligations for Front Office principals.

•Made travel arrangements, hotel reservations, submitted passport applications, visas, and travel advances, as necessary. Prepared vouchers upon completion of the travel.

•Transmitted and interpreted instructions from the CSO front office to members of the staff and other officials in the Department.

•Carried out special assignments using a high degree of tact and diplomacy.

•Prepared a large volume of correspondence, telegrams, memoranda, briefing papers, and reports.

•Was the office liaison for HR matters, e.g., performance appraisals, leave restoration, and awards. Acted as the proxy in the performance evaluation system.

•Served as Office Security Officer.

•Acted as liaison for GSO work orders, IT maintenance, and computer issues. Managed conference room schedule requests.

•Assisted new staff members, processed new hire paperwork, and coordinated equipment and security access.

•Maintained and processed time and attendance records for staff members.

•Mentored junior special and staff assistants assigned to the CSO Front Office and received temporary assigned personnel.

December 2021-August 2022 Cherokee Nation Mission Solution Washington, DC

(Contractor Department of State)

Special Assistant to the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry

•At the direction of the Special Presidential Envoy, ensures that proposals and orders are directed to the proper offices for implementation and prompt action.

•Accompanied the Special Presidential Envoy to international and domestic meetings and conferences, developing material and information on issues that arise.

•Worked with the Chief of Staff and the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate on track assignments, programs, and schedules.

•Ensured that all official communications to the SPEC office are properly handled.

•Answered and referred to incoming telephone calls.

•Maintained schedule for Front Office principals - arranging, referring to other officials, rescheduling appointments if necessary. Prepares and requests briefing memoranda for meetings; arranges for oral briefings and determines invitations to meetings. Made travel arrangements, hotel reservations, submitted passports applications, visas, and travel advances, as necessary. Prepares vouchers upon completion of the travel.

•Transmits and interprets instructions from the SPEC front office to members of the staff and other officials in the Department.

•Carried out special assignments using a high degree of tact and diplomacy.

•Prepares a large volume of correspondence, telegrams, memoranda, briefing papers, and reports.

•Liaison for HR matters, e.g., performance appraisals, leave restoration, and awards.

•Acted as a proxy in the performance evaluation system.

•Served as Office Security Officer.

•Acted as liaison for GSO work orders, IT maintenance, and computer issues.

•Managed conference room schedule requests.

•Assisted new staff members, processed new hire paperwork, and coordinated equipment and security access.

•Maintained and processed time and attendance records for staff members.

•Served as the office’s point person on Freedom of Information (FOIA) requests; Maintains the database which contains all FOIA request, FOIA appeals; Maintains paper and electronic files of all requests and appeals; Drafts communications to requestors, including acknowledgement of receipt, status updates and decision letters; Reviews records and works closely with Agency staff to locate materials which are responsive to FOIA requests; Determines which, if any disclosure exemptions, apply to records; Adheres to response times as required by FOIA regulations.

January 2019-December 2021 Cherokee Nation Mission Solution Washington, DC

(Contractor Department of State)

Program Specialist for the Office of Pakistan Affairs

•Special Assistant to the Office Director, one Deputy Director, and three teams.

•Executive Assistant to the Executive Director for Pakistan Women’s Council

•Referred calls and visitors as appropriate. Handled many requests on behalf of the office staff. Referring only to those that I cannot answer to the appropriate staff member or the correct office, or official. Received calls coming from the public, other agency personnel.

•Responded to administrative problems brought to the supervisor’s attention by members of the staff or management officials. Notifies the appropriate subordinate’s management officers of the need for information or recommendation.

•Planned for meetings and conferences, informing participants, prepared agendas.

•Processed/reviewed all incoming and outgoing letters, memoranda, and related correspondence. Prepares reports, memoranda, and other forms of written communication. Composes and edits letters, reports, and general office memoranda for publication/distribution on behalf of the Director or senior-level officer. Prepared public presentation outlines in the direction of immediate supervisor or appropriate staff; develops standard or one-of-a-kind letters in response to inquiries. Signed routine correspondence and certain procedural authorizations on behalf of the supervisor as directed program.

• Responsible for processing Visa Support letters for State Department personnel or other government officials travelling to Pakistan.

•Responsible for all travel in the Office of Pakistan Affairs, processing travel orders, vouchers, and maintaining the budget for the office travel.

•Communicated daily with the Staff Assistant on upcoming Taskers, sending out daily reminders on papers that are due.

•First point of contact for Officials/Dignitaries, Foreign and Domestic

• Manage Time and Attendance for the Office of Pakistan Affairs

•Responsible for the daily functions of the office, ordering supplies, maintaining and updating the staff on Security procedures.

•Responsible for processing staff onboarding and offboarding for the Office of Pakistan Affairs, including contractors and

interns. Ensure badges are active and functioning for all relevant offices and verify they have computer access before

starting, by handling the necessary paperwork for Classified and Unclassified Systems.

•Point of contact for ensuring all office equipment functioned properly, submitting necessary work Order requests to maintain office operations.

•Processed FOIA requests.

•Area Custodial Officer in charge of the proper care and utilization of the property assigned to the Office of Pakistan Affairs.

