Maria Hernandez

Lead the planning and execution of scientific programs and initiatives, managing logistics, faculty engagement, and consortia operations to advance lymphoma research and professional education.

Key Responsibilities & Impact:
✿ Oversee planning and operations for all scientific workshops and meetings, including venue coordination, registration, speaker communications, and on-site/virtual logistics.
✿ Serve as primary point of contact for faculty, program participants, and consortia leadership before, during, and after events.
✿ Manage day-of-event operations, ensuring smooth registration, participant support, and sponsor recognition.
✿ Track faculty participation, program engagement, and feedback to continuously improve programs.
✿ Develop and maintain systems for program logistics, faculty involvement, and operational efficiency.
✿ Facilitate collaboration among faculty and program participants, supporting knowledge sharing, professional development, and international engagement in lymphoma research.

Key Achievements (First Year):
✿ Led multiple concurrent scientific workshops engaging nearly 400 medical professionals from 13 countries, coordinating in-person and virtual logistics to advance collaboration, knowledge sharing, and research impact.

Reported to the Senior Director of Individual Giving and worked across the Development team to support fundraising operations, donor stewardship, and data-driven initiatives.

Individual Giving Support:
✿ Managed the Development Department’s email inbox and phone line, ensuring timely donor support.
✿ Assisted with gift processing, acknowledgment, and database management in Raiser’s Edge.
✿ Supported donor engagement activities including thank-you notes, stewardship calls, and special projects.
✿ Supervised and guided the Development Intern to align their work with departmental needs.
✿ Provided on-site and virtual support for special projects and events.

Stewardship & Giving Societies:
✿ Executed stewardship strategies for giving societies such as Circle of Hope and Loyalty Society.
✿ Managed society membership using the Raiser’s Edge membership module for tracking and communications.
✿ Coordinated the mailing of branded materials and postcards to engage and retain members.
✿ Pulled data and generated reports to evaluate program success, focusing on retention and revenue growth.

Prospect Research & Management:
✿ Assisted in developing and executing a prospect research plan to identify high-potential donors.
✿ Tracked and reported key performance indicators to measure progress and success.
✿ Collaborated with colleagues to create workflows for managing identified prospects.
✿ Analyzed donor and prospect data to identify trends and opportunities for enhanced engagement.

Selected Achievements:
✿ Introduced cost-effective shipping software and manufacturer partnerships, leading to significant savings for the team.
✿ Trained leadership and colleagues on Raiser’s Edge processes, enhancing team efficiency and knowledge sharing.

Designed and produced jewelry pieces and apparel. Promoted business via social media to generate leads, expand brand identity, and fulfill all purchase orders and invoices. Stayed current with market trends to optimize pricing and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Key Contributions:
✿ Developed marketing content such as newsletters, promotional materials, and social media advertisements.
✿ Collaborated with 30 creatives over 8 months to launch Social Sundays, a content series designed to cross-promote small businesses.
✿ Created and led a collaborative giveaway campaign with fellow creators that raised funds for a charitable cause.

Managed donation processing, donor communications, and database maintenance to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and strong donor stewardship.

Key Contributions:
✿ Served as first point of contact for donation inquiries, communicating clearly with a diverse donor base via phone and mail.
✿ Entered and maintained donor and gift information in Raiser’s Edge, ensuring accuracy of constituent records.
✿ Processed donations across multiple channels and coordinated with accounting to ensure timely deposits.
✿ Prepared and mailed donor acknowledgment and tribute letters, generating customized reports for families as needed.
✿ Extracted and analyzed data to create actionable reports in Excel.
✿ Authored a comprehensive process manual and trained new staff on procedures and software.

Taught preschool, middle, and high school students while designing engaging lessons to foster participation, critical thinking, and hands-on learning.

Key Contributions:
✿ Built strong communication with parents, students, and faculty to align on progress and strategies.
✿ Used data analysis to inform lesson planning and ensure alignment with curriculum goals.
✿ Implemented research-based interventions that improved student performance.
✿ Adapted quickly to new educational technologies for grading, attendance, and instruction.
✿ Managed an after-school tutoring and mentoring program supporting high school students.