Resume

linkedin.com/in/sarahminettekelly

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Equity & Engagement Director, Whole Earth Nature School, January 2022 – January 2024

  • Led organizational projects to enhance justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within policies, planning, and programming, including a robust organizational development and restructuring initiative
  • Managed and supported other administrative staff
  • Directed and managed employee services and hiring functions, including creating an equitable hiring process, administering employee benefits, passing supportive policies to improve staff wellbeing, and facilitating engagement events
  • Led staff training and coaching, including topics on trauma-informed care practices, Indigenous learning frameworks, student engagement and accommodations, and lesson plan development
  • Spearheaded whole organization evaluations to improve curriculum, programming, employee engagement, policies, and organizational culture
  • Developed and piloted a new process to resolve staff conflicts and concerns using restorative justice practices
  • Supported new Outdoor School director in contract writing, curriculum development, school recruitment and communications, partner engagement, and student accommodations

Outdoor School Director, Whole Earth Nature School, December 2018 – December 2021

  • Conceptualized and led state-funded overnight, day, and virtual Outdoor School programs for 5th and 6th graders to engage in land-based and social-emotional activities that prioritized equity and student needs
  • Directed all aspects of the Outdoor School program including school recruitment, project management, communications, policies, contracts, budget, curriculum, hiring, training, staff management, on-site management of 100+ students, accommodation plans, volunteer program, partnerships, and evaluation
  • Grew program from 600 students to 2000+ students in two years
  • Developed culturally responsive, land-based natural science curriculum for Field Studies
  • Established and nurtured relationships with school and district personnel, site managers, other Outdoor School providers, and state Outdoor School staff
  • Created and coordinated the Whole Earth Justice Talks program for staff, including topics such as intersectional justice, racism in the environmental movement, fatphobia and body liberation, and microaggressions and bias
  • Led organizational projects to enhance justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, including restorative practices, staff coaching, policies, staff training, and more
  • Facilitated workshops on Indigenous education, cultural appropriation

Environmental Educator, Straub Outdoors, September 2018 – December 2018

  • Facilitated learning for K-5 students during outdoor school and field trip programs
  • Guided students to connect with nature through experiential, culturally responsive programs
  • Assisted director with outreach to expand the program service area

Discovery Trail Project Coordinator, H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, June 2017 – December 2018

  • Modified curriculum based on student and teacher feedback
  • Managed research, logistics, and partnerships for project
  • Developed internal project manual and teacher field trip manual
  • Coordinated field trips at the Andrews Forest

Graduate Assistant, Oregon State University, September 2016 – June 2018

  • Co-facilitated strategic planning for the College of Forestry Diversity, Equity and Inclusion plan by hosting focus groups and open forums, leading workgroup efforts, and writing the plan
  • Assisted instructors in teaching activities for Forest Policy, Parks & Protected Management, and Consensus in Natural Resources
  • Lectured about environmental values, indigenous land dispossession and fortress conservation, best practices for web development, and climate change communication
  • Led class activities on trust, collaborative decision-making, conflict resolution, and facilitation techniques
  • Created the natural resources student handbook
  • Interviewed Oregon Eclipse Festival attendees about Guerilla Science programming for funded research
  • Received the Forest Ecosystems & Society Citizenship Award, which was created for Sarah’s contributions as the first honoree

