ASHLEY HOWELL
Program Director
Bowie,MD
Summary
Strategic leader and director with 3 years of supervisory experience and 8 years of overall work experience. Well-versed in leading project teams, communicating across functions, as well as facilitating outreach efforts to build and establish relationships with both internal and external stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to manage and evaluate programs for efficacy, as well as develop, review, and apply various policies to ensure programs are in alignment with goals and objectives. Highly skilled at performance measurement, budget allocation, program management, as well as quality and risk assurance. Data-driven, recognized for utilizing various metrics to report on performance. Proven ability to be a thought leader and learn/adapt quickly and efficiently, resulting in the acquisition of increasingly senior-level roles and responsibilities.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
7
7
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Language
Work History
Director
Supportive Services, Community Family Life Services
Washington, D.C.
01.2021 - 12.2021
- Manage four separate departments (e.g., Emergency Services, Parenting, Employment, Transitional Housing) with a focus on advocacy for Reentry/Justice Affected Women
- Consistently collect and evaluate quantitative and qualitative programmatic data; track and measure outcome targets and progress; regularly report program outcomes to both internal and external stakeholders; analyze and utilize outcomes data as the basis for driving continuous program improvement and systematic change
- Provide support, training, and learning development opportunities for eight staff members of varying levels of seniority (e.g., program managers, case managers, resident monitor)
- Oversee three separate budgets worth a cumulative ~$825K; accountable for program, staffing, and grant writing/planning; closely monitor revenue, expenses, program performance, and outcomes to ensure that program goals are achieved
- Design and implement program refinements, incorporating evaluation results, current research, local trends, as well as resident and staff input
- Review and revise programmatic policies and procedures; conduct extensive research on local, state, and federal policies, ensuring alignment with organizational policies, resulting in recognition as a policy subject matter expert (SME)
- Recruit, hire, supervise, train, and evaluate program staff in accordance with personnel policies and procedures.
Assistant Director, Unaccompanied Alien
Woodbridge, VA
01.2020 - 01.2021
- Managed a multi-million-dollar budget; utilized program funds in accordance with accounting policies
- Operated within program workstreams for implementation, operations, and practices; assisted with developing strategies, policies, programs, and action plans to achieve approved timeframes and technical requirements; identified and recommended project options with short-, medium-, and long-term implementation periods
- Defined and adhered to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) governing program operations across seven departments consisting of 40+ employees
- Collaborated and communicated across functions with internal and external stakeholders (e.g., Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Refugee Resettlement)
- Spearheaded full-cycle recruiting efforts (e.g., screened, interviewed, hired, provided specific program-related orientation) for ~20 new staff over the course of six months.
Regional Organizing Director
Friends Of Andrew Yang
Greenville, SC
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Promoted from Field Organizer to Regional Organizing Director as a direct result of strategic and thought leadership, and exemplary project management skills
- Supervised, recruited, and trained a team of organizers to meet voter contact and capacity-building goals for two regions made up of 19 counties
- Designed and implemented complex regional campaign strategies and weekly organizing metrics
- Created campaign field plans and organized related events
- Collaborated and communicated with local leaders to increase buy-in and trust in the campaign at large
- Collaborated with state leadership to develop, deploy, and evaluate the impact of communications, messaging, and digital strategies
- Trained and monitored adherence to deadlines, regulatory compliance, and campaigning best practices
- Managed field operation for Greenville and Pickens County, requiring excellent leadership and management of 200+ volunteers
- Increased volunteer recruitment 60% via conducting targeted outreach strategies, and developing relationships with religious organizations, universities/colleges, as well as recreation centers.
Program Coordinator
Spartanburg Housing Authority
Spartanburg, SC
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Assisted in policy and procedure creation and implementation, created standard state-approved forms and letters; assisted with state regulation enforcement; ensured the office operated smoothly and efficiently, resulting in passing state audits
- Led initiative, through partnership with T-Mobile, to provide tablets and internet access to low-income residents
- Managed all programmatic operations of HUD Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) program, including $75K budget development, compliance, and reporting
- Enhanced financial well-being of residents by partnering with external partners to host financial literacy courses, establishing relationships with local banks to provide consultations on savings, and developing courses on credit counseling, resulting in a 25% increase in event participation.
