Gail Jessen, Macl Email & Phone Number

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Admissions Coordinator for Grand Canyon University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program in Salt Lake City, UT.

Professionally trained metalsmith, specializing in Sterling Silver.Handcrafted one-of-a-kind and custom designs with an 82% rate of repeat clients buying multiple pieces.As the sole owner and employee, I handle every aspect of the business; from website design and product photography, to social media marketing and inventory management, to bookkeeping and fabricating the jewelry.

When I initially transitioned out of my career in higher education, I created my own teaching, consulting, and coaching business. I designed online courses with the mission to empower women to live their most purposeful, authentic lives. I was licensed by Danielle LaPorte as a Desire Map facilitator.

Traveling All Over The World

As a member of The Avid Cruiser team, I sailed on cruise ships around the world writing Live Voyage Reports. Daily recaps, reviews, and photos help readers make informed travel decisions, and also allow them to enjoy a virtual vacation. My Live Voyage Reports included sailing the Mediterranean on Holland America's ms Noordam, sailing Alaska's Inside Passage on the Star Princess, and sailing the Irrawaddy River with Viking River Cruises.The Avid Cruiser website: http://www.avidcruiser.com

Greater Salt Lake City Area

The Thayne Center for Service & Learning establishes capacity-building relationships with community organizations, facilitates curriculum development opportunities for faculty, and coordinates service leadership programs for students.In my role as the Director, I informed and guided institution-wide strategies around community engagement.Led department through first-ever comprehensive program review and strategic planning process. Over the course of two years we conducted a self-study, solicited feedback from an external team, and established a multi-year strategic action plan for every program in the department.Oversaw all departmental programs by supervising five professional managers and a team of 5-10 paraprofessional student employees. Previously managed three full-time AmeriCorps VISTAs and one part-time University of Utah Graduate Assistant.Managed $500,000 annual budget within 11 different budget indexes; including payroll, Education & General legislative funds, student fees, donation and charity accounts, and several federal and state grant budgets. Oversaw monthly audits of all budget indexes.Collaboratively designed and implemented annual assessment plans, including the creation of evaluation instruments designed to assess achievement of college-wide learning outcomes.Authored department’s annual assessment reports, presenting both the results and data-driven strategies to move programs and initiatives forward.Prepared monthly status reports for the Assistant Vice President, including briefs for the SLCC Board of Trustees.Chaired 25-member Thayne Center Community & Academic Advisory Board.Conducted weekly one-on-one meetings with all program managers; designed to mentor, troubleshoot, and assess both programmatic and professional development plans.Lead weekly all-staff department meetings; designed to foster team building and collaboration, provide necessarily skills training, and facilitate on-going program outcome assessment.

Greater Salt Lake City Area

First person ever hired for this new position, responsible for creating and defining my role.Envisioned and institutionalized SLCC’s national-award winning service-learning program. Collaboratively designed over 60 service-learning courses, enrolling 33% of SLCC students.Designed Service-Learning Grant & Designation (SLG&D) program, including RFP documents, curriculum rubrics and criteria, and college-wide procedures for designation of courses.Developed instruments for course evaluation and program outcome assessment. Triangulated evaluation tools to correlate data from students, faculty, and community partner stakeholders.Created and executed professional development initiatives for faculty, including a 13-member interdisciplinary Service-Learning Faculty Consulting Corps. Also designed pedagogy and curriculum for an online faculty training course (SL 1000).Coordinated two institution-wide symposia, including hosting nationally-renown keynote speakers: Engaging the Campus, Connecting with the Community (March 2007), and The Engaged Campus: A Symposium on Service & Learning (March 2009).Managed annual faculty development budget provided by the Provost of Academic Affairs. Wrote two Teaching & Learning Grants for Pedagogical Innovation, both awarded and funded by the SLCC Faculty Teaching & Learning Center.Chaired 21-member Service-Learning Advisory Board. Also chaired SLG&D Review Committees.Co-created the award-winning Partners in Service & Learning initiative with University of Utah and Westminster College. Planned a series of stakeholder training events that averaged 50 attendees.

Greater Salt Lake City Area

Hired, trained, and supervised 19 students working in local elementary schools as America Reads tutors and four students working at nonprofit organizations as community work-study employees.Coordinated tutor placements with three AmeriCorps VISTA site supervisors.Maintained partnerships with principals and teachers at three elementary schools, and with the staff of two nonprofit organizations.Acquired donation of 800 new children’s books, donated to America Reads elementary students.Managed a $4,000 private donation to the America Reads Program.Organized and led a week-long Alternative Spring Break trip to Taos, New Mexico; Built homes with Habitat for Humanity; 13 students traveled participated.Directed a team of five student service leaders.Created a project planning handbook and training curriculum for student service leaders.

Greater Boston Area

Campus Compact, familiar with my work at Salt Lake Community College and my consulting experience with the American Association of Community Colleges, invited me to serve in their consulting corps.Campus Compact is the only national, professional member organization dedicated entirely to the advancement of service-learning in higher education. Campus Compact maintains a consulting corps of practitioners and professionals in the field who agree to share their expertise and resources with colleges and universities building their own service-learning program.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Managed $18,000 federal grant (2006-2009) and $42,000 federal grant (2009-2012). Passed a no-findings federal audit in spring 2008.2009-2012: Consultant for Cape Cod Community College (Massachusetts), Colorado Campus Compact (Denver), and Georgia Perimeter College (Atlanta)2006-2009: Consultant for Baton Rouge Community College (Louisiana), Chattahoocee Technical College (Georgia), Laramie County Community College (Wyoming), Lorain County Community College (Ohio), Rogue Community College (Oregon), Tacoma Community College (Washington), Trinidad State Junior College (Colorado).Every three years from 1994-2012, AACC’s national Community Colleges Broadening Horizons through Service-Learning initiative selected four individuals to serve as consultants to community colleges trying to institutionalize their own service-learning programs. AACC provided grant funding to the consultant’s institution through the Corporation for National & Community Service’s Learn & Serve America.

Greater Salt Lake City Area

Supervised eight students working as Volunteer Project Leaders.Created project planning handbook and orientation manual for Volunteer Project Leaders. Trained student leaders to plan and coordinate service projects and recruit volunteers.Established the Westminster College Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter.Organized and led a week-long Alternative Spring Break trip to Long Beach, California; Built homes with Habitat for Humanity; 25 students traveled and participated.

M.A. Education, Community Leadership, (Macl, Mba, Mpc), Summa Cum Laude

Thesis: “A microcosm of democracy: Urban community gardens and the civic life of gardeners in Salt Lake City.” My thesis was an original.

Leadership & Management Certification, Nonprofit Academy For Excellence - Professional Education

Bachelor Of Arts, English, Summa Cum Laude

Thesis: My research focused on the literature and culture of the United States in the 1950s. I studied how the unique culture.

Metal And Jewelry Arts

Activities and Societies: Women’s Jewelry AssociationGraduate of the Jewelry Business Accelerator Program.