Michael Kunkel Email & Phone Number

New York City Metropolitan Area

New York City Metropolitan Area

In addition to maintaining the responsibilities and portfolio of work as a Regional Recruiter, I am able to contribute to our national team in the areas of mentorship for incoming Recruiters, support for special projects, and facilitation of training opportunities.

Selected for a temporary assignment to support a portfolio of country desks, including Madagascar, Comoros, and Liberia. As a primary liaison between overseas posts and headquarters, I advocated on behalf of Post, reviewed and interpreted travel documents, budgets, and program planning reports, as well as facilitated the onboarding of several new USDH staff. Especially during a pivotal time of bringing Volunteers back into the field, monitoring the public health, diplomatic, security, and political atmosphere in each country that I worked with allowed me to grow my creative problem solving and messaging skills. I learned about the functions of many key offices within the agency, furthering my ability to collaborate across teams and coordinate with stakeholders.

Fort Mccoy, Wi

As part of the unprecedented inter-agency effort to assist and resettle Afghan evacuees in the U.S., I was selected to serve a 5-week assignment as part of the Department of State’s team at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. My primary role was to lead the departures portfolio and coordinate with several stakeholders in facilitating the safe and humane departure of guests from the base and onto communities where they were to be resettled. I worked with federal government, military, and United Nations teams to inform guests of their resettlement destination, provide information about their resettlement benefits, and address unforeseen issues on a case-by-case basis.

New York City Metropolitan Area

Taking the opportunity to return to the agency that has given me so many incredible opportunities in my personal and professional lives, I have stepped into a role where I can “pay it forward” by encouraging and inspiring others to pursue their passions for international development work. I design and implement a comprehensive recruitment strategy that targets a portfolio of approximately 20 universities, various community organizations, and includes key stakeholders. My recruitment style doesn’t end with one-on-one engagement and conversion with candidates, but it also includes building relationships with influencers and partnering with diverse organizations to leverage the best of what America has to offer.

Bronx, New York, United States

I provided case management services to a caseload of 15 clients in a supportive housing program. I worked in a community-based program model with diverse clients who have previously experienced street homelessness and live with a wide range of emotional, cognitive, and physical abilities. As my debut in the field of social services, I was able to connect clients with valuable access to public benefits and health resources. With a non-judgmental and supportive approach, clients were empowered to live more independently and safely.

Fianarantsoa, Madagascar

Following the successful completion of an initial 27-month commitment to Peace Corps service, I applied for, and was granted, a one-year extension of service in Madagascar. With a strong desire to continue leveraging the language, cultural, and grassroots development skills gained during the previous years, I relocated to a regional capital in the south-central highlands of the country where my primary assignment was to manage a regional office in support of 25 staff members and more than 160 volunteers. As a representative of the organization, I developed work sites for volunteers by traveling to local communities, meeting with potential partners, and assessing housing and job assignments. I also served as a member of the Small Grants Committee and reviewed numerous grant proposals from volunteers in order to support their design and implementation of community-based projects.Recognized for my dedication to improving the experiences of incoming Peace Corps trainees and my proven performance during previous training programs, I had the privilege of being asked by senior staff members to serve in a unique training leadership role. During an intensive 12-week training program for 30 participants, I facilitated various training sessions with special emphases on technical skills, cross-cultural awareness, language, and personal safety. I was also tasked with implementing a pilot training program for building personal resiliency skills, which I carefully adapted from existing resources and solicited collaboration from other volunteers. Throughout the program, I also monitored and evaluated the progress of training participants and provided appropriate feedback and follow-up.

