Kristen P. McKenna 75 Chestnut Ave. Cranston, RI 02910

Cell # 401 225-6762, kpam66@gmail.com C.V. Summary of Qualifications EXPERIENCED Project Implementation and Management for over 18 years in higher education, career development and nonprofit agencies ● Strong communication and interpersonal skills with a variety of partners and constituents

(US, state and local government ( DOE, DOL & HUD), employers, nontraditional learners, college aged, veterans, community groups and dislocated workers

Proven LEADERSHIP and organizational skills for developing, coordinating, and managing a variety of courses and programs in multiple disciplines for career development and experiential learning opportunities

Worked with faculty on designing online, hybrid and computer-assisted courses

Created curriculum for STEAM programs

Implemented eight new INNOVATING education projects from 1998-2015

Grant writer with 80% success rate or 20/25 funded projects

Conducted professional development trainings for staff onsite and offsite worksite /corporate training,

PRESENTATION SKILLS- Successful workshop presenter on over 26 local and national conferences on a variety of educational topics including:

NISOD- University of Austin Texas, Master Presenter, Transformational Efforts at BCC to support Adult College students- May 2014

Transformation Agenda Peer Summit and Commonwealth Workforce Coalition, Massachusetts, Contextualized Curricula for Adult Learners, Jan 2014 and May 2013

Coalition for Adult Educators, New Orleans: Innovation Career Pathways Project, March 2013

NYC- City of New York Adult Learner Conference: Teaching Multicultural Adults about Representative Democracy and citizenship 2009

BCC Faculty Day: Fostering Creative and Critical thinking in the Career 101 classroom, 2009

MA ACLS Director’s Conference: How Intensity of Instruction Supports Student Outcomes Sept 2009

Professional Memberships & Affiliations

Serve on the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Career Task Force 2013-present

National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) 2014 –present

National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) 2014

RI Council for Adult Education Professional Development, Executive Council (RI CPD) Ex Officio 2005-2007

Research, Publications & Recognition

Master’s Thesis Topic: An Exploration of Transformative Learning Experiences of Adult Community College Students in Career Transition- April 2015

An Overview of Prior Learning Assessment, A Viable College Path for Adult Learners, April 2014

Academic Co-Researcher: Effects of Career Contextualized Curriculum on Adult Learners through the Transformation Agenda, preliminary findings presented May 2013 and Jan 2014

Creator and co-editor for The Change Agent Fall Issue Mid-Term Elections: What is at Stake?

2009 National Incentive Grant Award for Building Internships and Career Development -Coalition of Adult Education

Co-Editor and contributor to The Change Agent , Democracy in Action Issue March 2008

2008 Massachusetts Literacy Champion Award -The MA Literacy Foundation and Verizon Foundation

Fall 2004 Recipient of the Nellie Mae Education Foundation Outstanding ESOL

(English for Speakers of Other Languages) Program Award. - University of New Hampshire

Feb 2004- Recognition at the Public Library Association Conference for Innovative Multicultural Youth Programming- Seattle WA

1988 RIC Alumni Award, 1989 RIC Art Faculty Award Educational Background, Certifications and Training

2012- 2015 Eastern Nazarene College, Quincy MA. M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration

2011 Bridgewater State University, M. Educational Leadership coursework

1989 Bachelor of Fine Arts, RI College Major: Sculpture, Providence RI,

LGBTQ Safe Zone Training & Designee

Trained to teach US Citizenship Examination Preparation

Studied with Facing History and Ourselves and Teaching for Change Organizations Professional Experience

May 2015-Present Governor’s Workforce Board- RI DLT Cranston, RI

Career Pathways Manager

Creating Career Development policy for the Governor’s Office

Implementing employer engagement programs

Overseeing credentialing and training programs for Adults

June 2012 – April 2015 Bristol Community College F all River, MA

MA Community College Workforce Development Transformation Agenda initiative MCCWFDTA Program Director, leadership and management for programs & participants

▪ Manages over 1 million TAACCCT dollar grant in compliance with US DOL regulations and MA Higher Education., oversee 10 employees and a range of projects across 5 campuses

▪ Lead successful performance outcomes for TAACCCT MA community college implementation with over 1700 enrollments, 1000 completions and 400 jobs to date.

▪ Coordination and collaboration with employers, faculty and Community Based Organizations to offer accelerated Career Pathways.

▪ Program design and implementation of industry-driven curricula and service learning components for local industry

▪ Marketing, event planning and PD coordination programs and services with Office of Higher Education and other statewide stakeholders

▪ Supporting student goals, student access and attainment for credentials and employment while leading efforts for college systemic change and curricula development including college academic and career advisement and counseling

▪ Co-created data collection and data analysis system for state and federal reporting

▪ Managing customer service at Davol St Campus, work-study students and enrollment

April 2007 – June 2012: Bristol Community College- Attleboro, MA

Program Director for Non- Traditional Learners: Leadership and management ▪ Coordinating programs: including, manage 10 staff, training and supervision, MA

Department of Education

▪ Community Partnership Planner with state legislators, city agencies and cultural committees

▪ Coordinated 11 local employer partnership for student experiential learning as well as multiple field trips and onsite learning opportunities to enhance career and community opportunities for students.

May 2005-April 2007 Institute for Labor Studies and Research- Cranston RI Special Project Director for US DOL Congressionally-Funded Mobile Learning Lab

Leadership, planning and organization of Mobile Education (MEC) Unit; Managed federal $500,000 grant and $25,000 private funds

Coordinating AFSCME Local 1033 Teacher Assistant, Unite Here Local 217 hospitality workers and SEIU Local 580 service employee trainings, worksite and work readiness programs

Administrative duties included supervision, federal OMB budgets, data and statistic collection and analysis, event planning, grant writing and fund raising

Other Professional Experience: Consultant, Volunteer and Short term Projects McKenna Principles, Herndon VA- HR and Compliance Consultant-

Coordinating federal regulations on Veterans and Disabled employment practices

Creating Employee Handbook and performance improvement process Bristol Community College- Noncredit adjunct instructor and curriculum developer for summer arts programs and civics education

Blackstone River Theatre, Festival and event support volunteer Providence Public Library – Cultural Arts and Literacy Coordinator

Facilitated multiracial students to create family web pages and artwork for exhibition, supported art’s and literacy projects, coordinated field trips and experiential learning opportunities Cranston Public Schools- Afterschool and summer school art teacher

Taught art curriculum for grades 4-6 Bryant College, Smithfield, RI, Instructor

International young adults in a pre-college prep, Mentor to High School students from 11 countries Organizational Futures- Providence, RI- Art Gallery Manager and presentation specialist Independent Photographer and photo development specialist

oversight, Employer Outreach Student and Alumni Advisement, Manage Data, MFA, steward business development relationships