Alexandra "Sasha" Prokuda

Experience

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  National Park Service

  May 2005 - Aug 2005

  Piping Plover and Shorebird Study Intern

  • Monitored Piping Plovers and other threatened and endangered species• Interpreted study goals and implications to the public • Cooperated with other agencies (e.g. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Riverhead Foundation)• Assisted with curating collections at affiliated facilities (e.g. Mather House Museum, Fire Island Lighthouse)

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  Penn State University

  Sept 2006 - May 2007

  Teaching Assistant

  • Instructed lab group, proctored, and graded• Assisted students with difficult subject matter and presented new concepts• Dissected relevant organisms and organs

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  US Forest Service

  May 2007 - Oct 2007

  Sierra Nevada Carnivore Study Intern

  • Installed and serviced track-plate boxes in various locations throughout the Sierra National Forest• Acquired and recorded data, hair samples, soot prints, etc.• Extensively backpacked off-trail to research sites using GPS, topographic maps and compass • Preparation for fieldwork (sooting track-plates, scouting sites, bait preparation, etc.)

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  Pennsylvania Game Commission

  Jan 2008 - Apr 2008

  Deer Project Bio Aide

  • Trapped deer using clover traps, drop nets and rocket nets• Located and checked for mortality signals on collared deer• Immobilized, collared, and ear tagged captured deer• Communicated with land owners for use of private land

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  Green Diamond Resource Company

  Apr 2008 - Aug 2009

  • Transferred tissue of different strains of redwoods• Conducted sterile lab practices, lab prep • Captured black bears using culvert traps• Immobilized, collared, and ear and pit tagged bears and extracted pre-molars for aging• Administered intravenous medications• Triangulated target bears using radio telemetry• Remotely downloaded GPS collar data• Retrieved dropped collars off-trail in dense vegetation• Frequently communicated with local personnel and other offices• Assisted with small mammal trapping and habitat assessment

  • Tissue Culture Assistant

    Dec 2008 - Aug 2009

  • Bear Technician

    Apr 2008 - Nov 2008
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  Cutten Animal Health Center

  Dec 2008 - Apr 2009

  Veterinarian Technician Assistant

  • Medicated and read vitals on hospital animals• Assisted with emergency and appointment animal treatment• Cleaned kennels, fed and walked animals• Receptionist work

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  A Walk Around the Corner

  Aug 2009 - Feb 2010

  Dog Walker and Trainer

  • Provided care and exercise for dogs and cats• Administered special instruction feeding and medication• Trained as required, sometimes with puppies and deaf animals

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  Pup Concierge

  Feb 2010 - Aug 2011

  Dog Walker and Trainer

  • Provided care and exercise for dogs and cats• Administered special instruction feeding and medication• Trained dogs and owners using positive reinforcement principles

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  University of California, Riverside

  Apr 2013 - Jun 2013

  Lunch Bunch Seminar Coordinator

  • Scheduled talks/presentations for the weekly Lunch Bunch seminar while working on a budget• Worked with fellow Lunch Bunch coordinator, students, faculty and professors to provide relevant speakers

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  University of California, Riverside

  Mar 2014 - Mar 2014

  Biology Recruitment Weekend Coordinator

  • Coordinated up to 50 volunteers and organized transportation for 5 – 8 prospective students• Scheduled and planned graduate student recruitment activities and presentations • Recruited 12 – 14 speakers from the Biology faculty and graduate student body and advised the keynote speaker on speech topics and preparation• Lead an informative panel for prospective students • Achieved a 75% – 100% recruitment rate

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  University of California, Riverside

