Iyana Briggs
Washington
Summary
Aspiring criminal defense attorney and dedicated double major in Political Science & Legal Studies with strong experience in justice-focused research, legal coursework, and community-based analysis. Equipped with critical thinking, legal research, and advocacy skills developed through advanced study and hands-on projects, including transformative justice and the Barry Farms displacement research. Committed to using legal training to support marginalized communities, promote fairness, and pursue meaningful reform within the criminal justice system.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Sales Associate
Micheal Kors
06.2025 - Current
- Engaged customers in friendly, professional dialogue to determine needs.
- Maintained knowledge of current promotions, exchange guidelines, payment policies, and security practices.
- Helped customers find specific products, answered questions, and offered product advice.
- Arranged new merchandise with signage and appealing displays to encourage customer sales and move overstock items.
- Developed trusting relationships with customers by making personal connections.
- Adhered to company initiatives and achieved established goals.
- Collected payments and provided accurate change.
- Answered incoming telephone calls to provide store, products and services information.
- Completed daily recovery tasks to keep areas clean and neat for maximum productivity.
• I also style all of my clients or new customers with a variety of clothing, shoes, purses, perfumes and colognes, matching wallets you name it ! And they all leave happy with their items.
Business Manager
Vinnie’s Style
01.2019 - Current
- Directed or coordinated financial or budget activities to fund operations and maximize investments.
- Formed and sustained strategic relationships with clients.
- Reviewed financial statements and sales or activity reports to measure productivity or goal achievement.
- Ensured compliance with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards across the organization.
- Created effective business plans to focus strategic decisions on long-term objectives.
- Designed strategies for improving the quality of services provided by the organization.
- Negotiated contracts and agreements with clients to optimize costs.
- Reviewed existing contracts with clients to ensure compliance with company standards.
Sales Associate
PVH
05.2022 - 06.2025
- Developed trusting relationships with customers by making personal connections.
- Maintained knowledge of current promotions, exchange guidelines, payment policies, and security practices.
- Answered customer inquiries regarding product features, pricing, and availability.
- Opened and closed cash registers by counting money, separating charge slips and balancing drawers.
- Adapted sales strategies based on customer interactions and feedback to improve results.
- Developed promotional strategies to increase sales volume.
- Performed cashier duties such as accepting payments, issuing receipts and counting money back change.
- Attended monthly team meetings to review performance goals and objectives.
Education
High School Diploma -
Ballou High School
Washington, DC06-2022
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science And Legal Studies
American University
Washington, DC08-2026
Skills
- Legal research & analysis
- Constitutional law familiarity
- Civil law & civil procedure basics
- Criminal justice system knowledge
- Juvenile justice system insight
- Conflict analysis & political theory
- Public policy analysis
- Quantitative & qualitative research methods
- Academic writing & case interpretation
- Public speaking & oral communication
- Community-based research (Barry Farms Project)
- Statistical analysis (basic SPSS/R)
- Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Time management & professional communication
Certification
- Paralegal Certificate (In Progress) — Blackstone Career Institute, Expected 2026
Project and Research Experience
Barry Farms Justice & Displacement Research Project
American University — Washington, DC
- Conducting an in-depth community-based research study on housing displacement, gentrification, and justice reform in historically Black neighborhoods in Washington, DC.
- Analyzing redevelopment policy failures, community interviews, historical archives, and local government responses.
- Co-building a public website to document findings, uplift resident voices, and highlight systemic inequities.
- Integrating insights from anthropology, political science, and legal studies.
Professor Kaba – JLC 425, AU
- Completed 12 analytical journals examining incarceration, abolitionist frameworks, harm reduction, community healing, and alternative systems of accountability.
- Connected course theories to personal experience, DC community issues, and real-world cases.
- Developed strong reflective writing and justice-focused analysis.
Professor Kevin Boyle – AU
- Participated in a full mock trial simulation including case analysis, witness questioning, and oral argument.
- Gained experience in legal reasoning, courtroom procedure, and attorney-style advocacy.
- Worked collaboratively to prepare opening arguments, evidence strategy, and witness preparation.
GOVT-310 Research Methods – AU
- Conducted a quantitative research project using the ANES 2024 dataset to study Latino immigration attitudes.
- Performed statistical tests, built models, and analyzed demographic predictors of policy views.
- Interpreted regression results, cleaned data, and presented findings in academic format.
CHEM 150/151 – AU
- Designed scientific experiments on protein chemistry, milk composition, cheese melting points, and ingredient reactions.
- Recorded, analyzed, and interpreted data using scientific method and lab procedures.
Accomplishments
• Graduated High School Early (Age 16)
Completed all academic requirements a year ahead of schedule with strong academic standing.
• Top 10 Graduate, Class of 2022
Recognized among the highest-performing students at Frank W. Ballou Senior High School.
• National Honor Society Member
Acknowledged for academic excellence, leadership, and service.
• District Essay Contest Winner
Awarded for outstanding written work; recognized at the U.S. Supreme Court and met several Justices (2015–2016 cohort).
• District Science Fair Awardee
Recognized for scientific research on kinetic energy; met the Mayor of Washington, DC and received local honors (2015).
• Significant GPA Improvement
Demonstrated academic resilience with a strong upward trend following early personal and academic challenges.
• Research & Scholarly Contributions
Completed substantive projects on criminal justice, race & racism, gender politics, and the Barry Farms displacement study.
Timeline
Sales Associate
Micheal Kors
06.2025 - Current
Sales Associate
PVH
05.2022 - 06.2025
Business Manager
Vinnie’s Style
01.2019 - Current
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science And Legal Studies
American University
High School Diploma -
Ballou High School