VALERIE E. JENKELUNAS
Bolton,CT
Summary
Experienced academic program leader and diversity and inclusion professional with a track record of driving positive change and fostering inclusive environments. Skilled in developing and implementing strategic initiatives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Demonstrated strong leadership abilities through effective team management and inspiring others. Committed to creating a culture of belonging and ensuring equal opportunities for all individuals.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Director of Academic Support
University of Connecticut
01.2024 - Current
- Recruits peer mentors through strategic campus outreach efforts, meeting target numbers enrollment each semester.
- Teaches Educational Psychology 3030 to peer mentors developing coaching skills, retaining 80% at the end of term to level up in leadership.
- Develops and implements outreach strategy to recruit campus faculty and staff for undergraduate mentorship, resulting in 90% of mentees being retained at the university each semester.
- Presents as a campus expert for struggling students, to undergraduate faculty and staff for professional development.
- Leads student development strategic plans for operation of the Academic Achievement Center.
- Collaborates with colleagues interdepartmentally to support the needs of students from diverse backgrounds, resulting in high risk students returning to good standing at the university.
Community Liaison Specialist & EGL Coordinator
University of Connecticut
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Provides specialty advising to diverse student populations to access study abroad opportunities
- Liaises with campus collaborators to promote EGL programs to underrepresented students, including the five cultural centers, Scholars House and First Year Experience programs
Experiential Global Learning Coordinator
University of Connecticut
01.2017 - 04.2021
- Fosters strategic partnerships with Office of National Scholarships & Fellowships and Financial Aid, to promote national scholarships for study abroad
- Administers specialized student advising for national scholarship applicants for program selection, application essay development, and final certification
- Manages and monitors EGL and UConn's adherence to Gilman policies
- Develops and maintains current list of national, international, local and other scholarship opportunities by category to support student participation
- Manages academic student advising portfolio for Storrs & regional UConn campuses, for the social sciences, business, ACES and individualized majors, providing expert collaboration with academic and student support constituents
- Developed first Virtual Global Internship Launch event highlighting innovative programming for 2020, and subsequent virtual program showcases for 2021
- Collaborates with IT to create format for MAPs page on the EGL website, developed individual content for academic majors, and managed workflow and content best practices for team
- Developed Collaborative Advising Model to more deeply connect EGL to academic advisors to provide specialized academic information to students
- Initiated relationship development between EGL and Service Learning to implement projects between professors and global constituents for student academic projects
- Fosters relationships between EGL, prospective donors and UConn Foundation to secure alternative funding sources for program-based scholarships
- Identifies national grant opportunities and leads team of EGL and faculty to apply with adherence to university protocol via OVPR standards and approvals
Coordinator, Continuing and Professional Education
Quinebaug Valley Community College
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Advised non-credit students on program options for workforce and professional development and entry into degree programs
- Managed annual departmental budgets, student tuition assistance funds and state reporting requirements
- Supervised office staff, instructors, and student workers
- Initiated the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training program and provided case management for inaugural student groups
Coordinator, Viscogliosi Entrepreneurship Center
Manchester Community College
01.2015 - 01.2016
- Implemented education services and resource programs working with board
- Supervised semester-long, credit bearing, student internships and work study experiences
- Developed project budgets and managed annual funding allowance
- Liaised with Manchester Community College and the Town of Manchester to carry out mission of the center
- Oversaw data collection procedures to report quantitative and qualitative data to constituents
- Facilitated monthly entrepreneurship workshop for high school students
- Developed monthly events for the public relate to entrepreneurship, networking, and business education
- Built on existing programming to include a new Entrepreneurship Program for the community
Program Associate, Division of Continuing Education
Manchester Community College
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Marketed courses through management of an annual strategic plan
- Proposed and implemented programs for the Credit-Free Programs division
- Served as the college liaison for the Organization of Active Adults
- Recruited and onboarded new instructors
- Coordinated department social media and advertising campaigns
- Managed website content updates using Word Press
- Implemented first Facebook advertising plan as part of yearly marketing plan
- Collaborated with a team to develop four catalogues annually to market courses
Research Assistant
Education Development Center
01.2014 - 06.2014
- Assesses the science learning of pre-school aged children participating in the 'Cultivating Young Scientists' program
Interim Director of Residential Education
Berkshire Hills Music Academy
07.2013 - 11.2013
- Managed a team of residential advisors providing independent living skills education to intellectually disabled adults with an affinity for music.
