US Department of Housing & Urban Development
Special Needs Assistance Specialist
Office of Community Planning & Development
September 2022 — Present
I joined the US Department of Housing & Urban Development as a Presidential Management Fellow (PMF), joining the Office of Community Planning & Development as a Special Needs Assistance Specialist. The SNAPS team administers the CoC and ESG programs, among others.
In SNAPS, I work on Data Policy, Competitions, Artificial Intelligence, Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity (SOGI) data, Technical Assistance, NSPIRE Implementation, & Regulations.
The National Institutes of Health
Management Analyst
PMF Rotation, Office of Strategic Planning and Management Operations
July 2023 — November 2023
I detailed to the NIH’s OSPMO to develop skills in Change Management through formal and practical training.
I worked on NIH’s Visitor Access Management Initiative (VAMI) and produced a study on accessibility for the project.
Champaign County Regional Planning Commission
Coordinator of the Continuum of Service Providers to the Homeless
July 2019 — September 2022
I was the first person in this role, a responsibility I enjoyed & valued. The CSPH is HUD’s Continuum of Care for Champaign County. I coordinated a grant processes, engaged in advocacy efforts, managed workgroups, and in general provided support, facilitation, and direction to the Continuum.
Champaign County Regional Planning Commission
Case Manager
August 2018 — August 2019
I joined RPC as a case manager because I wanted to work with clients over a longer period of time, but it also gave me an appreciation for program development, when I was asked to take over the small homeless prevention rent assistance program. Having the opportunity to grow in this kind of fusion role was a great experience.
As part of this position, I worked with Chicago Coalition for the Homeless to successfully pass changes to the Illinois Homeless Prevention Act, resulting in a stronger rent assistance program.
Before that? Running a behavioral health program in a rural health clinic, tech-ing at a psychiatric hospital, part-time counseling at a residential treatment center, working for a local newspaper, making websites, and repairing tech.
Boards, Groups & Community Service
- National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter — Undergrad Student Rep, 2019-2020
- Clay County Coalition Against Drug Abuse — Board Member, 2016-2019
- Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center — Service Learning, 2018-2019