Damion White
Birmingham,AL
Summary
Higher education professional with experience in academic support, career development, employer engagement, and workforce partnerships. Passionate about helping students achieve academic, personal, and career success through strategic advising, collaborative partnerships, and data-informed programming. Experienced managing cross-functional initiatives, building relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and supporting student achievement in fast-paced, student-centered environments.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Employment Relations Coordinator
Reinvest Birmingham (City of Birmingham)
Birmingham, Alabama
01.2026 - Current
- Manage relationships with more than 75 employer and community partners, serving as the primary point of contact from initial outreach through partnership development, MOU execution, and ongoing engagement.
- Plan and coordinate employer meetings, networking events, and convenings that strengthen partnerships, encourage collaboration, and connect employers with workforce development initiatives.
- Gather employer feedback and work with internal and external stakeholders to improve partnership strategies, strengthen employer engagement, and support successful employment outcomes for program participants.
- Research employers, hiring trends, and labor market data to identify partnership opportunities and better align workforce initiatives with regional employment needs.
- Maintain and oversee the employer engagement database, tracking partnership activity, follow-up, commitments, and project timelines to ensure partners remain engaged and informed.
Assistant Director of Career Education
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL
02.2023 - Current
- Built and sustained employer partnerships across health and public health sectors, coordinated employer tablings and recruiting events that connect 300+ students each semester to career opportunities.
- Convened industry partners through roundtables and events, capturing employer hiring needs, and aligning them with student training and career readiness programming.
- Designed and delivered 30+ workshops per semester on résumés, interviewing, networking, and LinkedIn, preparing diverse student populations—including first-generation students and athletes—for workforce success.
- Achieved a 66% increase in first-generation student engagement (exceeding goals by 51%) through strategic collaborations with TRIO, VMASC, and first-year experience faculty.
- Tracked outcomes and employer follow-through in Handshake and Excel, producing reports on student participation and employer engagement to inform leadership decisions and enhance compliance.
- Directed Career Closet program, managing donations and fittings to eliminate attire barriers for hundreds of students annually through strategic partnerships.
- Collaborated with Athletics, Student Affairs, and academic units to align career education with workforce expectations and support holistic student development.
Special Events Manager
LRY Media Group
Birmingham, AL
04.2022 - 01.2023
- Managed Alabama Power’s 2022 HBCU Awareness Tailgate Series, overseeing execution, vendor relations, and a $200,000 budget to connect students, alumni, and employers at high-profile events.
- Designed and delivered Rosa Parks Gala for 300+ guests and dignitaries, aligning vendor operations with event strategy and meeting partner expectations.
- Coordinated VIP experiences for distinguished guests and performers, including Lionel Richie and Lalah Hathaway, enhancing guest engagement and ensuring sponsor satisfaction.
- Planned and executed professional conference for 100+ attendees, directing logistics, scheduling, and facilitation to achieve program and sponsor goals.
Logistics Manager
The World Games
Birmingham, AL
11.2021 - 07.2022
- Led logistics planning and execution for Opening and Closing Ceremonies serving 3,200 athletes and 47,000+ attendees, coordinating across city officials, international delegations, and vendors.
- Directed operations at World Games Plaza, managing talent flow and programming for 375,000+ visitors during the 10-day event.
- Collaborated with FBI, local law enforcement, and city agencies to design and implement secure transportation and event safety plan, enhancing overall event security.
- Supervised and trained 240+ volunteers to ensure high-quality ceremony presentations and deliver smooth guest experiences, contributing to positive attendee feedback.
- Coordinated ceremonial flag processions for 120+ nations, managing international protocol, timing, and stage management to ensure seamless execution.
Regional Account Manager
American Red Cross
Birmingham, AL
11.2020 - 05.2021
- Secured and maintained 20+ high-value accounts, cultivating partnerships with hospitals, community leaders, and donor organizations to enhance contributions and support for regional initiatives.
- Directed the regional sickle cell blood program across Alabama and Mississippi, coordinating outreach that benefited 5,500+ patients and ensured a consistent supply of life-saving resources.