•Lead Unit Security Officer for the Office of Pakistan Affairs.

October 2018-January 2019 Department of State Washington, DC

Detailed Position (Federal Employment)

Staff Assistant/Travel Arranger for the Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan

•Received schedules, referred calls, and visitors as appropriate. Handles many requests on behalf of the office staff. Referring only to those that I cannot answer to the appropriate staff member or the correct office, or official. Receive calls from the public and other agency personnel.

•Prepared complex travel arrangements for the Deputy Secretary and other staff members supporting the trip. At times, dealing with the Office of the President and Vice President. Making necessary hotel arrangements, MilAir arrangements, and handling all necessary logistics for travel. Process Taxi reimbursements, travel authorizations, and vouchers.

•Processed all necessary visa requests for the Deputy Secretary and support staff.

•Processed and assembled all Briefing books for all of the Deputies' trips.

•Processed FOIA request

•Ordered Office supplies for the Counselors' Office and helped the office get fully set up.

July 2012 – October 2018 Federal Management Systems/Tri-Cor Industries Washington, DC

(Contractor Department of State)

Program Specialist for the Office of Pakistan Affairs

•Special Assistant to the Office Director, one Deputy Director, and three teams.

•Received calls, referred calls, and visitors as appropriate. Responded to administrative problems brought to the supervisor’s attention by members of the staff or management officials. Notifies the appropriate subordinate’s management officers of the need for information or recommendation; prepares responses to inquiries for information.

•Maintained the Director and Deputy Director’s calendar; established priorities and ensured all obligations are met; made arrangements for meetings and conferences, informing participants.

•Processed/reviewed all incoming and outgoing letters, memoranda, and related correspondence. Prepared reports, memoranda, and other forms of written communication. Composes and edits letters, reports, and general office memoranda for publication/distribution on behalf of the Director or senior-level officer. Prepared public presentation outlines in the direction of immediate supervisor or appropriate staff; develops standard or one-of-a-kind letters in response to inquiries. Signs routine correspondence and certain procedural authorizations on behalf of the supervisor as directed. Screened all publications, periodicals, and brought to the supervisor’s attention articles of particular interest that affect the Office program.

•Responsible for all travel in the Office of Pakistan Affairs, processing travel orders, vouchers, and maintaining the budget for the office travel. Processing Visa Support letters for State Department personnel traveling to Pakistan.

•Communicate daily with the Staff Assistant on upcoming Taskers, sending out daily reminders on papers that are due.

•First point of contact for Officials/Dignitaries, Foreign and Domestic

•Managed Time and Attendance for the Office of Pakistan Affairs

•Responsible for the daily functions of the office, ordering supplies, maintaining, and updating the staff on Security procedures.

•Responsible for processing and out-processing staff for the Office of Pakistan affairs, which also includes contractors and Interns. Making sure badges are active and function for all respective offices and making sure they have their computer access before starting in the office, by processing the necessary paperwork for Classified and Unclassified Systems.

Awards Received:

•Meritorious Honor Awards –1990

•Excellence PerformanceAward-1992

•Excellence Performance Award-1997

•Secretary’s Certificate of Recognition- 1998 (Kenya and Dar es Salaam Task Force)

•Secretary’s Certificate of Recognition-1999 (Kosovo Task Force)

•Certificate of Appreciation 2006 (Bureau of Administration)

•Certificate of Appreciation 2006 (Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs)

•Certificate of Appreciation 2013(Office of the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan)

•Certificate of Appreciation 2014(Bureau of NEA/SCA)

•Certificate of Appreciation 2015(Bureau of NEASCA)

•Certificate of Appreciation 2016 (Bureau of NEA/SCA)

•Certificate of Appreciation 2017 (Bureau of NEA/SCA)

•Certificate of Appreciation 2018 (Bureau of NEA/SCA)

•Certificate of Appreciation 2019 (Wreath Ceremony for 40th Anniversary of the Bombings in Pakistan)

•Certificate of Appreciation 2020 (Support during COVID)

•Certificate of Appreciation 2021 (Counselor Embassy of Peshawar for Assistance during COVID)

•Certificate of Appreciation 2024 (Assisting the Special Envoy for Sudan)

Certifications

•Introduction to Mental Health

•Anti-Bullying Prevention

•CBT for Depression, Anxiety, Phobias, and Panic Attacks

•How to Support a Suicidal (Suicide Prevention)

•How to Prevent Teen Suicide

•Depression Counseling

•Understand Mental Illness

•Depression Counselling Diploma

•Mental Health First Aid for Youth

•A Beginner’s Guide to Preventing Youth Suicide

•Mental Health First Aid for Adults

•Certified Executive Assistant

Computer Training:

•E2 Solutions (Travel)

•E-Room

•Travel Manager 8.0

•Dictaphone

•Security Training

•Time and Attendance (TATEL)

•Defense Travel System (DTS)

•Global Acquisition and Assistance System (GLAAS)

•Synchronized Pre-deployment and Operational Tracker (SPOT)

•Aircraft and Personnel Automated Clearance System (APACS)

•Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIP)

•SharePoint Training

•Records Management

•Unit Security Officer Training

•Concur Travel

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