Amanda Pajak

Amanda Pajak

Teaching Assistant

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location of Amanda PajakToronto, Ontario, Canada

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  • Timeline

  • About me

    Senior Manager; expertise in administration, governance, strategic planning, communications, and institutional operations.

  • Education

    • Etobicoke School of the Arts

      1999 - 2003
      Ontario Scholar Fine and Studio Arts
    • University of Windsor

      2007 - 2008
      Certificate, Japanese Art History Art History
    • New York University

      2016 - 2019
      Master’s Degree Visual Arts Administration Summa Cum Laude

      Thesis: Collective Healing in Public Art Museums: An Investigation of the Potential of Art Therapeutic Programming for American, Male Combat Veterans in New York City-Based Public Art Museums

    • Queen's University

      2003 - 2007
      Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Art History and English Literature Honours
    • Courtauld Institute of Art, U. of London

      2011 - 2012
      Master of Arts (M.A.) Art History and Dress History Pass

      Dissertation: “Low”: A Psychogeographic Analysis of the American and German Influences on David Bowie’s Image During the 1970s.

  • Experience

    • Art Works Art School

      Jan 1999 - Jan 2003
      Teaching Assistant

      - Assisted the instructor with their curriculum and teaching of Fine Arts. Worked closely with children, teenagers and adults of all capabilities: disabled and gifted. Responsible for the preparation and clean-up of art supplies.

    • Queen's Campus Computer Sales Store

      Jan 2003 - Jan 2007
      Sales Representative

      - Responsible for selling merchandise, stocking items, and office secretarial tasks. Learned to use Pronto computer system for sales and service (computer repairs). Represented the Computer Store during S.O.A.R (Summer Orientation to Academe and Registration- Queen’s University) presentations. Involved in summer recruitment for additional sales representatives.

    • Art Gallery of Ontario

      Jun 2008 - Aug 2011
      Executive Assistant, Board of Trustees and Director's Office

      - Provided executive level administrative support to the Board of Trustees (the majority of which are donors). Coordinated the activities of the Board of Trustees and other related committees in accordance with the Gallery’s Act and by-laws. Acted as a resource to Trustees concerning Gallery policies, programs and initiatives. Reviewed institutional and departmental practices to encourage innovative and efficient operations.- Assisted with major corporate and curatorial projects, as well as managed and coordinated major Gallery events and functions.- Coordinated Board Trips (2009: Los Angeles, LA; 2010: Dallas and Fort Worth, TX).- Responsible for the Director & CEO’s correspondence. - Member of the Internal Communications, Loans Review and Staff Recognition Teams. Show less

    • Witt and Conway Library

      Sept 2011 - Sept 2012
      Library Assistant, The Courtauld Institute of Art

      - Responsible for all administrative responsibilities of the library, including fielding enquiries (in person, over the phone and via email), assisting visitors with research and re-shelving material.- Works directly with the Kilfinan Librarian, Head of Book, Witt and Conway Libraries, regarding daily tasks and care of high profile library users, as well as assisting with the maintenance and reorganization of the Photographic Survey with the Staff Publications Assistant.

    • Victoria and Albert Museum

      Apr 2012 - Sept 2012
      Intern, Theatre & Performance Department

      - Works with the Director, and Director of Exhibitions, Theatre & Performance Department, on exhibition and collection based research and public programming.- Major projects include: researching and editing staff contributions to the forthcoming 'David Bowie is' publication; coordinating with conservation on the presentation of costumes; managing work experience students; and leading collection tours.

    • George Brown College Continuing Education

      Sept 2012 - Oct 2012
      Administrative Assistant, Liberal Studies

      - Responds to telephone, in person and email enquiries from students, teachers and others seeking information or guidance on Continuing Education courses or certificate offerings.- Advises existing and prospective students on course/program offerings.- Maintains current and historical course outlines/manuals ensuring that the correct ones are distributed for each class.- Liaises with instructors to ensure grades are received in a timely manner and processes amended grades. Also provides administrative support to instructors, including course material collation and printing.- Contacts students promptly when classes are cancelled or delayed.- Maintains current and historical certificate requirements and submits certificate requests to the Registrar's Office after verifying that all requirements had been met by the student.- Assisted with the coordination the Enoch Turner School House's Charles Dickens Bicentenary event. Show less

    • American Federation of Arts

      May 2013 - Jun 2019
      Executive Administrator

      - Provides executive level administrative assistance to the Director and Board of Trustees. Also provides strategic advice regarding management of employees and organizational direction.- Responsible for the Director’s correspondence.- Assists with the coordination of major events and programs.- Monitors the organization’s corporate governance and by-laws alongside the Director and Chief Financial Officer.

    • Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation

      Nov 2014 - Jun 2019
      Operations Manager

      - Oversees the full administration of the Foundation and the biennial awards competition, publication of the accompanying catalog, and the maintenance of the Foundation’s website.- Liaises with the Board President and Treasurer on an on-going basis and oversees governance and financial matters.- Manages a team of colleagues that support the activities of the Foundation.- Delegates all written and phone correspondence pertinent to the Foundation, including mass mailings.- Prepares for and organizes Foundation board meetings and meetings of the award jury (biennial two-day intensive jury meeting). Show less

    • American Federation of Arts

      Feb 2020 - Oct 2023
      Chief of Staff

      - Oversees large, cross-functional, organization-wide projects and initiatives; brings together important stakeholders, and helps drive and direct institutional decision-making.- Conducts pertinent research, performs benchmarking, analyzes data, and makes recommendations to the Director & CEO.- Proposes the creation of new systems and processes to streamline operations and monitors their effectivity.- Contributes to other special projects as assigned by the Director & CEO.- Leads the annual strategic planning process for the organization by acting as a project manager and ensuring alignment with the Director & CEO and leadership team/executive staff.- Proposes and coordinates periodic “strategy sessions” with board members and the Director & CEO.- A member of the executive staff and the operations team. Supports the functions of the Development Department, namely through grant editing and work on special eventsProvides institution-wide executive administration as Board Liaison and manages the Office of the Director & CEO. Show less

    • Textile Museum of Canada

      Nov 2023 - Jul 2024
      Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives & Administration

      A member of the Leadership Team of the Textile Museum of Canada responsible for the implementation of the Strategic Plan and Operational Plan for the Museum, and for the financial resiliency of the Museum in collaboration with the Board of Directors. Acts as the primary conduit for the Leadership Team to the Board of Directors and business planning processes. Oversees core administrative responsibilities imperative to the successful operation of the Textile Museum of Canada.

  • Licenses & Certifications

    • The Chief of Staff Association Micro-Credentials

      The Chief of Staff Association
      Jan 2021
      View certificate certificate
    • The Chief of Staff Association Micro-Credentials

      The Chief of Staff Association
      Jan 2021
      View certificate certificate
    • The Chief of Staff Association Micro-Credentials

      The Chief of Staff Association
      Jan 2021
      View certificate certificate
  • Honors & Awards

    • Awarded to Amanda Pajak
      New York University's Student Excellence Award Steinhardt School, Art & Art Professions (NYU) May 2020 Outstanding contribution to the Steinhardt School's Department of Art & Art Professions.
    • Awarded to Amanda Pajak
      Kathleen Ryan International Student Scholarship Queen's University 2006
    • Awarded to Amanda Pajak
      Nominated for the Terry Fox Humanitarian Scholarship Terry Fox Foundation 2003
    • Awarded to Amanda Pajak
      Queen's University Entrance Honours with Merit Queen's University 2003
    • Awarded to Amanda Pajak
      Nominated for the Queen’s Chancellor’s Scholarship Etobicoke School of the Arts 2002