Professional Experience
Digital Media Specialist
[Software Company], Herdon VA (present)
Digital Media Coordinator
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, Washington DC (2012 - 2013)
Digital Media Project Coordinator
Center for International Media Assistance at the National Endowment for Democracy, Washington DC (2011 – 2012)
NGO Consultant – Lebanon (2010 – 2011)
Senior Program Officer
Safadi Foundation USA, Washington, DC/Beirut, Lebanon (2009 - 2010)
GOTV Team Leader
Vote Today Ohio, Cincinnati, Ohio (2008)
Volunteer – Barack Obama campaign, Ohio (2008)
English Tutor – Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria (2007)
Program Coordinator for Middle East North Africa
Center for International Private Enterprise, an affiliate of the US Chamber of Commerce – Washington, DC (2004 – 2007)
Program Assistant for Middle East North Africa
Center for International Private Enterprise, an affiliate of the US Chamber of Commerce – Washington, DC (2003 – 2004)
Translated Volume 8 of the Encyclopedia of Iraqi Tribes by Thamir Al-‘Amari from Arabic into English (2003)
Arabic linguist
United States Army (2000 – 2003)
Glencree Center for Reconciliation, Glencree, Ireland, Intern Facilitator (2000)
Substitute Teacher and High School Girls Soccer Coach
Sidney City Schools, Sidney, Ohio (1999 – 2000)
Education
Defense Language Institute – Monterey, California (November 2000 – March 2002)
Earned diploma with honors in Arabic in 63 week intensive course. Earned 33 hours of Arabic language and 12 hours of Middle East Area Studies.
Transatlantic Seminar on the European Union – Miami University (May – July 1999)
Six week graduate level course held in six European capital cities; met with various politicians and business leaders from around the continent to discuss European economic integration; received “A” with distinction and 8 hours of graduate credit.
Miami University – Oxford, Ohio (August 1995 – May 1999)
BA cum laude in Political Science (focus on international relations); minors in History, French, and European Area Studies; Scholar-Leader program 1998-1999 including scholarship; various academic scholarships; Golden Key National Honor Society; College Democrats.
Miami University John E. Dolibois European Center – Luxembourg (August 1997 – May 1998)
Skills
Languages – English (mother tongue); Arabic (Modern Standard); French (France standard); Spanish (reading ability)
Political involvement
I have volunteered for at least one congressional, presidential, or gubernatorial campaign every election cycle since 1996, organizing, canvassing, phonebanking, GOTV, and participating in visibility activities. Campaigns include, but are not limited to:
[Software Company], Herdon VA (present)
- Digital media and human rights, social media research, analytics
- Signed NDA
Digital Media Coordinator
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, Washington DC (2012 - 2013)
- Managed GQR's website and social media accounts.
- Managed online content editorial board and calendar.
- Created regular reporting systems for all online communication analytics using tools such as Google Analytics, Hootsuite, Topsy, and Facebook Insights.
- Developed and executed online media campaigns for GQR to drive brand awareness, engagement, and traffic to website and social media pages, including the use of Facebook promoted posts and Twitter advertising.
- Created graphics for social media accounts, presentations, and other online content.
- Curated content regarding topics related to GQR’s work, such as political polling and client news.
- Researched digital and social media trends and innovations, advise GQR staff on emerging digital marketing tools, and identify in-house training needs or opportunities.
- Coordinated communications efforts and created marketing tools for Democracy Corps.
- Managed GQR's email list (Mailchimp).
- Tracked GQR news hits and mentions across media sites.
Digital Media Project Coordinator
Center for International Media Assistance at the National Endowment for Democracy, Washington DC (2011 – 2012)
- Managed and expanded CIMA social media sites (Facebook, Twitter) and maintained website content. Increased Twitter followers from 311 to more than 1000 in less than four months.
- Monitored news on and opportunities in digital media development and reported to CIMA staff.
- Produced the weekly newsletter Digital Media Mash Up, a compilation of articles, information, and research about digital media and media development sent to a mailing list of media development practitioners, congressional staff, academics, internet governance experts, social media experts, and other interested parties.
- Created and wrote for the CIMA Media Blog.
- Compiled Daily Media News, a collection of news stories about global media sent to a mailing list of media development practitioners, congressional staff, academics, and other interested parties.
- Assisted in the planning and organizing of meetings, briefings, and special events.
- Wrote and edited CIMA publications as assigned.
- Attended and reported on events such as congressional hearings, seminars, and other activities of interest.
- Maintained contacts database and mailing lists.
- Met with experts in digital media issues from various NGOs in Washington.
- Worked with other media development organizations on cooperative digital media projects, including sharing the RSS feed for CIMA's media news feature with International Center for Journalists and initiating a data visualization mapping project for the Open Society Foundation's Mapping Digital Media series.
- Participated in Freedom House’s working group in NYC on the Freedom of the Press 2012 report for Middle East North Africa countries.
- Member of principal research and reporting team for CIMA’s Empowering Independent Media II report.
NGO Consultant – Lebanon (2010 – 2011)
- Assisted Lebanese NGOs in using social media to promote their activities and programs.
- Worked with small NGOs to develop projects, write proposals, and navigate the US foreign assistance process.
Senior Program Officer
Safadi Foundation USA, Washington, DC/Beirut, Lebanon (2009 - 2010)
- Developed and managed reform programs with civil society organizations in Lebanon.