Andapa, Madagascar

My primary assignment in Madagascar was as an English teacher, where I improved the English competency of more than 400 students in rural public schools by focusing on critical thinking and study skills. I utilized principles of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) to create an evidence-based and dynamic curriculum, despite extremely limited material resources.Outside of classroom teaching, I collaborated with community members on a variety of grassroots development projects that were born of the self-identified needs of stakeholders. For example, to address the inadequate level of pedagogical skill, I worked with local educators and volunteers to develop and implement a $2,200 grant-funded workshop for 50 English teachers. During the 4-day regional workshop, teachers and volunteers facilitated seminars on topics including improved classroom teaching approaches, basic student learning styles, and gender equitable teaching practices. By administering pre- and post-workshop assessments, we collected valuable data on participants behavior change and information retention.Stemming from ongoing community assessments, I built educational and cultural exchange programs in order to engage youth and adult learners at a local English language library. Additionally, I conducted community health education trainings, in coordination with local public health officials, to empower youth leaders to design and implement their own regional sensitization campaigns. Integrating into the Andapa community through strong interpersonal skills, ability to learn local Malagasy language, respect, and cultural sensitivity were fundamental to my success in this role.I was twice selected by Peace Corps programming staff to deliver 4-week trainings for more than 60 newly arrived trainees, during which I provided observation feedback to trainees in mock school scenarios, shared my experiences as an educator in Madagascar, and helped trainees acclimate to their new surroundings.

San Diego, Ca

After rediscovering my passion for working with students and higher education institutions, I joined the Enrollment team and guided qualified students through the application and enrollment process. Through maintaining weekly progress and enrollment reports, I used relevant data to inform my outreach strategies and recruit talented students.In order to provide sound advice to students, I first made every effort to understand their motivations for pursuing a degree in the design field. Equipped with this information, I coached students through the process of achieving their personal and professional goals. Whether it was during a phone conversation or an in-person meeting with a student, I brought transparency and honesty to the conversation in order to help students realize where their passions intersected with the academic programs of the university.

San Diego, Ca

Fueled by a desire to gain experience in the hospitality industry and work in one of San Diego’s most prestigious downtown hotels, I provided exceptional service by fulfilling requests and delivering amenities to guests of the hotel. As part of the housekeeping team, I often assisted other team members in preparing guest rooms, providing basic concierge information, and creating solutions to address the dynamic needs of a 1,628-room hotel. Interacting with such diverse clientele challenged me to constantly improve my active listening and expectation management skills.

Agoura Hills, Ca

As a member of the content development team, I collaborated with writers, business owners, and website designers to produce descriptive online material. The company’s goal was to connect consumers with local service providers in a simple and logical way, so I used SEO and digital marketing techniques to create informational pages for local businesses. Building on previously acquired editing and proofreading skills, I followed strict quality assurance protocols and held a team of freelance writers to high production standards.

Westlake Village, Ca

In an effort to help student-athletes obtain college scholarships, I contacted students from across the nation to assess their eligibility and provide tailored information about the recruitment process. When student-athletes and their families were ready to speak with our in-house recruitment team, I scheduled telephone and video conference appointments. Maintaining a database of client records and building rapport with students were essential aspects of this role.

San Diego, Ca

In addition to my responsibilities as President of the SDSU Ambassadors student organization, I provided administrative support in the Office of New Student and Parent Programs. My passion for working with students and families began to grow in this role and I was privileged to assist them in learning about the academic degrees and student services offered by the university. One of the initiatives that I am most proud of was creating a triage service to the Office of Advising & Evaluations during their peak hours. After seeing the high volume of students seeking academic advice at the start of each semester, I proposed a plan to provide SDSU Ambassadors, who are certified student academic advisors, to answer simple questions and assess the needs of students. This innovative program allowed Advising & Evaluations staff members to focus on more complex student concerns and it relieved some of the stress associated with the large number of requests for assistance.I also liaised between many university offices as a representative of the SDSU Ambassadors organization in order to coordinate special events, campus tours, and high profile guest visits. I represented a team of almost 100 elite students and organized efforts to provide the highest level of service to the university and the surrounding community.

San Diego, Ca

As a member of San Diego State University’s independent student newspaper, I edited articles to ensure grammar, spelling, and style were correct. Maintaining a high level of factual accuracy was essential in this role. I gained invaluable experience working with AP Style guidelines and developing a keen eye for editing written materials.

Bachelor Of Arts, Sociology

Activities and Societies: SDSU Ambassadors, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, Aztec P.R.I.D.E.Earned a minor in Business Administration

Education record

A 4-month study abroad program based in Florence, Italy. Academic courses accredited by Marist College.