Lauren W.

Experience

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  Arizona State University

  Aug 2002 - Mar 2004

  Senior Library Assistant

  Created and managed library serials & journals records in online database. Provided research assistance and customer service.

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  Out-U-Go!

  Apr 2004 - Jul 2004

  Dog Walker

  Provided petcare (feeding, grooming, medicating, etc.) and dog walking service at various locations in Oak Park area.

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  Poor Phil's Shell Bar

  May 2004 - Mar 2005

  Server

  Provided customer service, waited tables, conducted basic cleaning and financial duties.

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  Nola's Cup Cafe

  Mar 2005 - Oct 2005

  Assistant Manager

  Supervised and managed employees, and provided customer service. Additional duties included cashiering, food preparation and basic financial (register and budgetary) balancing. I obtained food safety licensure through the State of Illinois, and received Barista training through Intelligentsia.

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  Hephzibah Children's Association

  Aug 2005 - Dec 2006

  Assistant Teacher/Childcare Worker, Kindergarten Program

  I supervised children in a highly regarded after-school program, and worked primarily with kindergartners and first-graders, but periodically also served as a substitute in the 4th-6th grade classroom. My duties included planning educational and recreational activities, offering homework support, engaging in conflict resolution/mediation, providing First Aid/CPR, and managing large groups during field trips, assemblies and recesses.

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  Buzz Cafe

  Oct 2005 - Jul 2006

  Barista/Server

  I received in-depth Barista training through Intelligentsia, and prepared espresso drinks and provided table service to customers. Duties also included cashiering, cleaning, and opening/closing procedures.

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  Whole Foods Market

  Jun 2006 - Aug 2013

  Marketing Assistant, Concierge, & Regional Green Mission Rep - Administration Team

  I was promoted from the role of Store Concierge in 2010. In this position, I assisted the Marketing & Community Relations Specialist with event planning and execution, communications, social media management, and community outreach. I formed enduring relationships with local organizations and customers, building brand loyalty. In addition, I served on the Midwest Regional "Green Mission" Team, where my teammates and I developed the corporate sustainability strategy for the Region. We formulated a comprehensive environmental stewardship training program for 33 stores, and identified site-specific energy reduction opportunities. As part of this endeavor, I trained over 200 Team Members on composting, recycling, and environmental best practices in the workplace. My duties included: • Teaching 3-5 monthly classes and giving facility tours to a diverse array of community and academic groups, including K-12 school children, college students, seniors, environmental organizations, and health practitioners. Class topics included nutrition/wellness, sustainability, and "Whole Foods 101". I also developed original curricula for experiential public and internal workshops, and offered regular public speaking engagements and demos.• Managing marketing, promotions, donations, and partnerships as Interim Marketing Specialist (2013), and coordinating team member volunteer opportunities in the community.• Partnering with RootRiot! Community Urban Garden in Chicago, and designing a Permaculture Herb Spiral onsite. I led a group of WFM Team Members in constructing and planting the spiral (2011).• Volunteering in Guatemala with the Whole Planet Foundation, as one of four Midwestern Team Members chosen to participate in a community-empowerment, micro-credit loan project with WFM's fair trade suppliers (August 2010). Offered a photography exhibit and public Q&A session as a fundraising benefit upon my return, and helped the store achieve $10K in donations for the Foundation. Show less

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  ECRA Group, Inc.

  Apr 2010 - May 2010

  Standardized Test Grader

  Using an established rubric, I graded High School math and science assessment tests to evaluate students’ college readiness and determine their eligibility for selective programs. This was a short-term independent contractor position for two consecutive seasons, Spring 2009 and Spring 2010, which I held in addition to my other jobs.