- Wrote policy-oriented documents.
- Wrote proposals for funding from US government agencies and private foundations.
- Created and managed organizational blog Developing Lebanon and other social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter.
GOTV Team Leader
Vote Today Ohio, Cincinnati, Ohio (2008)
- Led a team of eight volunteers in organizing shuttles from University of Cincinnati to the Hamilton County Board of Elections; coordinated with campus student groups in Get Out the Vote activities; managed social media outreach campaign and used mobile technology to get voters to the polls for month-long early voting.
Volunteer – Barack Obama campaign, Ohio (2008)
English Tutor – Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria (2007)
Program Coordinator for Middle East North Africa
Center for International Private Enterprise, an affiliate of the US Chamber of Commerce – Washington, DC (2004 – 2007)
- Coordinated with Cairo office staff in developing and expanding CIPE’s Egyptian and regional programs. Traveled to Cairo and had a direct telephone line to the Cairo office. Had daily telephone and email contact to discuss projects, problems, and solutions regarding programs.
- Oversaw department communications, including deadlines, meetings, conference calls, and organization of conferences and seminars. Actively participated in program development and strategic planning.
- Drafted proposals for funding from the National Endowment for Democracy, USAID, MEPI, and WB.
- Received and evaluated project proposals from potential partners. Worked with them by phone or in person if possible in coordination with field offices to develop their ideas into projects with achievable goals and sustainable results within the realm of a realistic budget.
- Drafted budgets and monitored program spending for Egyptian programs and others as needed.
- Managed communications with grantees and partners in coordination with field offices through meetings, phone and email to discuss progress of projects, identify problems, and make suggestions for improvements; tracked progress reports, payments, and audit/financial information over the course of the project.
- Wrote weekly and quarterly reports and drafted evaluations at project conclusion.
- Copyedited and proofread all department proposals, reports, evaluations, articles, and other documents.
- Translated and summarized various documents from Arabic into English.
- Planned and wrote for CIPE’s quarterly English-Arabic publication Corporate Governance Trends. Managed the process from design to translation to printing to dissemination.
- Oversaw quality control of four department websites (three in Arabic).
- Volunteer member of CIPE Ethics Committee to develop ethics code for CIPE’s board and staff.
- Wrote articles about CIPE’s MENA programs for publications and CIPE's blog as needed.
- Provided administrative support to program staff when needed, including research; drafting articles, reports, and contracts; handling correspondence and invitations to events; taking care of travel expense reports and reimbursements for staff, consultants, and partners; gathering background papers and materials for conferences and seminars; drafting speeches and presentations for staff, board members, and partners; managing budgets; logistical support; and tracking project progress, traveled to Amman, Jordan for conference organization.
Program Assistant for Middle East North Africa
Center for International Private Enterprise, an affiliate of the US Chamber of Commerce – Washington, DC (2003 – 2004)
- Handled grantee payment requests and other administrative tasks related to grantees; drafted grant agreements and contracts; answered phones, made travel arrangements; aided in event organization.
- Copyedited texts that were translated from Arabic into English; copyedited proposals, reports, articles, budgets, and contracts; translated and summarized various materials from Arabic into English.
- Drafted grant proposals and quarterly reports.
Translated Volume 8 of the Encyclopedia of Iraqi Tribes by Thamir Al-‘Amari from Arabic into English (2003)
Arabic linguist
United States Army (2000 – 2003)
- Earned a diploma with honors in Arabic from the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California and received a 2+, 2+, 2 on the Defense Language Proficiency Test.
- Appointed as squad leader for leadership qualities.
- Awarded Certificate of Achievement for volunteer service as an Arabic peer tutor.
- Issued a Top Secret Security Clearance.
- Certified by the Department of Defense as Arabic linguist.
Glencree Center for Reconciliation, Glencree, Ireland, Intern Facilitator (2000)
- Worked with grassroots politicians and community leaders from both sides of the Irish conflict.
- Conducted conflict resolution workshops with high school students from various parts of Ireland.
Substitute Teacher and High School Girls Soccer Coach
Sidney City Schools, Sidney, Ohio (1999 – 2000)
Education
Defense Language Institute – Monterey, California (November 2000 – March 2002)
Earned diploma with honors in Arabic in 63 week intensive course. Earned 33 hours of Arabic language and 12 hours of Middle East Area Studies.
Transatlantic Seminar on the European Union – Miami University (May – July 1999)
Six week graduate level course held in six European capital cities; met with various politicians and business leaders from around the continent to discuss European economic integration; received “A” with distinction and 8 hours of graduate credit.
Miami University – Oxford, Ohio (August 1995 – May 1999)
BA cum laude in Political Science (focus on international relations); minors in History, French, and European Area Studies; Scholar-Leader program 1998-1999 including scholarship; various academic scholarships; Golden Key National Honor Society; College Democrats.
Miami University John E. Dolibois European Center – Luxembourg (August 1997 – May 1998)
Skills
Languages – English (mother tongue); Arabic (Modern Standard); French (France standard); Spanish (reading ability)
Computer tools/skills – Below is a partial list of the tools/skills I have used professionally and personally:
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Political involvement
I have volunteered for at least one congressional, presidential, or gubernatorial campaign every election cycle since 1996, organizing, canvassing, phonebanking, GOTV, and participating in visibility activities. Campaigns include, but are not limited to:
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