University of Houston, Downtown

Nov 2013 – Present

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Assistant Director of Graduate Studies (Dec 2017 - present)

Graduate Services Coordinator (April 2015 - Dec 2017)

International Admissions Coordinator (Nov 2013 - April 2015) 

Adjunct Faculty (August 2014 - present)

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Functions:

• Implement the recruitment plan of the school by working with the dean and the school’s faculty to establish enrollment goals and a plan to achieve enrollment goals for academic programs.

• Assist graduate and international students with admissions, immigration and academic issues.

• Supervise several aspects of international admission including recruitment events; evaluated recruitment goals for graduate and international programs.

• Advise international students on immigration policies, improving individual, and organizational compliance.

• Issue and sign Forms I-20, update SEVIS, and assist in other immigration matters so F-1 students can maintain accreditation and remain compliant.

• Support, maintain and follow up on the upgrade the administrative and academic applications ensuring performance.

• Develop process and workflow roadmaps to define the strategy and plan for each administrative application.

• Provide leadership and management to team assistants; work closely with all campus departments and university staff.

 

Key Achievements:

• Awarded a teaching excellence award in 2017.

• Reduced international application processing time by 50% by introducing a streamlined system.

• Selected to oversee the Graduate Preparation Program transfer from University of British Colombia to University of Houston.

• Key contributor to 2% increase in international enrollment 2014/2015 by developing innovative marketing material and implementing insightful student recruitment projects.

• Implemented a new technique for international students which contributed to more organized admissions counselling.

• Improved cooperation from various campus departments to facilitate valuable services to international students.

• Promoted to Graduate Services Coordinator for College of Business in June 2015.

 

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Houston Community College System, Houston

Jan 2013 – Nov 2013

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Designated School Official (DSO)

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Functions:

• Assisted in immigration matters related with F-1 students including signing I-20s and updating SEVIS records.

• Approved benefits for F-1 students and their families; educated students and the school about their rights and obligations under F-1 regulations; served as the principal contact between the DHS and the school.

• Prepared marketing material, newsletters, and special projects for student recruitment.

• Developed performance objectives, completed annual performance reviews and administered staff evaluations.

 

Key Achievements

• Analyzed and applied new ideas and concepts related to reputation management, media relations, creative campaign development and strategic marketing within a management, business and creative context.

• Managed five successful networking and branding events to build HCC brand and connect with various stakeholders.

• Designated to represent and speak for the school in F-1 student matters.

• Improved documentation processes that contributed to significant reduction in processing time. 

• Key contributor to improved compliance, a 5% retention rate increase and a 1.5% enrollment increase from India, Vietnam, Nepal and the UAE by working diligently with US overseas embassies.

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U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration

Aug 2007 - Apr 2012

 

Education, Communication & Commercial Specialist/Business Development Specialist, U.S. Department of Commerce

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Functions:

• Served as an industry expert on trade related matters which included laws and regulations, market practices, commercial trends and major projects pertaining to key commodity/industry sectors such as Education, Oil and Gas, Travel/Tourism Services, Plastics/Plastic Producing Machinery and Port Development Services.

• Partnered with US Department of State officials to organize and support the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship which was an unprecedented opportunity to highlight entrepreneurship and community development.

• Chosen as Program Director for “Study USA” initiative within the US Foreign Commercial Service and the “Discover America: initiative; prepared quarterly fact sheets on commercial and trade issues; resolved trade disputes.

• Monitored, analyzed and reported on economic/trade related issues through interviews, desk research and daily press reviews; managed budgets and financial activities for special projects; developed web content and newsletters

• Provided support for VIP visits and the economic/political section of the Embassy to set up bilateral meetings.

• Supervised multiple outreach and marketing campaigns; recommended sectors with best market potential for US products.

• Provided program support on trade-related issues to USG agencies including the U.S. Bureau of Customs, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Patent and Trademark Office, Department of State, U.S. Trade Representative's Office and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.

• Conducted in-depth analysis of trade trends and the development patterns of major industry sectors in correlation with local practices, trade constraints, laws, government policies and industrial development programs.

• Developed English and Arabic newsletters and analyzed industrial sectors; organized and led trade missions to the US.

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Key Achievements

• Spearheaded the “Community College” initiative in collaboration with Fulbright Commission and AMEDEAST.

