Sara J. Washington

Experience

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  DePaul University

  Jul 2008 - Jun 2013

  Key Highlights:• 2.3% increase in first-year student retention rate found by implementing programming designed to keep students and parents informed throughout the college transition process, including campus programming, marketing, and parent and family programs, outperforming the national first-year retention rate of universities.• 4% lift in Black student retention and 6% boost in Hispanic student retention accomplished by developing graduate and undergraduate student coordinators and student peer mentors focused on serving the unique needs of a diverse student population.Led Parent Programs, including Family Weekend and Parent & Family Orientation. Taught a 300-level liberal studies course and supervised peer mentors in the Chicago Quarter program. Additionally, spearheaded Welcome Week programming for the University, collaborating with multiple campus departments and academic programs. Show less Key Highlights:• Reduced first-year probations to 6.7% by aligning programming models with divisional learning outcomes and contributing to departmental strategic planning and assessment; administered academic, experiential, and social programming to support a diverse student population.Directly supervised, trained, and provided professional development for a Graduate Assistant and 13 Resident Advisors. Served as an on-call crisis response staff member for a campus of 2400+ residents. Member of multiple committees, including Assessment Committee (Divisional) and Learning Outcomes Committee (Departmental). Show less

  • Assistant Director, New Student and Family Engagement

    Oct 2010 - Jun 2013

  • Residence Director

    Jul 2008 - Oct 2010
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  Columbia University in the City of New York, School of International and Public Affairs

  Jun 2013 - Aug 2015

  Key Highlights:• 95% positive feedback rate from the freshman cohort achieved by orchestrating comprehensive planning, execution, and evaluation of the peer advisor training programs; ensured a seamless onboarding and transition experience for incoming students.• 85% of targeted learning outcomes met by implementing innovative leadership training and an online community through webinars, workshops, and post-training assessments; no previously set learning targets in place.Managed activities essential to designing, developing, planning, coordinating, and supervising a wide range of training programs for ~30 employees and ~400 students. Show less Key Highlights:• 94% graduation rate captured by collaborating with directors of the different degree programs to create support systems for students needing accommodations, outperforming the national average of 54%.• 71.5% student retention secured by studying trends among different student groups to understand common reasons for withdrawals; collected data on key indicators like attendance and credit accumulation provided insight into student behavior and identified those at risk of dropping out.Owned the orientation, commencement, communications, and Alumni events and programs for the School of Continuing Education. Supported diverse students, including Master of Science students, international students in the American Language Program, Lifelong Learners, High School program students, and students in Post-baccalaureate Studies. Additionally, I work on assessment projects and budgeting. Show less

  • Assistant Dean

    Sept 2014 - Aug 2015

  • Assistant Director of Student Services, School of Professional Studies

    Jun 2013 - Sept 2014
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  Physique 57

  Aug 2015 - Aug 2016

  Studio Director

  Key Highlights:• 30% reduction in new employee ramp-up time earned by developing and implementing a comprehensive onboarding curriculum.• 15% lift in team productivity attained by championing and facilitating ongoing learning and development opportunities for the team.Served as the leader and driver of expanding the capacity of all employees, including professional development, skill development, and new hire training. Established plans, systems, and communication strategies to support and implement key priorities for initiatives such as leadership development, high-touch career development programs, recognition programs, etc. Show less

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  Central Park North Orthodontics

  Aug 2016 - Aug 2023

  Director of Talent and Business Administration

  Key Highlights:• 80% reduction in turnover across two years reached by designing and implementing an enterprise learning and development strategy, including performance improvement plans (PIP); led multiple projects to enhance employee experience and opportunities for all staff and increased average tenure to nearly seven years.• Improved people management efforts and rolled out 40 employee-centered programs (i.e., onboarding best practices, training delivery, performance reviews, succession planning, etc.).• Strengthened Level 1 and Level 2 successors by deploying assessment and training metrics that established clear succession paths within the organization. Act as a strategic human resources expert implementing and sustaining foundational pillars for developing and engaging employees across a multi-location operation. Work as a player/coach, “rolling up my sleeves” to deliver high-quality employee programs at all levels - overseeing execution of learning plans, training workshops, career development & onboarding programs, employee surveys, and other ad-hoc projects—Integrated D&I strategy and metrics into learning and development programs and initiatives. Show less

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  The Schenck School

  Apr 2024 - now

  Executive Assistant to the Head of School

  Key Highlights:• Deliver high-level administrative support to the Head of School by proactively managing priorities, streamlining daily operations, and ensuring seamless workflow and executive efficiency.• Serve as a strategic ambassador for the school, cultivating and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders on behalf of the Head of School.• Oversee the internal and external school calendars to ensure alignment, prevent conflicts, and support effective communication across all stakeholders. Assist with school-wide communications to enhance transparency, coordination, and community engagement.• Support the strategic planning process by guiding workflows, facilitating high-level engagement, and fostering collaboration among staff, faculty, and the Board of Trustees to drive the plan forward.• Serve as the School's liaison to the Board of Trustees, ensuring clear communication, alignment, and meaningful engagement between the Board and School. Show less