Sustainability Manager, University of Houston, March 2014 to May 2016

  • Led campus sustainability endeavors, including institutional reporting, strategic communications, policy development, campus and community collaboration, educational events, organic gardening, fundraising, and project execution
  • Led campus sustainability reporting and received the first AASHE STARS gold rating for a Texas institution of higher education
  • Served as the UH sustainability spokesperson during media interviews, class lectures, and campus, local, and national speaking engagements
  • Directed campus sustainability governing bodies, rewrote the Campus Sustainability Policy and reorganized the Sustainability Task Force into the Campus Sustainability Committee
  • Served as hiring and office manager; developed the Office of Sustainability structure, roles, policies and procedures; managed the student sustainability team members who worked on projects such as waste minimization, communications, gardening, biking, and outreach
  • Managed project to establish the first pocket prairie at UH, including conceptualization, partnerships, fundraising, volunteers, university approval
  • Created the Campus Tree Committee, developed the university’s tree care plan and received the first Tree Campus USA designation for UH
  • Launched the uh.edu/sustainability website, Sustainability Blog, Sustainable Coog newsletter, and Sustainable Coog feature series
  • Developed UH Earth Week and Sustainability Meetup programs and added new features to Sustainability Fest like zones, art and poetry contests, live performances; Launched the first zero-waste events at UH; Developed the #BYOBottle campaign
  • Developed and disseminated a campus-wide bike survey and report; Created the UH Bike Committee; Launched the first Bike to UH Day
  • Received certificate of recognition and honorable mentions at the City of Houston Mayor Proud Partner Awards; received the Harmony Schools Public Servant Appreciation Award
  • Included in the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges, the 2016 Sierra Cool Schools Ranking, and recognized as a InnerView green level school

Communications Specialist, UTHealth School of Biomedical Informatics, September 2013 to March 2014

  • Assembled, catalogued and archived information derived from online research, interviews and printed material
  • Designed, developed and influenced the development of high quality, creative materials benefiting the school
  • Wrote news and feature articles for publication, inclusive of print and online media, as well as newsletters, feature stories, blogs, media kit preparation
  • Managed the school’s website content and social media sites
  • Generated ideas for communication strategies and develop related plans, tactics and materials to raise awareness of the school among key constituent groups
  • Collaborated with team members to address communications and design needs and supervised outsourced communications projects
  • Provided photography and coordination support for events
  • Planned school events and assisted with student recruitment

Communications Assistant, UTHealth School of Biomedical Informatics, September 2013 to March 2014

  • Coordinated the SBMI billboard campaign
  • Created the advisory council and alumni newsletters
  • Refocused the internal school newsletter
  • Created the ‘Defining Biomedical Informatics‘ series
  • Increased the number of news releases for the school by 78% from the previous year
  • Conceptualized and spearheaded the in-house student recruitment event: SBMI Connect 2013
  • Created communications policies, procedures, surveys and orientations
  • Coordinated the student engagement events, faculty retirement party and poster sessions
  • Provided design, photo editing and photography support for meetings, events and marketing campaigns
  • Developed marketing communication campaigns for the school in Constant Contact and through external email blasts

Trip Leader and Outreach Coordinator, UH Outdoor Adventure, August 2011 – June 2012

  • Planned and led outdoor trips; taught Leave No Trace principles
  • Taught classes about climbing techniques and equipment
  • Belayed patrons, managed safety at climbing wall
  • Created promotional material; maintained social media sites
  • Coordinated climbing competitions

Green UH Communications Coordinator, UH University Services, January 2011 – August 2011

  • Implemented sustainability initiatives with departments and the Sustainability Task Force
  • Coordinated and promoted events such as RecycleMania, Earth Day and Green UH Day
  • Created the Green UH media kit and weekly sustainability blog
  • Reformatted and edited the website and monthly newsletter

Event and Communications Coordinator, Green Lily Events, November 2009 – July 2010

  • Planned and coordinated large-scale, eco-conscious weddings
  • Provided sustainability consultations for large local events, like marathons
  • Promoted and coordinated sustainability-themed events such as cocktail parties, art shows, and business open houses
  • Wrote and published social media posts, blogs, and press releases

Other Positions:

  • University of Houston Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, July 2010 to December 2010: Administrative Assistant and Special Event Worker; and August 2008 to November 2009: Child Care Attendant and Special Event Worker
  • Office Assistant, Pro Shop Attendant, and Cook, Alvin Golf & Country Club, February 2004 to August 2006

