Haley Qaissaunee
182 Graham Hall | Newark, DE 19716 | (908) 414-8386 | hqaissa@udel.edu
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
University of Delaware, Newark, DE
Bachelor of Arts Double Major: English (professional writing), public policy
Graduation Term: December 2015
GPA: 3.6; Dean’s List
GRADUATE EDUCATION
Master of Public Administration
Expected Graduation Term: Spring 2017
PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
Public Administration Fellow, Institute for Public Administration, University of Delaware, January 2016—Present
• Write concise and accurate social media posts to promote and spread awareness about IPA initiatives
• Update and manage the new IPA website
• Edit print material to make text concise, accurate, and error free
Communications Fellow at the Rodel Foundation of Delaware, August—December 2015
• Communicated effectively with employees, managers, and stakeholders
• Utilized social media platforms to successfully promote organization initiatives
• Used technology to create interactive ways for the organization to interact with constituents
• Compiled research and assembled data to share with staff and stakeholders
• Wrote clever and concise blog posts about current issues in education
• Created a promotional video that the organization used at a major conference
Intern at the Institute for Public Administration, University of Delaware, June—August 2015
• Conducted research about best practices in early childhood education and low-income youth
• Summarized research in a clear, concise manner
• Utilized research findings to enhance IPA projects
LEADERSHIP POSITION
Co-president of the Student Association for the Education of Young Children (SAEYC), University of Delaware,
September 2015—Present
• Communicate effectively with all e-board members to plan volunteer events and meetings
• Oversee all e-board members and volunteer coordinators to ensure all jobs get done and volunteer events
run smoothly
• Collaborate with the co-president to plan innovative ways to expand our club and give members more
volunteer opportunities
• Use my communication and leadership skills to successfully run meetings and engage members
SOFTWARE PROFICIENCIES
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Excel
InDesign
Photoshop
WordPress
Hootsuite
Storify
ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
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Community Service Fraternity Alpha Phi Omega (APO)
Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society
Students Association for the Education of Young Children (SAEYC)
View my E-­‐portfolio at http://hqaissaunee.wix.com/eportfolio Haley Qaissaunee
182 Graham Hall | Newark, DE 19716 | (908) 414-8386 | hqaissa@udel.edu
My dual majors, English (professional writing) and public policy signify the combination of my
two passions. Writing has always been my favorite subject, and I discovered the policy world as a UD
freshman and never turned back. I believe that through studying public policy, we gain an understanding
and holistic view of the structures within and decisions made about our surroundings; and through
writing, we can efficiently communicate these observations. Effective writing is the foundation that
allows us to spread awareness, advocate for a cause, and create policy that benefits our community.
In the policy realm, I am particularly involved in education issues. As a summer intern at the
Institute for Public Administration (IPA), I learned about children from low-income families and their
opportunity gaps in the public education system. Conducting research on best practices for low-income
youth at IPA spurred my interest in improving the quality of education and socio-emotional support for
all student populations.
During my senior year of college, interning at the Rodel Foundation of Delaware furthered my
desire to become a contributing factor in the advancement of education awareness and policy. Rodel is an
education nonprofit that strives to provide children with a world-class education by 2020. At Rodel, I
learned about K-12 education, college and career readiness, and communication strategies. This
experience was my most influential internship because the small work environment allowed me to act as
employee, take on real responsibilities, and use creativity under time constraints to solve problems and
complete tasks. This experience helped refine my research, writing, and outreach skills. This internship
also equipped me with new skills in preparing and leading meetings, reviewing fiscal year budgets, and
being individually responsible for my own projects.
My interest in both communications and public policy coalesced when I created a promotional
video for Rodel. This video contained clips from elementary, middle school, and high school students
who talked about the various ways they learn best and succeed in school. Watching hours of student
footage allowed me to hear directly from kids and teens, acknowledge opportunity gaps, and see how
policy can have a direct and lasting affect inside and outside the classroom. This video played at a
conference with over 300 guests, one being the governor of Delaware. I felt proud that I could share these
students’ opinions and potentially have my video be a catalyst for action.
Ultimately, I want to use my skills as a writer, communicator, and policy analyst to help
organizations that serve children and at risk or disadvantaged populations. I am passionate about public
service and believe that social change is possible if we give people the correct levers for success.