GERSHON BAI-LAMA BANGURA
Standard of Living Augmentation (SOLA)
Washington,DC
Work Preference
Desired Job Title
AdministratorWork Type
Full TimeLocation Preference
On-SiteLocation:
Washington, DCOpen to relocation:
YesImportant To Me
Career advancementCompany CultureWork-life balanceWork from home optionPaid time offHealthcare benefits30
Years of experience
1
Certification
12
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Prison Volunteer Goodwill Industries of Chesapeake
7 Years 1 Month- Designing and implementing curriculum plans for courses related to criminal justice, delivering lectures, seminars, and tutorials on various topics within the field
- Prepare course materials such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts, assessing student's progress by grading papers, exams, and other assignments
- Engaging in research within the fields of criminal justice and international affairs and providing guidance and mentorship to students throughout their academic development.
- Advising students on career opportunities in the criminal justice field and offender friendly employment, plus participating in academic events, faculty meetings, and serving on committees
- Acted as subject matter expert in developing, implementing, and utilizing Federal and State grants, and drafting Memorandums of Understanding (MOU), Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). Support SOLA in accomplishing contract training and workforce development success, aligning credit and non-credit programming, and creating persona-based marketing campaigns
- Salary, $68,000 per year
- Hours worked 30 Hours per week
Managing Director
12 Years 5 Months- Oversaw operations and provided corrective feedback to achieve daily and long-term goals.
- Launched staff engagement, gender diversity and cultural programs in addition to robust reporting tool that increased operational quality.
- Recruited, hired, and trained initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions for new organization.
- Cultivated and strengthened lasting client relationships using strong issue resolution and dynamic communication skills.
- Reduced budgetary expenditures by effectively negotiating contracts for more advantageous terms.
Program Coordinator
3 Years 4 Months- Designed program implementation and maintenance plan.
- Collected, arranged, and input information into database system.
- Educated staff on organizational mission and goals to help employees achieve success.
- Helped meet changing demands by recommending improvements to business systems or procedures.
- Cultivated positive relationships with vendors to deliver timely and cost-effective supply of services and materials.
- Conducted regular reviews of operations and identified areas for improvement.
- Optimized customer experience by delivering superior services and effectively troubleshooting issues.
Political Officer
14 Years 2 Months- Conducted rigorous research on political trends, analyzing implications for regional stability and potential impacts on US interests
- Managed diplomatic correspondence and prepared briefing notes for official meetings and engagements.
- Coordinated consular support services, including visa, passport, and citizen assistance inquiries.
- Liaised with government offices and diplomatic partners to support protocol and administrative processes.
- Drafted accurate reports, memos, and official communications for internal review and submission.
- Supported public diplomacy activities, community outreach, and event planning for bilateral relations.
- Monitored schedules, appointments, and meeting logistics for embassy leadership and visiting delegations.
- Devised and implemented processes and procedures to streamline operations.
- Generated reports detailing findings and recommendations.
Education
Master of Arts - Master of International Policy and Practice
- Freeman Scholar Scholarship Recipient
- Awarded Hamilton Scholar
- Dean's List Every Semester :2023-2026
- Relevant Coursework: Public Diplomacy & Human and sex trafficking Advocacy
Master of Arts - Public Administration and Policy Analysis
- Grove Scholarship Recipient
- Professional Development: Policy Analysis and Data Analysis
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
- Professional Development: Internship U.S. Senate for Bob Casey
- Relevant Coursework: [Subject]Thesis & Obama and Race Relations
Skills
Mentoring and training
New business launch
Contract management
Strategic planning
Organizational development
Recruitment strategies
Corporate governance
International expansion
Corporate social responsibility
Staff management
Project management
Budget development
Certification
- Certified Professional Resume Writer, November 2023
- Certified Re-entry Professional, January 2022
Affiliations
- Freedman Fellowship, 2024
- Member, Alexander Hamilton Society- George Washington Chapter
Training
- Senegal: Foreign influence in Senegal and West Africa, George Washington University, 2023.
- Belgium & France: The EU and NATO's Responses to Emerging Security Challenges, Université Paris Cité & George Washington University, 2024.
- Belgium, Holland: Ethical Decision-Making in International Institutions. George Washington University, 2025.
- Brazil Residency: Global Perspective: Politics, Business, and Social Trends in South America's Powerhouse. George Washington University, 2025.
- Project Manager Intern, May 2024 to August 2024 $ Non-Paid Internship
- Next Step Connections – Bangkok, Thailand Hours Worked: 40 Hours per week
- Employed new, effective strategies to direct client reps in using a strategic approach for identifying customer goals and offering appropriate consultation services.
- Developed and implemented comprehensive policies to improve operational efficiency and delivery service.
- Facilitated lead working group that aided in corporate-wide re-design of competency matrix across four practice areas.
- Directed team performance evaluations, providing mentorship and professional development opportunities for staff.
- Supported team in organizing project documentation and tracking progress using project management software.
- Project Coordinator Intern- Study Tour, June 2026- September 2026 $ Non-Paid Internship
- Yunus Center of Social Business- Dhaka, Bangladesh 38 Hours per week
- Contributing to day-to-day office activities such as responding to emails, preparing reports, reviewing applications, writing articles, and assisting with documentation.
- Supporting administrative teams in coordination, scheduling, and record-keeping.
- Assisting in event planning and facilitation, including proposals and materials for Yunus Centre events.
- Studying social business materials written by Professor Muhammad Yunus, including case studies, reports, and conceptual frameworks.
Timeline
George Washington University
Master of Arts from Master of International Policy and Practice
08.2023 - 05.2026
Prison Volunteer Goodwill Industries of Chesapeake
Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services
09.2019 - Current
Managing Director
Standard of Living Augmentation (SOLA)
05.2014 - Current
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Master of Arts from Public Administration and Policy Analysis
08.2011 - 12.2016
Program Coordinator
Mental Health Association of Franklin and Fulton
11.2010 - 03.2014
Wilson College
Bachelor of Arts from Political Science
01.2006 - 05.2010
Political Officer
Embassy of Sierra Leone
07.1996 - 09.2010