Work Experience

Program Researcher and Facilitator (1/99 - Present)
Arcata/Camoapa Sister City Project
Position include researching possible projects for funding in Camoapa, Nicaragua, and participating in the completion of the programs. Projects include water and sanitation development, including well construction, pump installation, wash area construction, latrines and water supply. and community development, including heath clinic supply donation and library renovation.

Project Researcher (3/99-present)
CEED (Center for Economic and Environmental Development)
This job encompasses general office work, including data entry, bill processing, budget preparation, graphic design, and community project development.

Teacher's Assistant (8/1997 – Present)
Appropriate Technology (Eng. 305) and Technology and the Environment (Eng. 306)
In this position, I grade papers, assist students and help the professor.

Event Coordinator (5/98 – 10/98)
Arcata/Camoapa Sister City Project
Planned and operated the organization's largest fundraiser, The I Block party. Job included booking bands, organizing volunteers, planning food sales, publicity and acquiring permits.

Computer Lab Monitor (8/96 – 5/98)
Supervised a computer lab room at Humboldt State University. Job included assisting students with basic computer operations and general computer maintenance.

Volunteer Work:

ASSIST: Agency for Sustainable Systems in Science and Technology
Executive Director (5/97 - Present)
I have been the director of ASSIST for the past 2 years. During this time, I participated in various ASSIST program activities, including the Arcata Community Bikes Program, Agency fundraising, and project design. As Director, my responsibilities have included grant researching, agenda preparation, meeting facilitation, and electronic messaging.

Arcata/Camoapa Sister City Project (1/97 - Present)
I am an active volunteer for the Arcata/Camoapa Sister City Project. My involvement began when I worked in Arcata’s Sister City, Camoapa, Nicaragua, on a water sanitation project in January 1997. As a group member, I organized a January 1998 and January 1999 brigade, coordinated volunteers, set up a campus chapter of the organization, facilitated meetings, translated, arranged correspondence between Arcata and Camoapa, and organized various fund raising activities.

COPIRG: Colorado Public Interest Research Group
Vice Chairman (8/88 - 5/92)
Through this position I had the opportunity to organize a series of events, including an Earth Day Fair, Bike Fair and Mock Toxic Spill. I chaired various committees and held weekly meetings. Focus of this group was on lobbing, legislation and how to initiate change through the political system.

Education:

Graduate student in Environmental Systems, International Development Technology
Humboldt State University
Anticipated Graduation: December 1999
Course work Outline:

In this program I have had the opportunity to take many courses detailing community development. Through Engineering courses on Design, Planning, Coordination and Evaluation of Technological Interventions, I studied Participatory Development Procedures and sustainable systems program design. In Engineering 535, Development Technology, those technologies appropriate to long-term sustainability were detailed. Wastewater utilization, solar design, micro-hydro design, and biogas digesters are a few of the concepts this class outlined for community development. Environmental Systems Data Collection and Analysis, Science 530, presented methods to statistically analyze surveys, experiments, and sampling for social and scientific applications. As an Environmental Politics’ Teaching Assistant, I have activity participated in curriculum planning and educating. Additional study has included women in development, Africa, wetland construction for wastewater treatment and a variety of topics in sustainable systems.

My thesis research has focused on Microlending for women's businesses in developing countries. Extensive research on this topic has led to direct participation in the evaluation of a possible micro-credit program in Camoapa, Nicaragua. Focus has been on PRA (Participatory Research Appraisal) in the assessment of cooperatives and their readiness for a lending program. I have discovered that through appropriate planning, sustainable economic growth is possible for many cooperatives. I believe that success is possible when the people are part of the program and the program is designed for the specific needs of the people.

BA Environmental Politics, minor Appropriate Technology
Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA

Computer Skills

Dos/Windows, Macintosh, MS Excel, Word Processing, Desktop Publisher, Photoshop, and HTML Programing.

Languages

Spanish