Family Stability Advocate II
Center For Community Services
Simpsonville, SC
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Established and maintained Child and Family files as required by the work plan, assuring the files were kept confidential; provided, tracked, and maintained the enrollment, family support, and health sections of each file
- Developed and facilitated employment readiness orientation for community partner’s ESL and GED students
- Enhanced data collection and entry processes by developing new intake forms and recommending, implementing, and training others on new data management systems
- Developed and sustained collaborative relationships with an assigned caseload of families and served as their primary point of contact
- Provided technical assistance to organizations related to integrating access to human services into program implementation.
Bilingual Family Support Specialist
Prevent Child Abuse
Easley, SC
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Planned and conducted home visits using evidence-based curriculum to a diverse population of families to assist in setting and achieving goals, child development, and bonding activities
- Administered clinical tools to assess child development and mental health; implemented interventions and successfully connected families to appropriate community resources
- Secured a $5K grant from TD Bank to fund early childhood literacy program
- Initiated partnership with local school district to deliver healthy lifestyle and parenting curriculum to teenage mothers
- Continually refined data collection processes to improve data entry and analysis.
Education
Master of Public Administration -
Clemson University
Clemson, SC 01.2017 - 05.2020
Bachelor of Arts - Modern Languages
Clemson University
Clemson, SC 01.2011 - 05.2014
Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate -
Google Career Certificates
11.2021 - 01.2022
Domestic Violence Advocate Core Competency Training -
DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence
07.2021 - 07.2021
Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion in The Workplace -
University of South Florida
02.2021 - 05.2021
Skills
Quantitative Research
Qualitative Research
Community-Based Participatory Research
Data Analysis
Project Management
Program Management
SPSS
SQL
R
Tableau
Microsoft Excel
Grant Writing
Report Generation
Federal Grants
Operations Management
Consulting
Training Facilitation
Interpersonal Communication
Mentoring/Coaching
Process Improvement
Stakeholder Engagement
Affiliations
Advocacy Committee Member | DC Home Visitation Council
Processes Committee/Housing Continuum Member | DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Member | Victim Assistance Network, DC Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants
Member | Reentry Action Network, DC Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants
Research Experience
Access to Healthcare: Impacts on Employment of Disabled South Carolinians
2017- 2018
South Carolina – Statewide
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lori Dickes
- Designed and conducted a survey to investigate the impacts that access to healthcare may have on the employment
of disabled individuals. - Presented at 2018 Academy Health Annual Research Meeting
Independent Study: International Health & Hispanic Culture, Clemson University
January-May 2014
Clemson, SC; Santiago, Dominican Republic
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Arelis Moore de Peralta & Dr. Graciela Tissera
- Designed & conducted a qualitative assessment of the National Program for the Reduction of the Vertical Transmission of HIV/AIDS (PRNTV) in Santiago, Dominican Republic.
- Presented research at 2014 Creative Inquiry Poster Forum at Clemson Universit
Timeline
Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate -
Google Career Certificates
11.2021 - 01.2022
Domestic Violence Advocate Core Competency Training -
DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence
07.2021 - 07.2021
Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion in The Workplace -
University of South Florida
02.2021 - 05.2021
Director
Supportive Services, Community Family Life Services
01.2021 - 12.2021
Assistant Director, Unaccompanied Alien
01.2020 - 01.2021
Regional Organizing Director
Friends Of Andrew Yang
01.2018 - 01.2019
Program Coordinator
Spartanburg Housing Authority
01.2018 - 01.2019
Master of Public Administration -
Clemson University
01.2017 - 05.2020
Family Stability Advocate II
Center For Community Services
01.2016 - 01.2018
Bilingual Family Support Specialist
Prevent Child Abuse
01.2014 - 01.2016
Bachelor of Arts - Modern Languages
Clemson University
01.2011 - 05.2014