Sankara Olama-Yai
Summary
International Relations Specialist with a background in Gender equity & Sub-Saharan African Development. A multi-published & awarded author, I offer a unique skill set that combines critical creative thinking, research acumen, & global work experience with diverse teams across continents
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
GRANT WRITER
GO FOR YOURS NONPROFIT
, REMOTE
04.2025 - Current
- Drafted mission-aligned grant proposals to secure support for GFY's youth empowerment program initiatives.
- Collaborated with nonprofit leadership to track outcomes and communicate program impact to stakeholders.
- Contributed to initiatives to expand GFY's programs serving 1,500+ underserved youth nationwide.
RESEARCH & PROGRAM MANAGER
THE OJOBA FOUNDATION
, REMOTE
01.2023 - 01.2025
- Global Event Oversight: Directing and overseeing planning and execution of international cultural and educational events, such as fundraising.
- Stakeholder Relationship Building: Fostering collaborative relationships with influential figures in Afro-diasporic cultural development, currently including Nobel Laureates, University directors & members of UNESCO, to expand global outreach capacity.
PROGRAM ASSISTANT
THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
MIAMI, UNITED STATES
01.2024 - 01.2025
- Spearheaded university outreach efforts as a key member of the Department's Outreach Committee, supporting the organization of promotional events and initiatives.
- Provided administrative assistance and coordinating logistics to directly support the chair of the department.
- Designed curricula for undergraduate courses, including courses like 'Literature and International Relations: Writing towards Creative Anarchy.'
GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOW
VANGUARD THINK TANK FOR TRANS-PACIFIC RELATIONS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
08.2023 - 01.2024
- Conducted and edited published collaborative research on social, economic, and human rights issues concerning the Middle East and North Africa with Vanguard's Middle East & Africa research group transfigured into research docupoems.
COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR/FRONT DESK STAFF
THE WRITER'S CENTER (NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION)
BETHESDA, MARYLAND
08.2019 - 04.2022
- Managed event coordination with visiting international clientele of award-winning authors, ambassadors, actors, and theater production groups.
- Responsibilities included: Multilingual Outreach coordination, Literary consulting, and Event management, and working under TWC's literary magazine, Poet Lore.
RESEARCH CONSULTANT & SPEECH WRITER
CHIEF NEGOTIATOR OF THE PEACE PROCESS & SOVEREIGN COUNCIL MEMBER OF SUDAN
, THE REPUBLIC OF SUDAN
06.2020 - 12.2020
- Researched and drafted targeted analysis on international conflict, climate change, and gender empowerment, for a speech-writing team for the Chief Peace Mediator and Member of the Sudanese Sovereign Council.
- Researched and analyzed the policy implications and potential impacts of promoting climate-education for Sudanese youth, as a development and conflict prevention measure.
- Research facilitated the success of their presentation before a university panel.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
UPLIFTING AFRICA PROGRAM, THE EURASIA CENTER
WASHINGTON, D.C.
05.2020 - 09.2020
- Published Research on social issues concerning the Northern and Sub-saharan African continent, most notably on Sudan, and country-specific briefs on the up-to-date state of affairs in the countries of Malawi, Seychelles, and Eritrea, updated for the organization's website, and outreach newsletters.
- Administered and maintained an up-to-date database of federal nonprofit grants to support Program Director's grant acquisition efforts for fundraising and program development.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
LEBARA
PARIS, FRANCE
04.2016 - 09.2016
- Provided bilingual administrative support and translating services to senior consultant.
- Maintained office inventory reports for Team.
INTERN
PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW & POLICY GROUP
WASHINGTON, D.C.
06.2016 - 08.2016
- Provided foreign media analysis for the Russian-Syrian negotiations team.
- Conducted research, provided detailed reports and administrative support to the Sudan negotiation team.
- Translated Russian peace agreement and press guidance documents.
INTERN
FORMIND CYBERSECURITY CONSULTING
PARIS, FRANCE
03.2014 - 10.2014
- Translated company documents and website from French to English to expand clientele beyond.
- Created and maintained a database for new equipment to manage company inventory.
Education
BACHELOR OF ARTS - International Relations
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
Washington D.C., United States05.2025
MASTER OF FINE ARTS - English
THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
Miami, United States05.2025
Skills
- Qualitative Research
- Project Management
- French Fluency/Translation Services
- Proposal writing
- Grant Database Management
- Curriculum development
- Cultural Diplomacy & Cross-cultural Communication
- Diversity and inclusion management
- Archival Research
- Non-profit Research
Book Publications
- Ode to Our Frailty, Rebel Satori Press, 03/2022
- Ebony Wings, Vital Narrative Press, 12/2019
Timeline
GRANT WRITER
GO FOR YOURS NONPROFIT
04.2025 - Current
PROGRAM ASSISTANT
THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
01.2024 - 01.2025
GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOW
VANGUARD THINK TANK FOR TRANS-PACIFIC RELATIONS
08.2023 - 01.2024
RESEARCH & PROGRAM MANAGER
THE OJOBA FOUNDATION
01.2023 - 01.2025
RESEARCH CONSULTANT & SPEECH WRITER
CHIEF NEGOTIATOR OF THE PEACE PROCESS & SOVEREIGN COUNCIL MEMBER OF SUDAN
06.2020 - 12.2020
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
UPLIFTING AFRICA PROGRAM, THE EURASIA CENTER
05.2020 - 09.2020
COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR/FRONT DESK STAFF
THE WRITER'S CENTER (NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION)
08.2019 - 04.2022
INTERN
PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW & POLICY GROUP
06.2016 - 08.2016
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
LEBARA
04.2016 - 09.2016
INTERN
FORMIND CYBERSECURITY CONSULTING
03.2014 - 10.2014
BACHELOR OF ARTS - International Relations
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
MASTER OF FINE ARTS - English
THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
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