Cheryl DeWitt
Ketchikan,Alaska
Summary
Knowledgeable Education Specialist with background in managing complex projects, supporting program development, and quality management. Proven ability to streamline workflows and implement effective solutions that enhance operational efficiency. Demonstrated expertise in problem-solving and multitasking to deliver high-quality results within tight deadlines.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Cultural Resources Special Projects Assistant
Ketchikan Indian Community
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Compiles expenditures and procurement
- Assists with program development
- Provides grant reporting and compliance
- Provide overall administrative support to programming
Community COVID Program Manager
Ketchikan Indian Community
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Recruits, selects, and disciplines departmental staff
- Monitors and enforces internal fiscal policies and procedures
- Coordinates program budget and provides reports
- Complies with federal regulations outlined in the self-governance compacts, and other state and federal funding sources with program delivery
Administrative Office Manager
Ketchikan Indian Community
01.2014 - 01.2018
- Supervised five departments: Tribal Enrollment, Tribal Operations, Archives, and reception
- Assisted and processed complaints
- Processed donation requests and budget allocations
- Completed expense reports and monitored budgets
- Procured program supplies and administrative services
- Managed and coordinated annual and federal elections
- Managed program outreach and special projects
- Coordinated special events and public relations outreach including: newsletters, annual reports, government issued notifications, and bulk mailing
- Updated and coordinated: multi-media outreach including: Facebook and website updates
- Created and implemented policies, forms, and tribal regulations
- Managed the first Secretarial Bureau of Indian Affairs Secretarial Election and was first tribe to successfully amended our tribal constitution under federal regulations
Education Specialist
Women In Safe Homes
01.2009 - 01.2014
- Created and presented information to various audiences locally, regionally, state, and nationally
- Compiled agency and grant reports
- Researched and developed programs and materials within the city, village, region, and state
- Developed and facilitated shelter support groups and youth detention center support groups
- Organized annual outreach events and programs for local and regional service area
- Coordinated and facilitated staff/volunteer training and regional training
- Supervised, secured funding, and provided community planning for the Regional Rural Coordinator Pilot Project
- Supported rural area with community strategic plans, training, and resources for individual rural community nonprofit development
- Supervised community and agency volunteers
- Facilitated and co-created Alaska State Men's Compass Program and coordinated tribal outreach for the State of Alaska Pilot Project
Indigenous Fellow
United Nations (UN) High Commission for Human Rights
01.2011 - 12.2011
- Attended UN specialized briefings and compiled reports
- Assisted with the coordination of the Expert Mechanism of Indigenous Peoples
- Provided training sessions about the UN system
- Networked and lobbied international non-governmental agencies
- Researched and presented on Alaska Native human rights issues
- Compiled Universal Periodic Review of the United States specific to customary usage of land and natural resources
Program Assistant
Women In Safe Homes
01.2009 - 12.2009
- Operated gaming operations for agency
- Managed Child and Adult Food Program in accordance with Federal and State guidelines
- Processed accounts receivable
- Assisted with payroll
- Coordinated human resource files
- Compiled qualitative and quantitative grant reports
Behavioral Health Assistant
Ketchikan Indian Community
01.2004 - 01.2008
- Assisted with policy development
- Maintained meeting correspondence
- Procured office and program supplies/contracts
- Assisted with grant applications and reports
- Assisted staff and department with program outreach
- Other duties as assigned: reception/appointment clerk and coordination of patient benefits
Contract Health Technician
Ketchikan Indian Community
01.2004 - 01.2008
- Reviewed, corrected, and authorized all contract health referrals and accounts
- Secured Medicare and Medicaid pre-authorizations
