Designing and managing the institutional human subjects research education and training initiatives at Allina Health (e.g., a new PI training program, student researcher training programs, and the quarterly Research Personnel Forum) and communications (The Investigator: Research Department Newsletter).Providing leadership and mentoring for the Allina Health research community by developing training and education programs and materials (guidance documents and checklists) and one-on-one and small group teaching on IRB/HRPP matters.Developing/refining policies and procedures (e.g., consent and HIPAA authorization updates, MHRA policies, IAA processes).Consulting with IRB members and staff on regulatory requirements and determinations for IRB reviews and IRB meetings. Analyzing and reporting on internal activities to identify trends and areas of potential risk. Conducting essential IRB/HRPP operations tasks including recording IRB meeting minutes, Clinicaltrials.gov PRS administration, and communicating with stakeholders across and outside of the organization. Continued professional development and learning as a content expert for research ethics and integrity issues.

Evaluated medical and social/behavioral research proposals with child and adult subjects for regulatory compliance (OHRP, CDC, FDA, etc.), ethical guidelines working with vulnerable populations, and scientific feasibility. Interpreted federal, state, and institutional regulatory policies and procedures and ensures compliance. Analyzed multiple complex activities simultaneously with a close attention to detail on specific timeframes. Educated on research issues in formal and informal contexts.Strengthened skills in ethical judgment, problem solving, time management, conflict management, and organization. Along with the department, assessed, evaluated, and continually improved the Human Research Protection Program’s impact and services. This includes the development and implementation of policies and procedures to maintain compliance, such as a faster and more efficient processing of corrective and preventive action plans. Showed strong customer service and interpersonal skills through working with various stakeholders (e.g. study team members, clinical researchers, industry representatives) on complex, time sensitive, and occasionally sensitive topics. Continual professional development, involving learning more about regulatory principles, clinical trials, working with vulnerable populations, and more. Took detailed notes and writing detailed meeting minutes at IRB meetings.Worked independently and as a member of a remote team. Trained and oriented new hires.

Direct management and approval/denial of all human subjects research proposed and conducted at the institution as the only direct point-of-contact between researchers and the Board. Delegated tasks and reviews to other Board members (several faculty members and one community member). Compiled reviews and communicated necessary revisions to the researchers. Verified revisions were completed in a satisfactory manner. Recruited and trained new Board members.

Research design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and communication, including community health needs assessments and program evaluations. Planning and developing new academic centers/programs/certificates (four), courses (seven), and off-campus educational experiences (five international, two local). Teaching college-level courses: Created a collaborative, interactive curriculum for teaching interdisciplinary courses and courses in the sociology and anthropology major. Planning, assigning, reviewing, and evaluating student work. Course instruction, management, evaluation, and assessment. Used student course evaluations to address gaps, identify strengths, and address weaknesses, problems, or complaints. Designing and altering the syllabus throughout the semester to respond to changes or challenges. Mentoring students and advising them on future educational and career paths, particularly in social work/human services, public health, and medicine. Conducted program assessment and implemented changes to address areas of concern. Created partnerships between the college and various local and international organizations. Maintained professional knowledge through continual learning and professional development. Advanced oral presentation skills in varied formats across different audiences (college lectures, professional presentations, public presentations, high school presentations, presentations for children). Strengthened professional writing and editing skills, including the publication of five research articles, the publication of four scholarly book reviews, delivering one program monitoring recommendation report to an international NGO, and serving as a peer reviewer for scientific journals and books. (continued below)

Facilitated collaboration among academic departments, administration, and the community for projects, events, and initiatives.Provided leadership as the chair of multiple committees and serving as program coordinator for Global Food Security and the Human Subjects Review Board. Appeared in the media representing the college on screen, over the radio, and in print. Developed strategic planning at the departmental/program level and participated in strategic planning at the institutional level.Grant writing and management for personal research and program development.Screened, interviewed, and recommended faculty candidates for hire on eight interdisciplinary faculty search committees. Oriented and trained new hires for four years as a member and chair (for one year) of the New Faculty Orientation Committee, an academic year-long series of weekly orientation and training sessions.Conducted regular meetings for departments and committees. Budgeting at the departmental, program, and committee levels.Evaluated faculty colleagues for the personnel review process. And many other duties related to teaching, professional development, and service to the institution and the profession.

Taught the medical anthropology course Health, Healing, and Ethics (May 2012) and Good Eats and Forbidden Flesh (Summer 2015).

Ph.D. Candidate in Anthropology focusing on medical anthropology (global health) including three years of full-time graduate coursework, research proposal and grant writing, preliminary fieldwork, NSF training in research methods in cultural anthropology (Summer 2010 in Bolivia), presenting research, teaching, training teaching assistants, and administrative tasks to support the Department of Anthropology. Upon securing grant funding from the Fulbright Program, I did a year of fieldwork in Quito, Ecuador (designing research, collecting data, data analysis, grant management, and program evaluation in an Ecuadorian NGO). Following a year of research, I completed dissertation writing and the dissemination of findings through publications and presentations.

Aided the librarian in the management and operation of a library including helping guests locate books and resources, checking books in and out at the front desk, and shelving books according to their categorization.

Classes: Introductory cultural anthropology (August 2009 - December 2011), Good Eats & Forbidden Flesh: Food, Culture, & the Global Grocery Market (January 2009 - May 2009), Language & Culture in Society (August 2008 - December 2008)Responsibilities included preparing and teaching lectures, leading discussion sections, evaluating student work, corresponding with students, and supporting the instructor's work on the course.

Dissertation research on medical anthropology (health and nutrition among at-risk communities and evaluation of programs to address poverty and malnutrition).

Curriculum development, teaching, and evaluation of students in general anthropology in the Sociology & Criminology Department at the Navarro College Partnership campus. This class was developed specifically to cater to 20+ students enrolled in the Criminal Justice program to develop cross-cultural competence.

Curriculum development, teaching, and evaluation of approximately 100 students in general anthropology.

Introduced the Kiva platform to a new field partner (FODEMI, now Vision Fund Ecuador). Supported operations and monitoring the field partner, including meeting with borrowers, conducted interviews and did needs assessments, documented Kiva processes, conducted trainings(in Spanish), and worked with field staff to understand policies and improve efficiency.Developed Kiva policies and procedures to fit with the local organization and community. Impact measurement and assessment at the local partner and contributed to Kiva's social performance monitoring and growth & impact strategy in the Latin American region.Borrower auditing and portfolio management. Facilitated and supported partnership relations for Kiva, support Pilot to Active Phase transfer.

Artifact processing in Archaeological Services (sponsored by PennDOT)in the Archaeological Curation Lab, Department of Anthropology