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  University of Michigan

  Sept 2013 - May 2015

  I served as the Lead Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) for Professor Raymond De Young's undergraduate course, Psychology of Environmental Stewardship (Environ 361), and the junior GSI for Dr. De Young's undergraduate course in Behavior & Environment (Environ 360). My responsibilities included leading discussion sections for 120 undergraduate students (approximately 60 students per semester), lesson planning, holding office hours and exam review sessions, offering one-on-one tutoring and special assistance, and managing the classroom. My primary objective was to help students understand human information processing in relation to the natural world. We examined complex behavior change models, and students created a behavior change campaign for an environmental issue they cared about, developing their own original model. In addition to these duties, I assisted in creating assignments, exams and quizzes, and proctored and graded those exams in collaboration with the Professor and other GSI for the course. My final task was to calculate and award final course grades. Show less I served as Professor Raymond De Young's research assistant, and compiled case studies on environmental sustainability and stewardship topics ranging from energy descent and peak oil, to conservation behavior, the localization movement, sustainable food systems and transition towns. I synthesized these studies into small-article formats for one of Dr. De Young's forthcoming publications, and also aided in revising a manuscript for submission to environmental psychology journals. My favorite aspect of this position was that I was asked to create whiteboard animation videos for the UM Environmental Psychology Lab's YouTube Channel, "Transition Times". I learned Sparkol Videoscribe software for this purpose, wrote video scripts (and edited the scripts of colleagues), and turned these into a series of short videos on sustainability topics. I also provided voiceover narration for each video. In addition to these tasks, I created and uploaded basic web content for Professor De Young's professional website. Show less

  • Graduate Student Instructor - Environmental Psychology, Sustainability and Behavior

    Aug 2014 - May 2015

  • Research Assistant, Environmental Psychology

    Sept 2013 - Aug 2014
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  NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

  May 2014 - Aug 2014

  Climate Adaptation, Resiliency and Preparedness Intern

  This summer internship was part of a six-person interdisciplinary Master's Thesis Project at the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and Environment. In partnership with NOAA, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI), and the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments (GLISA), I researched best practices for climate adaptation planning and resiliency in Great Lakes municipalities. This included conducting interviews and consultations with mayors, city planners, stakeholders and partners in five Great Lakes cities, and led to the creation of climate adaptation case studies for each of those cities. I served as lead author for one of the five studies, and co-author/editor for the others. I also designed a series of six online climate adaptation training webinars for municipal users, and assisted in developing resiliency-planning infographics for each case study city. The overall project objective was to offer a toolbox, reference guide of "Best Practices", and series of decision support tools that any municipality could use to help shape their own climate preparedness planning. Show less

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  NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration via Jamison Professional Services (contract)

  Dec 2015 - Nov 2017

  NOAA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Program Coordinator

  • Provided senior-level management of NOAA's participation in the GLRI program, a $300M multi-agency annual Federal investment to protect and restore the Great Lakes ecosystem. Reviewed funding proposals for $15-40M annual GLRI project portfolio, served as point of contact for partners/stakeholders, and supported NOAA leadership.• Co-Chaired Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Team (GLRCT) Communications Working Group. Managed, wrote and edited content for GLRCT website. Created and updated fact sheets, brochures, NOAA leadership talking points and media for distribution to members of Congress during annual Capitol Hill visits.• Co-Led NOAA in the Great Lakes video production team. Curated imagery, wrote script/storyboard, interfaced with Mort Crim Communications to execute vision. Team won National Telly Award for video. • Analyzed and reported information required by EPA and Congress. Facilitated meetings for GLRI Principal Investigators, academic partners, and nonprofit stakeholders. Planned annual meeting in Washington, D.C., including creating agendas, securing guest speakers, coordinating tech setup and logistics, catering, travel, and accommodations for NOAA leadership. • Served on NOAA Congressional roundtable planning team to identify priorities and structure for meetings with legislators. Show less

