Brenda Gonzalez
Stanford,CA
Summary
Dynamic leader with proven expertise in project management and team leadership at the Office of Student Engagement. Successfully coordinated diverse learning circles, enhancing engagement through innovative facilitation techniques. Skilled in data analysis and effective communication, I drive impactful outcomes while fostering inclusive environments that support student wellness and development.
Overview
2
2
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Peer Facilitator
Office of Student Engagement
Stanford, CA
01.2024 - Current
- Lead and coordinate a team of 12+ peer facilitators, overseeing multiple learning circles each quarter during a major structural shift, and successfully adapting after the dissolution of the DEI office.
- Develop and implement comprehensive DEIJ-rooted agendas, crafting detailed session plans with precise timing, facilitator roles, and material needs, resulting in consistently structured, meaningful, and outcomes-driven facilitation.
- Strategically co-facilitate learning circles, designing and using interactive activities (e.g., brave space agreements, agree/disagree exercises) to deepen dialogue, increase engagement, and strengthen group cohesion.
Volunteer Intern
Foundation for a College Education
Menlo Park, CA
01.2024 - Current
- Lead focus groups for FCE’s Wellness Warriors Program, naming key mental health challenges and providing actionable recommendations for program improvements and future development.
- Collaborate with faculty and staff to integrate findings from the assessment into program improvements, ensuring long-term engagement and personalized support for students.
- Develop strategies to increase staff involvement in wellness initiatives, fostering a more supportive and inclusive community.
Lead Research Assistant
SPARK Lab Head Start Summer
San Francisco, CA
06.2025 - 08.2025
- Conducted 12 standardized assessments with children ages 3–5 across 15 classrooms in the Bay Area, measuring curiosity, creativity, initiative, problem-solving, and scientific inquiry; provided support for Spanish-speaking children to ensure participation.
- Performed verbal coding for 100+ video sessions, entering data with high accuracy while observing developmental differences in how children engaged with tasks.
- Trained and mentored 6 new research assistants during the summer cycle, offering hands-on guidance in data collection protocols, observational methods, and ethical research practices to ensure consistency across 200+ data points collected.
Research Assistant
Project on Adaptation and Resilience in Kids
Stanford, CA
09.2024 - 06.2025
- Conducted classroom research activities with children ages 3-5 to assess creativity, curiosity, initiative, problem-solving, and scientific inquiry in a fast-paced learning environment.
- Performed qualitative coding of audio recordings and manage data using Microsoft Office Suite and Excel Worksheets, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality to support the development of fair, scalable assessments for diverse early childhood populations.
- Collaborated effectively within a multidisciplinary team while supporting flexibility, dependability, and strict confidentiality in handling sensitive information.
Student Producer
Faces of Community
Stanford, CA
03.2024 - 09.2024
- Managed the development of a 22-year standing program that shows diverse cultural narratives and performances for new undergraduate students. Worked closely with student speakers and performers through workshops, feedback sessions, and rehearsals, while also overseeing the creation of promotional materials.
- Lead the production process for the Faces of Community program, including planning, delegation, and coordination of tasks across Spring, Summer, and Fall 2024, ensuring seamless execution during New Student Orientation (NSO).
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Stanford University
Stanford06.2026
Skills
- Team leadership
- Project management
- Data analysis
- Effective communication
- Research methodologies
- Qualitative coding
- Workshop facilitation
- Conflict resolution
- Interview management
Volunteer Experience
- Volunteer Intern, Foundation for a College Education, Menlo Park, CA, 01/24, Present, Lead focus groups for FCE’s Wellness Warriors Program., Collaborate with faculty and staff to integrate findings from the assessment into program improvements., Develop strategies to increase staff involvement in wellness initiatives.
- Student Producer, Faces of Community, Stanford, CA, 03/24, 09/24, Managed the development of a 22-year standing program., Worked closely with student speakers and performers., Lead the production process for the Faces of Community program.
Languages
Spanish
Professional
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Lead Research Assistant
SPARK Lab Head Start Summer
06.2025 - 08.2025
Research Assistant
Project on Adaptation and Resilience in Kids
09.2024 - 06.2025
Student Producer
Faces of Community
03.2024 - 09.2024
Lead Peer Facilitator
Office of Student Engagement
01.2024 - Current
Volunteer Intern
Foundation for a College Education
01.2024 - Current
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Stanford University