Tonal Simmons, M.A. Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il, Us

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Product and portrait photographer serving clients from small businesses to individuals across industries, using photography to tell their brand stories and support their marketing activities.Conceptualized and directed “The Artist & The Art” – a collaborative photographya project highlighting Black small businesses and queer, non-binary, and trans creatives.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Leading daily operations of the Student Emergency Fund (SEF) serving college students facing financial emergencies in the Chicago area. Expanding the Student Emergency Fund program to account for an increase in fiscal donations of 800k and an increase in students served. Building meaningful, trusting partnerships with community stakeholders has resulted in increased donor engagement and donations.

Chicago, Illinois

Directed a seven-person remote department advising a diverse portfolio of clients across thebanking, food service, health care, and hospitality industries at Fortune 500 companies in the USA.Ensured compliance of contract provisions per project SLAs. In charge of winding down the project and offboarding clients as departments closed.

Kalamazoo, Michigan Area

As a Study Abroad Advisor, I managed ten programs and supported students from inception, through the time they return back to campus, I create all social media campaigns and marketing materials, and create student programming with an emphasis on access, inclusion, and identity. This included creating a content calendar, posting a schedule, and training staff/students on the brand and voice of the CIP. I co-managed the Student Advisory Board for Study Abroad and Away (SABSAA) as a reintegration and outreach tool for past participants. In addition, I advised the J-1 exchange students, processed their DS 2019s, and ensured that they maintained visa eligibility.

I served on the Race/Ethnicity Task Force for two years for Diversity Abroad. During my first year, I helped to develop the “Top 5 tips to Developing a Diversity and Inclusion Strategy” regarding diversifying education abroad offices and programming for the use of institutions across the US and world. The second year our task force created the "Student of Color Advising Manual."Most recently, I am a Diversity Abroad Contractor who serves as Student Services Content Contributor. In this role, I assist with creating, designing and editing online course modules.

Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil

-Creation, coordination and instruction of intermediate English for undergraduate students with emphasis on U.S. Culture, racial identities and history at the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL)-Creation, coordination and co-teaching of Idiomas Sem Fronteras (Language without Borders) focused on U.S. academic interactions, U.S. Higher Education and teaching of English through nonstandard English language-Facilitation of professional development and one-on-one workshops with the undergraduate English -Creation and facilitation of Creative Writing workshops for EducationUSA office at Centro Universitario CESMAC for students to prepare for research or study in the U.S. -Youth engagement through providing English courses at the Black Institute of Maceió (Instituto do Negro de Alagoas/INEG)

Greater Detroit Area

During my tenure as an Academic Advisor in the Department of Classical and Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures (17 different concentrations) I managed a caseload of 500 undergraduate students in the whom I met with about major, minor, general education and graduation requirements. In addition, I advised transfer students entering and exiting the University. As part of this role, I took on advising for outside study abroad programs that were not part of WSU's portfolio. This included ensuring all programs were appropriately vetted, courses evaluated and signed off on, and graduation plans update in Banner. Through this, I worked in tandem with faculty and our study abroad office to evaluate all exchange programs and create a list of transfer courses.Outside of my role as an Academic Advisor I served on the ARC committee (general education review committee for students who've stopped out for more than 15 years) for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and co-evaluated transcripts for returnees. Furthermore, I co-created RISE, for women of color, in conjunction with the Office of Multicultural Student Engagement (OMSE) and sat on their steering committee for The Network, for men of color, to provide resources aimed at increasing the retention and graduation of underrepresented students by providing a safe space filled with faculty and staff of color as mentors and support.

Ann Arbor, Mi

As a New Student Program Advisor, I facilitated the New Student Orientation and Campus Tours meanwhile overseeing 2-3 student workers per session. In addition, I collaborated on the creation of Peer Advisors using Student Success Models which allowed WCC to fuse together Orientation and Academic Advising. Lastly, I created the Peer Mentor Program with an emphasis on retaining first-generation students based on the On Course Principles and Bottom Line's DEAL Model along with assessment and measurement tools.

Ypsilanti, Mi

As the Coordinator, I facilitated bi-weekly group discussions for the SisterHOOD (SH) initiative, which provides a safe space for women of color to come and discuss the barriers that are impacting their grades, retention, and graduation at EMU. In addition, a managed a $5,000 budget, oversaw one graduate student and co-created the second year cohort model. Prior to the discussion groups, I assisted with the creation of SH from its inception by gathering research for best practices on engaging women of color in college to assist with future programming and develop student learning outcomes. To create a broader impact for the EMU community I created the first annual Black Women's Leadership Symposium along with recruitment of panel speakers, location, and marketing materials.

Kalamazoo, Michigan Area

I served as an Academy Leader for the MLK Academy for the 2015-2016 academic year. Within this role I advised 70 Juniors and Seniors within the on their scholarship requirements, grades, and extracurricular activities. I held bi-weekly online, or in person, meetings to complete and assess goal setting and to promote the use of campus resources and getting involved beyond the classroom. Furthermore, I managed the entire e-learning course shell where I posted assignments and grades for each student.

Kalamazoo, Michigan Area

As a graduate intern, I benchmarked host family programs at other small, private colleges to assist with the revamp of the K College's Host Family Program. I created applications, brochures and tentative 2015-16 school year schedule for the program. Lastly, I designed the K Passport pamphlet as a tool to engage students in the application process for Study Abroad.

Kalamazoo, Michigan Area

In my first role at BBBS, as Customer Relations Specialist I addressed the inquiries made from volunteers and parents on a day to day basis. I managed six calendars where I scheduled individual and group interviews for the Enrollment and Match Support teams in the five counties that BBBS serves. In addition, I planned events for matches and managed the monthly newsletter. After six months I was promoted to the Service Delivery Specialist where I interviewed an assessed eligibility and fit for our mentors and mentees.

Lansing, Michigan Area

In my first full-time position post-Michigan State University I served as an AmeriCorps State Member in my role as Community Resource Navigator at Capital Area Community Services. In this role, I Promoted the new MI Bridges system which allowed residents to apply for state assistance online from the Department of Human Services. I assisted Michigan residents apply online, on the MI Bridges website, to seek assistance from DHS such as state of emergency relief, food, cash, medical and childcare assistance. In addition, I prepared low-income English and Spanish speaking residents taxes for free.

Master'S Degree, Higher Education/Student Affairs

I will graduate with a Master's in Educational Leadership and a Graduate Certificate in Academic Advising in April of 2016.

Graduate Certficate, Academic Advising

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Spanish