Vanessa Leja, Mpa Email & Phone Number

Seattle/Portland/Boise/Anchorage

Working to End the HIV Epidemic by providing education and empowerment programs and discussion sessions to Patients, Case Managers, Program Managers, and Health Care Professionals * Emphasis on PrEP, Treatment as Prevention, HIV Stigma, Engagement in Care, Protocol Development, Trauma Informed Care, and Cultural Humility

Olympia, Wa

* Hiring manager and supervisor for teams of 10-50 Specialized Case Investigation and Contract Tracing (CICT) Investigators for COVID-19 pandemic outbreak relief* Subject Matter Expert for 700 CICT Investigators throughout Washington State for Centralized Investigations conducted by WA DOH* Trainer for CREST data system as well as WA Notify code generation* Lead collaborator and manager for bi-weekly All-Investigator Trainings; books talent for trainings and coordinates with training team to organize and distribute completed trainings across the section

* Managing one section of 45 National Guard Case and Contact Investigators in an effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic (June - Present, 2020)* DOH Epidemiology Lead for a team of 7 DOH Case and Contact Investigators (June 2020)* Case and Contact investigator to Washington's populace in response to the COVID-19 pandemic (April - June 2020)

Tumwater, Washington

• Program Manager for CDC and HRSA mandated HIV Planning System including facilitating a 22-member body meeting quarterly to discuss and coordinate HIV Care and Prevention, Hepatitis C, Drug User Health, and STDs in Washington State• Evaluate and certify all sexual education curricula for HIV and STD medical and scientific accuracy for the WA State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction• Responsible for updating and maintaining the WA State Office of Infectious Disease Integrated Strategic HIV Care and Prevention Plan• Consultant and community engagement specialist for statewide media campaign for people living with HIV

Seattle, Washington

• Program Manager for CFAR's Community Engagement Division and facilitated monthly CAB and Stigma Working Group meetings, including 15+ community-based leaders from non-profit and research organizations across the region• Developed annual CAB budget, including auditing for compliance • Completed annual progress reports for sustained funding for the CFAR from National Institutes of Health• Coordinated a community-based participatory research (CPBR) project focused on HIV stigma; Facilitated, coordinated, and executed 13-focus groups for HIV+ and HIV- MSM; Collected, removed all personal identifiers, and maintained data collected during the focus groups; Recruited and managed 15 community volunteers throughout the CPBR process

Seattle, Wa

• Redesigned and updated curricula for M&E capacity building and training, including online courses; Coordinated efforts to share PATH’s proven M&E practices with international partners; Supported the M&E team in identifying training topics, approaches, and modalities; Researched training delivery mechanisms

Bellingham, Washington

• Managed appraisal assistant duties and systems organization for this real estate and appraisal company• Dictation and typing to complete appraisals • Administrative Assistant duties

Bellingham, Washington

• Managed programs for behavioral and speech therapy for a clientele of 13 children• Focused on generalizing behaviors into the community from the clinic to aid in well-rounded children

Ingwavuma, Kzn, South Africa

Program and Project Manager 2014-2015FANCY STITCH (NGO), INGWAVUMA, KWA-ZULU NATAL• Directed and initiated implementation of holiday camps for 52 HIV orphans • Managed WASH Program resulting in providing more than 100 people with potable water• Organized and managed Google.com fundraising project securing $2,900 for Orphan Program• Procured funding for, designed, and built a low-ropes obstacle course to help 52 orphans and 35 villagers foster teamwork, awareness of others, and the ability to achieve their dreams• Mentored and instructed 6 students after school in English, math, science, and healthEnglish Teacher 2012-2014OUR LADY PRIMARY SCHOOL, INGWAVUMA, KWA-ZULU NATAL• Chief liaison between senior Peace Corps staff and incoming volunteers – Volunteer Advisory Committee• Trained 4 cohorts of 30-50 Peace Corps Volunteers in phonics learning program to provide literacy training for children ages 5-10• Coached 90 students preparing for math and English exams• Instructed 158 native IsiZulu-speaking children; English, math, science, social studies, health• Initiated and managed donation program of 3,000 books for the school library• Illustrated and painted world map wall mural inspiring pride and awareness in local community• Implemented kindergarten-level phonics program

Bellingham, Wa

• Interviewed, hired, and managed warehouse staff • Administered customer service to more than 900 dealers and 47 manufacturers’ representatives• Maintained inventory as well as receivables and payable accounts

Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School; Las Vegas, Nevada Area

• Taught 22 children at Title I school• Created a second-grade curriculum compliant with national and state standards, with a differentiated learning component• Revamped school’s literacy curriculum

Master’S Degree, Evans School Of Public Policy And Governance, Master Of Public Administration, Non-Profit Management And Leadership Certificate

Activities and Societies: • Awarded the Social Policy Research Prize for outstanding Capstone project: Community Guided Support.

Post-Baccalaureate Degree, Teaching, 3.81 Gpa

Activities and Societies: Post-Baccalaureate Teaching Credential Program

Bachelor’S Degree, Political Science And Government, 3.59 Gpa

Activities and Societies: * Pi Sigma Alpha – National Political Science Honor Society - Member 2003 - 2004 * Golden Key International.