Dawn Knighton
Berlin,MD
Summary
Dedicated behavioral health professional with a B.S. in Psychology and a passion for supporting recovery. Combines 13 years of military leadership experience with strong skills in crisis intervention and community outreach to foster healing environments. Actively engaged in volunteer initiatives while pursuing CAC-AD certification.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Volunteer
Sunrise Church
Berlin, MD
08.2023 - Current
- Led youth mentorship programs, supporting young people's spiritual growth and personal development through guidance and activities.
- Organized community outreach events that increased church engagement and strengthened relationships within the community.
- Coordinated with volunteers to foster a welcoming atmosphere at worship services and special events, enhancing attendee experience.
- Supported Sunday school programming by developing creative lesson plans that engaged children in age-appropriate learning activities.
- Represented church at outreach events, engaging with community members in a friendly manner.
- Sourced and distributed food and supplies to those in need.
Customer Service Associate
Home Depot
Berlin, MD
01.2023 - 01.2024
- De-escalated challenging interactions through active listening and effective communication, improving customer retention.
- Provided solutions-focused support to customers in high-volume environment, enhancing customer satisfaction.
- Streamlined documentation and inventory tracking processes, ensuring accuracy in daily reporting.
- Exhibited reliability by consistently meeting deadlines in team projects.
Drill Sergeant, AIT Instructor, Platoon Sergeant, Operations NCOIC
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
01.2006 - 01.2019
- Led and trained diverse groups, fostering trauma-informed awareness to enhance team cohesion and support.
- Managed administrative operations, ensuring accurate personnel records and compliance with scheduling protocols.
- Maintained ethical standards and safety protocols, ensuring documentation accuracy and accountability.
- Received honorable discharge after 13 years of service in the military.
Education
Associate of Science - Chemical Dependency
Wor-Wic Community College
12-2027
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
University of Maryland Global Campus
07-2026
Skills
- Youth mentorship
- Community outreach
- Community engagement
- Team leadership
- Problem-solving
- Recordkeeping
- Confidentiality
- Boundary management
- Communication skills
- Adapts under pressure
- Calm demeanor
- Positive mindset
VOLUNTEER WORK
Celebrate Recovery & Hope Ministries, Volunteer Counseling & Recovery Support, Salisbury, MD, 2023, Present, Provide supportive listening, encouragement, and structured peer engagement in faith-based recovery settings., Assist with group organization, sign-ins, confidentiality procedures, and event coordination., Model healthy coping skills and emotional regulation for participants navigating early recovery., Maintain a safe, welcoming environment for individuals with trauma histories and co-occurring disorders.
Timeline
Volunteer
Sunrise Church
08.2023 - Current
Customer Service Associate
Home Depot
01.2023 - 01.2024
Drill Sergeant, AIT Instructor, Platoon Sergeant, Operations NCOIC
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
01.2006 - 01.2019
Associate of Science - Chemical Dependency
Wor-Wic Community College
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
University of Maryland Global Campus