Melissa H.

Experience

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  Graham- Windham Children Services

  Sept 1987 - Sept 1988

  Social Worker

  ➤ Effectively provided dynamic individual and group counseling to 60-80 adolescent trauma-experienced young ladies living in two foster group homes.➤ Optimized weekly individual and group counseling sessions, case management services, educational advising and planning to assist clients with independent living skills. ➤ Implemented culturally sensitive strategies in family counseling services to promote family reunification objectives.➤ Led as liaison for clients at court appointments, school conferences, and other referral services. Show less

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  SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity)

  Oct 1988 - Sept 1999

  Program Coordinator

  ➤ Fueled academic, career, personal and financial aid counseling by administering remarkable programs aiming to assist 80-100 high school junior, seniors and college freshmen and sophomores.➤ Oversaw the recruitment, training and supervision of instructors and volunteers for the academic enrichment and mentoring components of the program.➤ Proficiently assisted with coordination of student Summer Abroad Exchange and career internship programs.

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  Nazareth Regional & Catherine McAuley High Schools

  Nov 1989 - Jun 1998

  HS Counselor

  ➤ Oversaw individual and group counseling designed to provide effective interventions to short-term crisis of both students and their families.➤ Developed and administered innovative workshops and classroom presentations on substance abuse, healthy relationships and other age -appropriate life skill-related topics.➤ Led consultations with teachers, administrators and served as liaison to the community and social service agencies.➤ Spearheaded providing academic, college and financial aid advisement activities for students.➤ Collaborated with high guidance team in curriculum planning and college readiness activities to leverage student engagement and decision making. Show less

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  Academy of St. Aloysius High School

  Sept 1998 - Jun 2006

  Guidance Counselor

  ➤ Designed innovative, culturally sensitive individual and group counseling, college and financial aid advisement.➤ Incorporated school standardized testing programs by administering the program for the 9th and 10th grade, PSAT and Annual College/ career day.➤ Cultivated a culture of awareness and understanding of special education services by providing informational workshops and the administration of collaborative referrals and services for students with the Independent Child Study Team.➤ Served as the Assistant Coordinator of Curriculum Planning and Academic Program scheduling of the school. Show less

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  Queensborough Community College

  Jul 2013 - Jun 2017

  Program Manager/ High School Liaison & Post-Secondary Adviser

  Other titles Include:★ Program Manager/ High School Liaison & Post-Secondary Adviser ★ 21st Community Learning Centers ★ Liberty Partnerships Program ★ Pathways to Nursing Program ➤ Led as primary liaison and resource to administration, staff and families of partner high schools and community organizations on grant objectives and initiatives by ensuring an alignment of program offerings to school day curriculum programming and college academic readiness preparation.➤ Championed in familiarity with NYSED, NYC, DOE and CUNY academic policies and systems.➤ Designed and implemented dynamic student recruitment, marketing, and outreach at HS partner schools and CBO's.➤ Demonstrated a natural leadership ability by optimizing parent, student and community involvements through conducting workshops on post-secondary college and career planning, financial aid and other college/ career-related topics.➤ Significantly collaborated with college faculty coordinators, administrators and instructors on college course offerings and student academic progress.➤ Optimized the hiring, supervision and professional development activities of college- age peer mentors and tutors for the 21st Community Learning Centers and Pathways to Nursing program.➤ Spearheaded and co-wrote grant proposals and optimized research of other program funding sources for the 21st Community Learning Centers program.➤ Proficiently developed and spearheaded program activities for HS school participants including the annual 3-day college tour and same-day college visits for the 21st Community Learning Centers and Liberty Partnerships programs. Show less

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  St. John's University

  Oct 2017 - May 2024

  Program Coordinator/ Advisor (Assistant Director)

  ➤ Proficiently functions as the Assistant Administrator and Manager of the program’s daily operations by strategically creating and implementing all federally mandated services and activities for TRIO UB programs at partner high school for potential applicants and participants. Oversaw all aspects of the program during director’s leave of absences. ➤ Champions in cultivating a vision for vital growth by incessantly designing and implementing program policies, procedures, services and key documents needed to efficiently augment operations of services.➤ Orchestrate a culture of excellence by strategically conducting parent, student and community workshops on post-secondary opportunities, college and career planning, financial aid and other college and career-related topics to leverage student successes in their high school programming and college/ career goals.➤ Provides cohesive guidance and supportive services to students by collaborating with St. John’s faculty and administrators, HS administrators, faculty, guidance personnel and Upward Bound Instructional and support Staff on Supplemental Academic College Preparation Couse offerings, program activities and student academic progress.➤ Infuses pragmatic and transformative leadership by strategically providing prompt and responsive individual and group advisement in both academic and personal matters to help strengthen participant success.➤ Demonstrates inspirational leadership and professional development to instructors, and St. John’s Univ. graduate assistant and college-age tutor/mentors to ensure effective program services for students and their families. Show less

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  Freelance

  Apr 2024 - now

  Master Social Worker-Education Consulting