  Mar 2015 - Aug 2016

  • Built and populated laboratory website for recruitment of graduate students and post-docs and higher visibility of lab research• Managed undergraduate and graduate volunteers and employees• Supervised and ran experiments and specimen collection• Directed a teaching workshop with 6 K-12 teachers from the US and produced a lesson plan based on my research that meets Advanced Placement, NGSS and Common Core standards • Managed lab operations with thousands of crickets in stock and 2 – 6 undergraduate volunteers per quarter• Designed and ran novel experimental set ups and experiments• Presented novel research at large and small scientific conferences and outreach events• Researched current and past work done in my field, conducted a meta-analysis of the data using current meta-analysis statistics, analyzed data and wrote and published analysis • Gave lecture to a class of 300 people• Explained difficult topics, taught lesson plans, and lead discussion with up to 150 students per week• Composed and graded laboratory quizzes • Held meetings with students for one-on-one tutoring and drafting of reference letters • Mentored and met with first-year graduate students to ensure continued enrollment • Wrote bi-weekly and quarterly progress reports• Organized creative meetings with 2 mentees weekly• Researched pertinent topics for graduate student success• Discussed sensitive topics and directed students to support centers on and off campus • Coordinated up to 50 volunteers and organized transportation for 5 – 8 prospective students• Scheduled and planned graduate student recruitment activities and presentations • Recruited 12 – 14 speakers from the Biology faculty and graduate student body and advised the keynote speaker on speech topics and preparation• Lead an informative panel for prospective students • Achieved a 75% – 100% recruitment rate

  • Graduate Student Researcher

    Sept 2012 - Aug 2016

  • Graduate Student

    Sept 2011 - Aug 2016

  • Teaching Assistant

    Sept 2012 - Jun 2016

  • Graduate Student Mentor

    Sept 2013 - Jun 2015

  • Biology Recruitment Weekend Coordinator

    Mar 2015 - Mar 2015
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  Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST)

  Oct 2016 - now

  • Plan and implement programming activities • Promote science and technology through discussions, programs and leadership dialogue among scientists, institutions and the public• Liaise with the Board of Directors, Auxiliary Board, and the leadership of other related organizations• Plan and lead engagement activities in public spaces such as science festivals and open houses• Management of Program Operations• Act as a liaison with selected speakers; create program scenarios; identify, cultivate and develop program content; identify and recruit speakers from the private and public sectors • Manage and book program venues; manage partners and outside contractors; manage rolling program calendar; create and manage program time-lines and budgets; and report at monthly staff and biannual board meetings; and oversee all duties of the Program Intern• Oversee program related external and internal communications and content in the following areas: social media, website, and blog; write program abstracts, program related blog posts, internal and external policies• Oversee survey efforts and collect, analyze, and curate data associated with programs; keep track of engagement and performance metrics; write necessary reports on survey findings, program strategies and program highlights, and meeting agenda and minutes; co-write or review strategic plans, procedures, organizational fact sheet and funding proposals Show less • Plan and implement programming activities • Promote science and technology through discussions, programs and leadership dialogue among scientists, institutions and the public• Management of Program Operations• Act as a liaison with selected speakers; create program scenarios; identify, cultivate and develop program content; identify and recruit speakers from the private and public sectors • Manage and book program venues; manage partners and outside contractors; manage rolling program calendar; create and manage program time-lines and budgets; and report at monthly staff and biannual board meetings; and oversee all duties of the Program Intern• Oversee program related external and internal communications and content in the following areas: social media, website, and blog; write program abstracts, program related blog posts, internal and external policies• Oversee survey efforts and collect, analyze, and curate data associated with programs; keep track of engagement and performance metrics; write necessary reports on survey findings, program strategies and program highlights, and meeting agenda and minutes; co-write or review strategic plans, procedures, organizational fact sheet and funding proposals Show less • Provide organizational and logistical support on programming, program related outreach, and marketing• Develop program content, identify and recruit speakers from the private and public sectors of the scientific community• Create and manage program time-lines and budgets• Identify key program partners and marketing strategies• Track organizational outcomes, activities and survey responses• Write grant proposals, contribute to social media channels and marketing activities Show less

  • Executive Director

    Mar 2020 - now

  • Senior Director of Programming and Administration

    Sept 2019 - Mar 2020

  • Director of Programs and Engagement

    Jan 2018 - Sept 2019

  • Associate Director of Programs and Engagement

    Oct 2017 - Dec 2017

  • Manager of Programs and Engagement

    Apr 2017 - Oct 2017

  • Program Manager

    Oct 2016 - Apr 2017