Kerry O'Brien Email & Phone Number

United States

• Oversee 4 direct reports and a wider team carrying out TWC’s mission to create flexible, immersive pathways to enhance the pipeline of diverse talent and build more equitable, inclusive workplaces and communities
• Liaise across departments to build and implement strategy for successful federal agency recruitment, professional development/ career readiness programming, and student services support
• Manage, mentor and coach direct reports in manner that allows them to fulfill their full potential
• Provide strategic and operational oversight including contract management, developing resources, and improving upon existing processes and procedures
• Support external client relations and business development

New York City Metropolitan Area

• Worked closely with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State to oversee approximately 1,300 participants per year either coming from this region or going to this region on.
• Communicated with ECA colleagues, binational Fulbright Commission partners, and U.S. embassies abroad on a day-to-day basis on the status of programs within regional portfolio of over 30 countries including Canada.
• Oversaw the WHA Student and Scholar regional portfolio by providing direction and guidance to IIE team members assigned to the project, as well as external partners, to achieve country, regional and programmatic.
• Managed 4 Program Officers, ensuring competing priorities are managed and deliverables met
• Supported Diversity & Inclusion initiatives for grantees and staff
• Managed grant funds, including supplementary funds, cost-share and endowments and recommends financial allocations for assigned regional portfolio. Establish and monitor regional budgets and conduct forecasting, while.

• Served as Acting Associate Director of the Short-term Programs team from 05/2019 - 12/2020
• Hired, trained, and supervised a team of 3 professionals dedicated to faculty-led, short-term study abroad programs
• Supported the transition of travel programs to virtual global learning programs in the wake of COVID-19
• Supported efforts to reopen study abroad programming in the wake of COVID-19
• Oversaw faculty-led short-term study abroad programs, with duties including: program proposal management, course development, program planning & budgeting, marketing and outreach, enrollment management.
• Built and maintained relationships across campus, with a focus on integrating international education initiatives into the curriculum

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Managed a portfolio of faculty-led short term study abroad programs in multiple countries
• Advised faculty program leaders on the program proposal process, course development, recruitment and outreach, application review, pre- departure orientation, on-site logistics, policies, and emergency and crisis.
• Ensured engaging, accurate, and effective marketing materials are created and maintained
• Monitored program enrollment statistics by tracking program application and participation numbers
• Supervised the compilation of comprehensive emergency preparedness information for all short-term programs and ensure the timely distribution of emergency preparedness rosters and other risk management/crisis response.
• Carried out post-program evaluation and assessment, using feedback to modify programs as needed

Bogotá, Colombia

• Provide advising services to Colombian candidates for the Fulbright grant
• Promote and facilitate U.S. higher education opportunities to Colombian students and professionals, as EducationUSA Adviser
• Communicate up-to-date information about application procedures, standardized test requirements, student visas, financial aid, and range of accredited U.S. higher education institutions
• Administer microgrant programs for students through EducationUSA and US Embassy programs
• Contribute to new grant initiatives and new program development
• Perform outreach activities such as information sessions, online web chats, national and international educational fairs and conferences, visits to Colombian universities

Barranquilla, Colombia

• Taught basic and technical English to adults from low-income communities
• Developed unique curricula tailored to hotel management and banking industries
• Managed 3 classes of about 30 students each
• Collaborated with local educators at SENA
• Provided recommendations for continuation of pilot English program

Buenos Aires, Argentina

• Consulted with staff of 5 as participant of The New School’s International Field Program
• Observed, assisted, and documented 6-month cycle of youth program, Amigos Del Puente
• Collected qualitative data by conducting oral interviews with various program constituents
• Presented feedback to the program staff
• Communicated entirely in Spanish

Greater New York City Area

• Oversaw caseload of over 500 Fulbright grantees from 13 countries in Europe
• Facilitated grantee compliance with Fulbright program policy and US visa regulations
• Liaised with US Department of State, Fulbright offices overseas, US universities
• Managed grantee budgets and ensured program expenses were correctly accounted for
• Created and maintained database and spreadsheet records, reviewed applications, drafted grant documents, processed DS-2019s, generated fiscal reports, arranged international staff visits, facilitated meetings.

Greater New York City Area

• Administered 3 corporate-sponsored global scholarship programs as part of two-person team
• Publicized programs, processed over 2,500 applications per year, facilitated selection committee meetings, notified applicants of award status, processed award payments, monitored grantees
• Maintained relationships with sponsors, consultants, grantees, publics from various cultures
• Planned, budgeted, facilitated annual skills development seminars for 10-15 grantees in Canada
• Updated web content, databases, online alumni communities on a regular basis

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Coordinated advertising contracts, artwork, invoices for International Educator, NAFSA.news
• Arranged various aspects of the annual Global Workforce Development Roundtable event
• Provided extensive administrative support for all departmental activities, including: advertising, partnerships, web content management, data entry, customer service

Towson, Maryland

• Provided preliminary study abroad advising, processed applications, answered phones, scheduled appointments, maintained student files, performed data entry tasks, led daily information sessions, delivered oral.
• Co-created, designed, wrote, edited, published Towson University’s first Study Abroad newsletter

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Analyzed survey feedback from the 2008 NAFSA Global Partner Sessions
• Conducted various administrative, data-management, research-oriented tasks

Post Graduate Certificate, Organization Development, 3.9 Gpa

Master Of Science (M.S.), Nonprofit Management, 3.9 Gpa

Activities and Societies: The New School’s 2013 International Field Program in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Mass Communication/Media Studies

Activities and Societies: • Honors College • Honor Society• Double focus: Journalism and New Media; Strategic Public Relations and.