• Led 25 business delegations to the US with 85% success rate and long term contracts facilitated.

• Advised and assisted Commercial Counselor and Commercial Attaché in developing and revising the Country Commercial Guide recommending specific trade development objectives.

• Awarded Second Quarterly Star Award, US Department of Commerce.

• Received Superior Honor Award- US Department of State: Organizing the Global Entrepreneurship Initiative, the Meritorious Honor Award- US Department of State: Excellence in execution of Commercial Service Duties and the Extra Mile Award: Going beyond the call of duty in serving CS objectives, all in 2011.

• Recognized with the Meritorious Honor Award- US Department of State: For Service above and beyond the call of duty to serve US Commercial Service, 2010.

• Earned the Extra Mile Award- US Department of State: Excellence in achieving CS objectives, 2010.

• Received the Meritorious Honor Award- US Department of State: Excellence in client outreach and the Extra Mile Award- US Department of State: Outstanding customer service and trade promotion, both in 2009.

 

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Decentralization Initiative, United States Agency For International Development

May 2007 – Aug 2007

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Communication Task Manager

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Functions:

• Enhanced internal communication between tasks, the project and the USAID via electronic, print and communication tools for internal and external use (newsletters, flyers, articles, etc.)

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Key Achievements

• Developed the Information Education and Communication strategy and supervised its implementation.

• Created project identity including the logo, base line, color codes, following the USAID branding policy.

• Designed tailored outreach campaigns adapted to the profile of each local district targeted by the project.

 

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E.U. Trade Enhancement Programme (TEP-A), MEDA programme

Jun 2005 – May 2007

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TEP-A Senior Project Communication Officer (Jan 2006 – May 2007)

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Functions:

• Developed and implemented traditional and social media strategies.

• Managed all PR and communication activities of the project related to export promotion or commercial diplomacy.

• Organized donor training and study tours to facilitate knowledge transfer.

• Managed financing and EU billing process documents; helped negotiate financing agreements with beneficiaries.

• Monitored project implementations, the performance of project managers and partners and contractual obligations via periodic reviews, audits, reporting and assistance, etc.

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Key Achievement:

• Key contributor to sector analysis and to the definition of a sector strategy for the European Community, e.g.: Country Strategic Paper (CSP), National Indicative Programme (NIP).

 

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Senior Communication and Press Expert (Jun 2005 – Jan 2006)

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Functions:

• Launched a private public partnership campaign to guarantee the sustainability of project results after termination; edited all documents related to the commercial diplomacy component; designed the overall communication strategy.

• Participated in designing a training program for commercial diplomats in European Embassies.

• Developed communication tools and content management for Commercial Services (ECS) web-site.

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Key Achievements:

• Created a new identity for Commercial Service (ECS)

• Drafted a brochure and a leaflet for ECS and raised funds for their printing through public-private partnership.

 

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League of Arab States/ Population Policies Department

Jan 2005 – Jun 2005

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Communication and Public Relations Specialist/Technical Writer

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Functions:

• Developed communication materials, flyers, brochures and conference kits; organized workshops.

• Drafted, edited and translated magazines, newsletters and all other communication materials and articles.

 

Key Achievement:

• Key contributor to sector analysis and to the definition of a sector strategy for the European Community, e.g.: Country Strategic Paper (CSP), National Indicative Programme (NIP).

 

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John Snow, Inc.

Jan 2002 – Jan 2005

 

Communication Specialist

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Functions:

• Worked with the USAID-funded Healthy Mother/Healthy Child Project with the Ministry of Health and Population.

• Managed the editing department and developed communication materials.

• Drafted requests for proposals/quotations and bidding; evaluated proposals; negotiated contracts with subcontractors.

 

Key Achievements:

• Edited 60 publications and revised the work of other editors to ensure the usage of prescribed technical formats.

• Developed a web site in collaboration with JSI Boston office to improve the project’s online presence and to provide current and prospective stakeholders with vital information about business operations.

 

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Cairo Demographic Center (United Nations Funded agency)

Mar 1998 – Jan 2002

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Technical Writer/Translator/Editor

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Functions

• Prepared articles, bulletins, brochures and all technical monthly/quarterly/annual reports.

• Revised, edited, and followed up with the designers and the print shops for printing different publications.