- Tracked program outcomes and produced compliance reports, documenting donor activity and outreach effectiveness to inform leadership decisions and improve patient impact.
- Delivered diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings for a team of 6, enhancing staff capability and alignment with organizational goals.
Legislative Campaign Manager
North Carolina Democratic Party
Fayetteville, NC
02.2020 - 12.2020
- Led a campaign team of staff and volunteers, directing daily operations, field strategy, and communications to ensure alignment with campaign goals.
- Managed $1M campaign budget, prioritized expenditures, monitored expenses, and produced transparent reports for leadership and stakeholders to ensure financial accountability.
- Secured $750K+ in corporate sponsorships and donations by cultivating partnerships with businesses, organizations, and community leaders.
- Planned and executed large-scale campaign events, convening diverse stakeholders and enhancing candidate visibility across key districts.
- Developed and delivered communications strategies, overseeing messaging and outreach that drove voter engagement and amplified media coverage.
- Built coalitions and secured endorsements from prominent leaders, leveraging relationships to strengthen credibility and mobilize support.
Field Organizer
Pete Buttigieg For America
Las Vegas, Nevada
10.2019 - 02.2020
- Recruited, trained, and managed more than 75 volunteers to support voter outreach and event execution
- Identified key community organizations and leaders, building relationships to enhance campaign awareness
- Coordinated community meetings, forums, and events, strengthening visibility and grassroots involvement
- Developed and implemented regional African-American constituency plan, increasing community engagement and representation
Field Organizer
Randall Woodfin for Mayor Campaign
Birmingham, Alabama
05.2017 - 10.2017
- Leveraged Votebuilder and relational organizing tools to identify key audiences and recruit over 50 volunteers across Birmingham communities
- Established relationships with community leaders, neighborhood associations, and advocacy groups to enhance engagement and foster trust
- Coordinated logistics for community meetings, public forums, and outreach events to facilitate dialogue and increase civic participation
- Guided and supported volunteers to maintain consistent messaging and responsiveness while ensuring effective field operations
Education
Ed.D - Learning And Organizational Change
Baylor University
Waco, TX05-2029
Master of Arts - Public Administration
University of Alabama At Birmingham
Birmingham, AL05-2025
Bachelor of Arts - Communication Studies
University of Alabama At Birmingham
Birmingham, AL12-2018
Skills
- Employer Engagement
- Workforce Development
- Career Development
- First Generation Student Support
- Student Retention
- Program and Event Management
- Workshops
- Data & Tools: Handshake (CRM), Microsoft Excel, Qualtrics, Google Workspace
Affiliations
- National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE)
- National Career Development Association (NCDA)
- National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)
- Birmingham Vanguard Advisory Board
- Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity Inc.
Professional Presentations
- It Takes a Campus: Partnering for First-Gen Career Services, University of Alabama at Birmingham One Day Conference, 2025
- Unlocking Potential: Innovative Strategies for Engaging First-Generation Students in Career Services, Alabama Association of Colleges and Employers (AACE) Summer Conference, 2024
- Building Your LinkedIn, Life After AmeriCorps Conference, 2024
Timeline
Employment Relations Coordinator
Reinvest Birmingham (City of Birmingham)
01.2026 - Current
Assistant Director of Career Education
University of Alabama at Birmingham
02.2023 - Current
Special Events Manager
LRY Media Group
04.2022 - 01.2023
Logistics Manager
The World Games
11.2021 - 07.2022
Regional Account Manager
American Red Cross
11.2020 - 05.2021
Legislative Campaign Manager
North Carolina Democratic Party
02.2020 - 12.2020
Field Organizer
Pete Buttigieg For America
10.2019 - 02.2020
Field Organizer
Randall Woodfin for Mayor Campaign
05.2017 - 10.2017
Ed.D - Learning And Organizational Change
Baylor University
Master of Arts - Public Administration
University of Alabama At Birmingham
Bachelor of Arts - Communication Studies
University of Alabama At Birmingham