- Assisted patients with benefit coordination
- Audited departmental work reports
- Obtained check requests for reconciled accounts
- Created specialized RPMS templates and reports for Tribal, State, and Federal funding
- Cross trained as Patient Travel Coordinator
Alternate Resource Technician
Ketchikan Indian Community
01.2004 - 01.2008
- Compiled and reviewed daily patient reports
- Researched patient accounts and medical records for insurance authorizations
- Assisted patients with insurance options and contractual health benefits
- Cross trained as Billing/Contract Health Technician
- Other duties as assigned: receptionist, filing, and assisting patients as needed
Youth Reach Director
Rural Cap AmeriCorps
01.2004 - 01.2007
- Assessed community needs with focus groups and surveys
- Secured grant funding and initiated community fundraising
- Planned and implemented culturally competent youth/family programs
- Managed Breakfast, Homework Clubs, and youth groups
- Compiled grant reports for State and Federal agencies
Office Assistant
Dasein Clinic
01.2004 - 01.2007
- Maintained patient charts and billing
- Organized patient/clinic schedules
- Procured clinic supplies
Wellness Program Coordinator
Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
01.2000 - 01.2004
- Provided community assessments and focus group meetings
- Implemented culturally appropriate youth and family programs
- Created and maintained program budgets
- Secured grant funding
- Provided qualitative and quantitative grant reports
Education
Masters - Social Work
University of Arizona
03-2027
Masters - Jurisprudence Tribal Law
University of Tulsa
01.2019
International Advocacy Center - Office of Violence Against Women
Praxis International
01.2014
Bachelor - Liberal Arts/Anthropology and Sociology
University of Alaska
01.2010
Skills
- Program development and implementation
- File and database oversight for Enrollment and tribal historical archives
- Project management
- Intercultural communication, collaboration, and outreach
- Grant Writing and management
- Regional, National, and International program outreach
Accomplishments
- Secured NASA Climate Change Grant by paralleling Western Science and traditional ecological knowledge to address climate adaption.
- Managing and disbursing COVID Funding to over 1,200 people with case management according to deadlines.
- Developed educational programs to youth, adults, and domestic violence and sexual survivors with psychoeducational guidelines.
- Governor Parnell's Choose Respect Task Force to develop cross cultural curriculum, "Choose Respect" for local, regional, and national youth and adult programs.
Interests Affiliations
- Sanya Kwaan, Cape Fox traditional dancer and drummer
- Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp #15 Member
- United Nations: Indigenous Fellowship Alumni
- Ketchikan Indian Community Youth Board Member
- Ketchikan Indian Community, Seven Generations: Former Mentor
- Former Coach, Girls on the Run
- International Youth Parliament, Mentor/Coordinator and Former Delegate
- The National Congress of American Indians Youth Commission: Co-Founder/Former Commissioner
Certification
Nationally Certified Manager by the Institute of Certified Managers: 2024
International Training Center for Indigenous Peoples: International Human Rights Law, 2014
Timeline
Cultural Resources Special Projects Assistant
Ketchikan Indian Community
01.2021 - 01.2023
Community COVID Program Manager
Ketchikan Indian Community
01.2021 - 01.2023
Administrative Office Manager
Ketchikan Indian Community
01.2014 - 01.2018
Indigenous Fellow
United Nations (UN) High Commission for Human Rights
01.2011 - 12.2011
Education Specialist
Women In Safe Homes
01.2009 - 01.2014
Program Assistant
Women In Safe Homes
01.2009 - 12.2009
Behavioral Health Assistant
Ketchikan Indian Community
01.2004 - 01.2008
Contract Health Technician
Ketchikan Indian Community
01.2004 - 01.2008
Alternate Resource Technician
Ketchikan Indian Community
01.2004 - 01.2008
Youth Reach Director
Rural Cap AmeriCorps
01.2004 - 01.2007
Office Assistant
Dasein Clinic
01.2004 - 01.2007
Wellness Program Coordinator
Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
01.2000 - 01.2004
Masters - Jurisprudence Tribal Law
University of Tulsa
Bachelor - Liberal Arts/Anthropology and Sociology
University of Alaska
Masters - Social Work
University of Arizona
International Advocacy Center - Office of Violence Against Women
Praxis International