Years of professional experience
LEAH BUFFINGTON
Mars,PA
Summary
Results-oriented Program Manager successful in developing and implementing innovative strategies to support organizational objectives. Well-versed in spearheading new initiatives to support functional operations and project completion. Highly organized and detailed collaborator with solid record of accomplishment in meeting and exceeding business goals.
Overview
18
18
6
6
Years of program management experiece
1
1
PhD in Higher Education Administration
1
1
Research interest: Women in leadership
Work History
Operations Manager
Management Solutions, LLC
Knoxville, TN
04.2023 - 06.2023
- Directed day-to-day operations by spearheading implementation of short-term and long-term strategies to achieve project goals.
- Created and maintained online community at Department of Energy national laboratory.
- Strategized process improvements to ensure team completed project tasks on schedule.
- Responsible for deployment and continuous development of software tool and human capital dashboard.
- Served as a key client point of contact.
- Led regular team meetings to keep project on schedule.
- Worked directly with client team to determine project objectives, needs, wants, and ensure key goals are met.
- Represent Management Solutions, LLLC to clients.
- Developed, edited, and facilitated presentations.
- Compiled data, organized file structures, and created forms.
- Served as information technology liaison with outsourced vendor.
- Tracked documents on shared drives.
Program Manager
Haslam College of Business, The University of Tenn
Knoxville, TN
11.2021 - 03.2023
- Executed the operations and delivery for the Executive MBA for Healthcare Leadership degree program and non-degree educational services for the GEE Healthcare Division.
- Established and sustained critical program relationships with students, faculty, corporations, and business partners.
- Assisted with event services, alumni relations, program marketing, and admissions as needed.
- Managed program-specific communication with students and faculty, established and maintained curriculum calendar, assisted in outside vendor management.
- Ensured budgets are kept based on Director’s contractual delegations, executed day-of program activities, and conducted follow-up assessments after completion of programming.
- Planned and staffed four annual multiple-day on-campus residency periods, planned and managed off-campus immersion trips, managed bi-weekly online learning events, assisted in student admissions as needed.
- Worked with Program Directors on program design; established and maintained trusted relationships with counterparts at client organizations; collaborated with staff, faculty, and clients on scheduling; secured event spaces and supporting services; worked with faculty to prepare and distribute materials; managed all day-of activities; and managed other program support activities such as evaluations and certificates and other responsibilities as required.
Special Programs Coordinator
Dean’s Office, Tickle College of Engineering, The University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN
03.2017 - 10.2021
- Served as special programs manager in the Tickle College of Engineering, focused on continual excellent customer service.
- Functioned as the TCE Board of Advisors (BOA) key campus liaison.
- Developed and maintained professional relationships with 35+ BOA members who are located across the nation.
- Organized and executed all aspects of biannual BOA meetings; Led a smooth transition to virtual meetings in March 2020.
- Adopted and utilized various technology applications for programs and events.
- Planned, initiated and executed programs/events as program manager while working closely with campus partners, and continually identifying opportunities for collaboration with other campus entities
- Possessed excellent self-motivation, independence, time-management, and organization skills while thriving as an office of one.
- Administered an annual budget for the Special Programs office, oversee contracts with awareness of financial policies.
- Managed 30+ annual projects that involve TCE students, board members, alumni, faculty, staff and other stakeholders.
Administrative Coordinator
Dean’s Office, Tickle College of Engineering, The University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN
11.2012 - 02.2017
- Reported directly to the Dean of Engineering, provided guidance and support to the Dean and Associate Deans.
- Served as liaison between the Dean and internal and external constituents, developed partnerships with administrators.
- Coordinated the Dean’s calendar, arranged meetings, composed agendas, secured meeting locations, recorded minutes, drafted correspondence, created presentations, and facilitated IT requirements for weekly activities.
- Supervised the Administrative Specialist I position in the Dean’s office, providing daily direction and support.
- Created, managed and administered all phases of the TCE Distinguished Lecture Series for seven semesters.
- Functioned as the TCE Advisory Board members’ key campus contact.
- Organized and executed biannual meetings.
Special Projects Officer IV
Mississippi Department of Human Services
Jackson, MS
01.2012 - 11.2012
Education
Ph.D. - Higher Education Administration
The University of Tennessee
Knoxville12.2023
Master of Public Policy And Administration -
Mississippi State University
Starkville08.2011
Bachelor of Arts - Communication, Emphasis, Public Relations, Business Administration
Mississippi College
Clinton, MS05.2004
Skills
- Partnerships and Resource Mobilization
- Verbal and Written Communication
- Cultural Sensitivity
- Training and Development
- Business Acumen
- Strategic Planning
- Team Leadership
- Event Planning and Execution
- Vendor Relationship Management
- Project Management
- Presentation Creation and Delivery
- Budget Coordination
Affiliations
Member, Association of Collegiate Conference and Events Directors-International (ACCED-I) – 2017-2021
Planning Committee and Session Moderator – UT Academic Meeting Professionals Conference – 2020
Coordinator, TCE Staff Advisory Council – created in 2019, TCE Staff Advisory Council
Certification
Real Estate License, Tennessee Real Estate Commission, September 2015
Certified Administrative Professional, May 2013
2
Interests
TCE , Representative on the UT Exempt Staff Council 2017-2021; Elected ESC Vice-Chair for 2019-2020
Volunteer, Grow Free TN (Human trafficking awareness organization), Knoxville, TN – 2016
Coordinator, UT Tickle College of Engineering WomEngineer’s Day – 2015 and 2019
Volunteer, UT Family Campaign Tickle College of Engineering Administration Team Leader – 2015 and 2020
Languages
Spanish
Limited
Websites
Timeline
Operations Manager
Management Solutions, LLC
04.2023 - 06.2023
Program Manager
Haslam College of Business, The University of Tenn
11.2021 - 03.2023
Special Programs Coordinator
Dean’s Office, Tickle College of Engineering, The University of Tennessee
03.2017 - 10.2021
Administrative Coordinator
Dean’s Office, Tickle College of Engineering, The University of Tennessee
11.2012 - 02.2017
Special Projects Officer IV
Mississippi Department of Human Services
01.2012 - 11.2012
Ph.D. - Higher Education Administration
The University of Tennessee
Master of Public Policy And Administration -
Mississippi State University
Bachelor of Arts - Communication, Emphasis, Public Relations, Business Administration
Mississippi College
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