Tess Johnson Email & Phone Number

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

• Co-led qualitative research and project management of distressed borrowers research evaluating the benefits of new debt reduction plans, process innovations, and new and alternative data sources to consumers, nonprofit credit counseling agencies, and other key stakeholders ▪ Led qualitative interviews focusing on business operations, development and use of digital platforms to facilitate consumer intake processes and communications, overall industry trends, and anecdotal evidence of… Show more • Co-led qualitative research and project management of distressed borrowers research evaluating the benefits of new debt reduction plans, process innovations, and new and alternative data sources to consumers, nonprofit credit counseling agencies, and other key stakeholders ▪ Led qualitative interviews focusing on business operations, development and use of digital platforms to facilitate consumer intake processes and communications, overall industry trends, and anecdotal evidence of the impacts of economic pressures on consumers’ finances, among other topics ▪ Co-led stakeholder engagement efforts with the Advisory Board and Credit Counseling Agency Council, including sharing preliminary research findings and salient industry developments, and coordinating meeting logistics, learning agendas, and processes for soliciting and synthesizing input in final research outputs• Co-led qualitative research and project management of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded research on potential applications and financial inclusion benefits of alternative and non-traditional data and machine learning for credit underwriting in low- and middle-income countries ▪ Co-managed all research and project management tasks, including conducting desk research, literature reviews, qualitative interviews, and writing ▪ Synthesized key findings for use by both internal and external project leads and decision-makers ▪ Leveraged connections with former colleagues and peer to secure stakeholder interviews and invitations to relevant events and conferences that introduced work to new audiences• Led conceptualization, development, project management, and production of the FinRegLab podcast• Mentored and supported management of FinRegLab junior staff and interns Show less

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

• Led research agenda and project management of the municipal identification and COVID-19 cash assistance program workstreams, including mapping the political and legal environment of municipal, state, and county-level identification initiatives, conducting outreach and qualitative interviews with stakeholders, and synthesizing key insights for public dissemination ▪ Developed learning sessions that highlighted key research takeaways, both for internal CFI staff and external audiences… Show more • Led research agenda and project management of the municipal identification and COVID-19 cash assistance program workstreams, including mapping the political and legal environment of municipal, state, and county-level identification initiatives, conducting outreach and qualitative interviews with stakeholders, and synthesizing key insights for public dissemination ▪ Developed learning sessions that highlighted key research takeaways, both for internal CFI staff and external audiences, including city and county representatives leading efforts to run cash assistance programs and other Open Society Foundations grantees ▪ Wrote blog posts and full-length publications, and created other presentations that highlighted salient “lessons learned” and recommendations for cash assistance program design and implementation• Led research and project management of micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) financial health workstreams in India and Indonesia ▪ Served as main point of contact between the project team, intradepartmental actors, external contractor, and in-country financial service providers partners ▪ Used R and Tableau to analyze data collected from in-country surveys and create data visualizations• Spearheaded agenda-setting and stakeholder engagement efforts for Financial Inclusion Week (FIW) 2018 and 2019, CFI’s annual decentralized conference aimed at strengthening a global community of partners committed to advancing financial inclusion• Conceptualized, developed, and produced for the FIW 2019 podcast; served as the host of a three-part FIW 2018 podcast series • Co-led management of the CFI Research Fellows Program, including research agenda conceptualization, project management, and rollout and strategic communication efforts• Headed the recruitment process for the annual program coordinator position and selection of participants for the HBS-Accion Program on Strategic Leadership in Inclusive Finance executive education program Show less

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

• Efficiently and skillfully prepared and served coffee, espresso, and tea drinks and food items at a high volume retail location• Demonstrated substantial knowledge of coffee brewing techniques and products• Developed and maintained friendly relationships with a loyal customer base

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Office of Multilateral Development Banks | Office of Development Results and Accountability• Reviewed multilateral development bank project proposals for Executive Board consideration while ensuring compliance of said proposals with congressional and other mandates• Input relevant data into the Treasury Department’s Loan Review Database• Assessed trends in international development cooperation and financing mechanisms

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Office of the U.S. Special Representative for the Central African Republic• Created a “Action Matrix” to track US Government, World Bank, and European Union programmatic efforts and funding in the Central African Republic• Drafted and processed internal press guidance on current events in the Central African Republic• Provided research assistance and administrative support to the U.S. Special Representative for the Central African Republic, including managing information requests… Show more Office of the U.S. Special Representative for the Central African Republic• Created a “Action Matrix” to track US Government, World Bank, and European Union programmatic efforts and funding in the Central African Republic• Drafted and processed internal press guidance on current events in the Central African Republic• Provided research assistance and administrative support to the U.S. Special Representative for the Central African Republic, including managing information requests from State Department bureaus, offices and external stakeholders Show less

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

• Compiled weekly news briefings on current events in Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on civil and political rights in Southern, Central, and West Africa• Coordinated communication between DC staff, field staff, and local consultants

Storrs, Ct

• Informed students about the Academic Achievement Center and its resources• Assisted staff with the UConn Connects and First Year Experience programs• Helped direct visitors to appropriate on-campus resources and/or staff

Storrs, Ct

First Year Programs, UConn Connects• Worked with students on academic probation or others at risk on an individual basis• Provided students with practical strategies for improving note taking, test taking, exam preparation, general organization, goal setting, and time management skills• Counseled students concerning work-school-life balance and other issues outside academics more generally

Storrs, Ct

• Presented “Public Views on Ethical Consumption” at undergraduate research exhibition• Participated in Honors political science research group investigating the New England town meeting form of government in Connecticut• Secured funding for research project examining attitudes and behaviors about politically motivated consumption

Waterbury, Ct

• Upheld HIPAA privacy standards• Maintained patient confidentiality• Helped patients, local hospitals, and other medical practices access patient medical records

Master Of Arts (Ma), International Relations And International Economics, International Law And Organizations

Activities and Societies: International Human Rights Clinic

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Political Science And Human Rights, Gpa 3.7/4.0, Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: University Honors Program, Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honors Society, Academic Achievement.

Center For European Studies (Ces)

Selected Coursework: Intercultural Communication, Law and Politics: Current Topics in the European Union

High School Diploma, Ranked In Top 10 Students Of Entire Graduating Class

Activities and Societies: Junior Varsity/Varsity Volleyball Team (co-captain), Band, Jazz Band, National Honor Society (treasurer).