EDUCATION

Master of Arts, Environmental Arts and Humanities, Oregon State University (September 2016-June 2018)

  • GPA 4.0
  • Environmental Action Track
  • Fully funded through Forest Ecosystems and Society as a Graduate Teaching & Research Assistant

Bachelor of Arts, Communications, Summa Cum Laude, University of Houston (August 2008-May 2012)

  • GPA: 4.0
  • Public Relations concentration; World Cultures & Literatures minor (German language focus)
  • Dean’s List: Bauer College of Business (2008 – 2009); College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (2009 – 2012)
  • Academic Excellence Scholarship

ACTIVITIES & ORGANIZATIONS

Oregon State University (September 2016 – June 2018)

  • Member, Planning Committee, International Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal on Human Rights, Fracking & Climate Change (September 2017-June 2018)
  • Reviewer, Ecological Reflections Writing Residency Committee (December 2017 – January 2018)
  • Chair, OSU CoF Promotion & Tenure Student Review Committee (October 2017)
  • Co-chair, OSU CoF Diversity Equity & Inclusion Workgroup (2016 – 2017)

University of Houston (August 2008 – May 2012); (March 2014 – May 2016)

  • Coordinating Chair, Bike Working Group (2015-2016)
  • Coordinating Chair, Sustainability Task Force (2014-2016)
  • Coordinating Chair, Tree Care Advisory Council (2014-2016)
  • Vice President and Co-Founder, Rock Climbing Sport Club (September 2011 – May 2012)
  • Communications Director, UH German Club (2010 – May 2012)
  • Student Representative, Sustainability Task Force (July 2011 – May 2012)
  • Coordinating Chair, UH Green Student Leadership Council (January 2011 – May 2011)
  • Member, National Society of Collegiate Scholars (2008 – May 2012)
  • Member, Public Relations Student Society of America (2010 – May 2012)

Volunteer Experience (2007 – present)

  • Community art project lead, Peavy Arboretum Get Outdoors Day (January 2017 – June 2017)
  • Trails & Education Crew Volunteer, The Houston Arboretum and Nature Center (January 2013 – May 2016)
  • Student Volunteer, UH Campus Community Garden (June 2011 – May 2012)
  • Cheerleading Coach at YMCA Alvin (2007)

Professional Associations

  • Communications committee, Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (2015 – 2016)
  • Summit planning committee, Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (2014 – 2015)
  • Member, Houston Area Urban Forestry Council (2015 – present)

AWARDS & CERTIFICATIONS

  • OSU Forest Ecosystems & Society Citizenship Award (first honoree)
  • Spring Creek Project Graduate Writing Residency (2018)
  • OSU College of Forestry fully funded graduate research appointment (2016-2018)
  • Walter Gruetter Memorial Fellowship (2017-2018)
  • UH Sustainability awards during my tenure:
    • City of Houston Mayor Proud Partner Award
    • Harmony Schools Public Servant Appreciation Award
    • Sierra Magazine Cool School
    • Tree Campus U.S.A. designation
    • AASHE STARS gold rating
    • Princeton Review Green School
  • Texas Master Naturalist
  • Yardwise Master Composter (2015 – present)
  • Recognized at the University of Houston Commencement as one of the fourteen 4.0 GPA graduates (May 2012)
  • Valenti School of Communication Outstanding Graduating Undergraduate (May 2012)
  • Academic Excellence Scholarship (2008 – 2012)
  • CPR & First Aid Certification (2008-2013)
  • CWA Climbing Wall Instructor (2011 – 2013)
  • Wilderness First Aid Certification (2011 – 2013)
  • Barnes and Noble Textbook Scholarship (2011 – 2012)
  • The University of Houston Administration and Finance Student Spotlight (June 2011)
  • Max Freund Award (2011)
  • CRWC Employee of the Month (October 2010 and November 2011)
  • German Book Award (2009 – 2010 and 2010 – 2011)