MICHAEL PAUL LEASER 1318 Winnebago Ave, Sandusky, OH 44870 (419) 239-9865 * ml115d142@westpost.

net INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING SPECIALIST Project Management / Training & Curriculum Development / Community Outreach SUMMARY Dynamic international project manager, skilled trainer, and passionate educator with an uncanny ability to communicate across cultures and build meaningful prof essional relationships; have used my training and experience in research, teachi ng, and project management to successfully grow and support programs from a vari ety of different sectors; humanitarian idealist with the skill-set to be an effe ctive catalyst for positive change EXPERIENCE Cofounder / Strategy Consultant (October 2009 - Present) OCB pour le Revitalisation des Mangroves et la Preservation de la Biodiversite --- Cofounded a community-based organization to protect endangered mangrove fore sts and the high levels of biodiversity in the Fatick Region of Senegal; continu e to consult pro bono Community Outreach Consultant (May 2009 - Present) ATS Project Success --- Conduct community outreach activities to build momentum for the program and represent the organization at school events and supplemental education service p rovider fairs Regional Program Manager/ Trainer of Teachers/ Volunteer Educator (August 2009 August 2010) International Foundation for Education and Self-Help --- Planned and conducted 35 teacher-training seminars and workshops in remote a reas of the Fatick Region of Senegal for the USAID-funded American Educators for Africa Program; provided training for over 300 in-service teachers, educators, and NGO/CBO officials State Program Enrollment Coordinator, Massachusetts (June 2008 - February 2009) Educate Online --- Coordinated the statewide enrollment process for program that provides free tutoring services and access to technology for students from low-income families ; ensured compliance with state and federal law; met fiscal and performance repo rting requirements --- Promoted the program through public speaking events, canvassing, and conduct ing workshops; worked with a diverse set of stakeholders (students, parents, sch ool administrators, government officials, nonprofit professionals, and members o f the clergy) to build momentum for the program and guide parents through the en rollment process --- Hired, trained, and managed a canvassing staff; strategically planned all ou treach activities; increased applications from 128 (in 2007) to 909 (in 2008) Strategic Outreach Consultant (February 2008 - March 2008) Small Planet Institute --- Designed and implemented a successful strategic outreach plan for the books Democracy's Edge and Getting a Grip: Clarity, Creativity and Courage in a World Gone Mad for best-selling author Francis Moore Lappe; grew contact list and emai l-marketing base Senior Program Assistant (August 2007 - January 2008)

United Nations Development Programme Equator Initiative --- Performed a wide variety of program and operations management functions; hel ped launch the Community Knowledge Service, an international partnership and web portal that supports indigenous and community-based organizations that seek to manage areas with high levels of biodiversity in ways that help alleviate povert y and protect the environment Assistant International Program Manager/ Training Consultant (December 2006 - Ju ly 2007) Humber Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning ---Researched, designed, implemented, and evaluated a comprehensive pre-departur e training program for the 2007 Humber/Canadian International Development Agency International Youth Internship Programme, an international volunteer internship program --- Researched, designed, implemented, and evaluated the Canadian Practicum for Entrepreneurship and Business Development, a month-long, capacity-building progr am in entrepreneurship and business planning for officials from the Bangladesh W omen Chamber of Commerce & Industry EDUCATION Humber Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning: Toronto, ON --- Postgraduate Certification in International Development Management, 2009 --- Courses included: Management Skills for International Development; Communica tion Skills for Managers; Humanitarian Assistance; Project Design and Planning; Cross-Cultural Effectiveness; Management Information Systems; Financial Manageme nt; Operations Management; Sector Studies Bowling Green State University: Bowling Green, OH --- Master of Arts in History; focus in African history and public history, 2006 --- MA Courses included: Historiography; Methodology; Historical Documentaries; Africa and World Politics; Colonial Education Policy in Africa; Slavery, Race an d Law; Transference and Continuity of African Culture in the Americas --- Bachelor of Arts; major in history, minor in sociology, 2005 PUBLICATIONS K-12 Finance Policy at the State Level in Ohio, 1970-2005 Contributing author, interviewer, and researcher for a comprehensive reference o n education funding in Ohio through time; work received a special commendation f rom the Speaker of the House of the Ohio General Assembly LANGUAGE SKILLS French - Advanced level in speaking and reading; moderate in writing and transla ting AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS - Recipient of a "gold-level" Presidential Volunteer Service Award - Inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Alpha Theta, and the National Honors Society - Winner of competitive requests for proposals, grants, scholarships, internship s, and assistantships (teaching and research)