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  University of Arizona

  Dec 2017 - Feb 2023

  Strategic Communications Leadership:• Founded and directed Office of Sustainability’s inaugural communications program. Hired, supervised, and mentored our full-time Communications Coordinator and first student graphic design, writing, and photo/video team.• Wrote first-ever Office of Sustainability Communications Plan & Style Guidelines (2020), which increased Instagram followership by 409% from 2020-2022. Oversaw creation of four short videos, which received 6,500+ combined views on Instagram Reels and YouTube.• Lead author for 75% of premier website (2020); in 2022 alone, site gained 8.5K new users.• Launched first annual/quarterly reporting process, blog, MailChimp newsletter (1,000+ subscribers in first year) to increase visibility and impact. Directed creation of print and digital storytelling assets including brochures, social media templates, fliers, posters. Wrote video scripts, articles/blog posts, and press releases.• Lead author on 2018 Kroger Foundation grant, resulting in $75K award and multi-year partnership.• Served on Social Justice Committee to advance equity, inclusion, diversity, and anti-racism on campus.Sustainability & Climate Action Planning and Strategic Initiatives:• Co-Chair of inaugural Sustainability & Climate Action Plan. Gave presentations & briefings to Chief Financial Officer, Provost, Senior VP for Research, Dean’s Council, and Strategic Planning, Budget & Advisory Committee alongside our Director, which garnered $200K in funding and wide-scale support for Plan.• Lead author on proposal that secured $10K in pro bono climate consulting assistance from Brailsford & Dunlavey.• Co-Chair of RFP Committee for Action Plan. Contributing author & editor of RFP to seek climate consultant/DEI specialist. Developed original candidate evaluation matrix.• Co-authored sustainability initiatives for University of Arizona Strategic Plan (2018), which madesustainability a critical priority in University policy and decision-making. Show less Promoted to University of Arizona Sustainability Program Manager in July 2018. • Managed University of Arizona Green Fund grant program ($400K/annually). Served as Primary Advisor to Green Fund Committee. Oversaw data systems for proposal management and web presence. Tracked and reported on funded projects, conducted campus-wide outreach and formed partnerships, planned annual retreat.• Supervised Student Green Team charged with championing waste reduction, responsible energy use, water conservation, and benchmarking sustainability performance metrics.• Managed business processes, including PCard transactions, travel, and service contracts. Show less

  • Sustainability Program Manager

    Jul 2018 - Feb 2023

  • Campus Sustainability Program Coordinator

    Dec 2017 - Jul 2018
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  University of Michigan

  Mar 2023 - now

  Deputy Director of Communications and Engagement, U-M SEAS Sustainability Clinic

  Strategic Communications and Climate Planning: • In partnership with SEAS leadership, develop and execute a strategic communications plan to advance climate action and just transitions in Michigan and the Great Lakes region;• Lead communications, outreach, engagement, and marketing efforts for both the Detroit-based and statewide SEAS Sustainability Clinics;• Build broad support for climate mitigation and adaptation programs, policies, and technologies that support frontline communities in Detroit and statewide, and create systemic, equitable, and lasting change;• Generate creative written, visual, digital, and in-person direct and multi-party communications, including social media, press releases, articles, videos, web content, focus groups, and symposia/colloquia, to elevate carbon neutrality and environmental justice initiatives;• Leverage the power of effective network building and storytelling to cultivate relationships with partners, decision-makers, funders, influencers, and the public;• Maintain media lists and rapport with reporters to pitch news stories, events, and op-eds that elevate Clinic campaigns and inform the public about the economic, public health, and ecological benefits of a carbon-neutral future.Community Engagement, Capacity Building, and Digital Organizing:• Form coalitions and collaborations between climate allies across sectors;• Use digital tools to educate and uplift communities around climate action;• Spearhead and oversee Clinic email listserv, newsletter, messaging;• Lead/support Clinic event planning and promotions.Program Management:• Evaluate effectiveness of various communications and engagement strategies by establishing Clinic baselines, goals, metrics, and measuring impact;• Craft the Clinic’s communications budget; seek additional funding sources for and investment in the Clinic;• Represent the Clinic and offer capacity and support for partners’ priorities, campaigns, and events. Show less