Community Inclusion Specialist
American School for the Deaf
01.2011 - 01.2013
- Managed intercultural team, daily and vocational programming, life skills and job coaching for deaf adults with intellectual disabilities
Adult Skill Builder & Volunteer Coordinator
Lutheran Social Services
01.2010 - 12.2011
- Community partnership outreach, program development, translation services, volunteer coordination and curriculum development for refugee adults seeking employment and acclimating to life in the United States
Education
Master of Arts - International Education
School for International Training (SIT) Graduate Institute
Brattleboro, Vermont01.2012
Bachelor of Arts - English
University of Hartford
West Hartford, Connecticut01.2005
Skills
- Strategic relationship building
- Strategic program coordination
- Team-oriented leader
- Problem-solving mindset
- Engagement in lifelong learning
- Committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in programming
Accomplishments
- Manages a team of 100+ university faculty and staff serving a volunteer mentors for undergraduate students on academic probation each semester.
- Implements improved procedures for data collection to reflect program success and student demographics through measured academic improvements and corresponding interventions.
- Develops strategic relationships with undergraduate students seeking leadership development and transferable professional skills to meet target enrollment in peer mentorship program consistently with outreach plan.
- Supervises a team of 10+ work study students from diverse backgrounds, to collaborate with 20+ academic coaches each semester to serve the academic needs of undergraduates in the Academic Achievement Center.
Professional Development
- Diversity Abroad Conference, Chicago, IL, 2023
- Forum on International Education, Spring 2022
- U21 Global Leadership Program, 03/2022
- Diversity Abroad Conference, Virtual, 11/2021
- Positive Leadership Course, University for Peace's Centre for Executive Education, 2020
- LGBTQ+ Ally Training for International Education Offices, CIS Abroad, 2019
- White Fragility Book Discussion Group, UConn Women's Center, 2020
- LGBTQ+ Safe Space Training, UConn
Committee Work
- UConn FYE Conference Committee, 2021 - present
- UConn FYE Awards Committee, 2021-present
- UConn Fulbright Committee Member, Fall 2023
- UCPEA Social Justice Committee Member, 2018 - 2022,
- Quinebaug Valley Community College President's Advisory Council, 2016 - 2017
- Quinebaug Valley Community College Veteran's Advisory Council, 2016 - 2017
Presentations Panel Discussions
- Forum on Education Abroad Conference: 'The Road Diverged: Perspectives from Diverse Mid-Career Professionals', Accepted for 03/2024
- School Counselors Day: 'YOU Can Study Abroad', Presented to LEAD participants Summer 2022 and 2023, ECE participants Summer 2022 and 2023 | Fall 2023
- International Education Week: 'Funding Experiential Global Learning', Fall 2023
- World Strides Summit on Education Abroad: 'Creating Opportunities for Underrepresented Students in Ed Abroad', Panelist | Philadelphia, PA | 08/2023
- Changing Lives Through Education Abroad: 'Capacity Building for Education Abroad Through Strategic DEI Outreach', World Strides Podcast Featured Guest | 05/2023
- African American Cultural Center Black History Month Celebration: 'Journey to the Motherland: Winter in Ghana Returnee Panel', Co-presenter with student program alumni and program leaders | 02/2023
- University of Connecticut Rainbow Center Out to Lunch Series: 'LGBTQIA+ Studying & Traveling Abroad Panel Discussion: Building a Community of Support & accessing Opportunities Globally', 12/2022
- American Association of Colleges and Universities, Virtual Conference on Diversity, Equity & Student Success: 'Restructuring Global Education - Leveraging the Virtual Platform During a Pandemic', 03/2021
- Academic Center for Exploratory Students, Communication, Economics, Political Science, Psychological Sciences, Individualized Majors: 'Collaborative Advising for EGL', presented annually 2018 - 2023
- Goal Setting for Education Abroad, 2018 - present
Awards
Inclusive Excellence in First Year Experience (FYE) Award, 2022
UConn Office of First Year Programs
Nominated for the 2024-2025 Staff Career Mentor of the Year Award (results will be announced in May 2025)
UConn Center for Career Readiness & Life Skills
Timeline
Assistant Director of Academic Support
University of Connecticut
01.2024 - Current
Community Liaison Specialist & EGL Coordinator
University of Connecticut
01.2022 - 01.2023
Experiential Global Learning Coordinator
University of Connecticut
01.2017 - 04.2021
Coordinator, Continuing and Professional Education
Quinebaug Valley Community College
01.2016 - 01.2017
Coordinator, Viscogliosi Entrepreneurship Center
Manchester Community College
01.2015 - 01.2016
Research Assistant
Education Development Center
01.2014 - 06.2014
Program Associate, Division of Continuing Education
Manchester Community College
01.2014 - 01.2016
Interim Director of Residential Education
Berkshire Hills Music Academy
07.2013 - 11.2013
Community Inclusion Specialist
American School for the Deaf
01.2011 - 01.2013
Adult Skill Builder & Volunteer Coordinator
Lutheran Social Services
01.2010 - 12.2011
Bachelor of Arts - English
University of Hartford
Master of Arts - International Education
School for International Training (SIT) Graduate Institute
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