Savannah Edwards
192 Graham Hall | Newark, Delaware 19716 | 302-831-3506 | savannah@udel.edu
EDUCATION
Master of Public Administration, Expected May 2017
University of Delaware
Specialization: City Management
Bachelor of Arts in Government & International Studies, May 2014
George Mason University, GPA: 3.4/4.0
Study Abroad: Switzerland
Graduate Public Administration Fellow
September 2015–Present
Institute for Public Administration, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
•
Provide research support for Mid-Atlantic Transportation Sustainability Center.
•
Translate state data on Complete Communities for public consumption and create user-friendly tools to highlight
examples of best practice throughout the state.
AmeriCorps VISTA
July 2014–July 2015
United Way of Madison County & Hinds Career Center, Elwood, IN
• Built upon the organizational, administrative, and financial capacity of the Hinds Career Center in northern Madison
County so as to provide individuals within the community with the necessary tools to move out of poverty.
• Implemented strategies to connect with potential partners, publicizing programming and providing financial stability
and career services for the economically disadvantaged working households in northern Madison County.
Development Intern
January–May 2014
City Parks Alliance, Washington, DC
• Conducted research about prospective members, developed membership campaign materials, and compiled raw data
for use in prospective donor profiles.
Member Services
May 2012–August 2013
Association of Consulting Foresters, Alexandria, VA
• Oversaw member services, which included processing new member applications, tracking membership statistics,
attending to member requests, surveying members to improve services, and managing member accreditation.
• Assisted with various administrative tasks such as scheduling, marketing projects, planning the annual conference,
editing publications, and communicating between committees and the national office.
Intern for the Office of Representative Geoff Davis
August–December 2011
United States House of Representatives, Washington, DC
• Reduced upper-level workload by working with legislative advisors, constituents, and staff members to streamline
constituent requests through administration, updated constituent information, and attended congressional hearings.
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Secretary, Mason Alumni Affairs, State Outreach and Networking
May 2012–May 2014
George Mason University Student Government, Fairfax, VA
• Worked to improve student lives at George Mason University through strengthening town-gown relations, lobbying
the state legislature for student issues, and planning community service events.
• Led committee meetings, drafted grant proposals, and planned events and networking.
SKILLS
Certified in Microsoft Office 2010 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access)
Proficient in Social Media Platforms (Facebook, Twitter)
Familiar with Database Systems (SPSS, iMIS, Salesforce) and ArcGIS
Public Speaking, Speech Writing, and Communication
MEMBERSHIPS
American Society for Public Administration
American Planning Association
International City/County Management Association
Daughters of the American Revolution
Savannah Edwards
192 Graham Hall | Newark, Delaware 19716 | 302-831-3506 | savannah@udel.edu
The urban condition and the human condition are often intertwined, especially to local policy makers.
Individuals seek out environments in which they feel they can thrive. Policy creation and implementation
on the local level are essential to providing citizens with basic needs such as safety, security, and clean
water, among other things; however, it is unwise to make policies without a broad grasp upon the issues,
the environment, and design tactics.
During my college career, I developed my knowledge base and skills in government and politics through
coursework and internships. I was able to gain hands-on exposure to many facets of public governance
and administration; I witnessed national governance via Congress through an internship with former U.S.
Congressman Geoff Davis. While working with staff members and constituents, I streamlined workloads
by collecting and sorting requests, making the process better suited to helping the people of our district.
As a member of Student Government at George Mason University (GMU), I worked on state legislative
issues, while facilitating a multi-partnered Lobby Day at the Virginia state legislature. I became versed in
local issues while conducting research at the City Parks Alliance.
Not only do I have experience working with governmental and non-profit organizations, but I also have
experience in membership relations, communication, and advocacy. While attending GMU, I worked in
Member Services at the Association of Consulting Foresters, a national trade organization. While the
position was in a field outside of my comfort space, the experience taught me important skills in
membership management databases and confirmed my desire to have a strong relationship with clients.
My participation on an internationally ranked forensics team helped me develop strong oratorical, logical,
and writing skills. I am now applying those skills to public administration and policy.
As I have grown as an individual, I have developed a better understanding of my innate desire to help
people. From working with rural poor populations in Indiana during my year of service with Americorps
to organizing a university-wide lobbying initiative, I know that I want to become a strong leader,
dedicated to public service. Now that I have relocated to Delaware, I want to start building my career here
and learning more about Delaware’s public sector. My desires and aspirations continue to drive me
toward a career in local government.
I also have recognized an inclination toward macro approaches and holistic problem solving. A position in
City Management appeals to me because it marries my interests in governance, development, and
leadership. During my four years at GMU, I became familiar with the many sides of political studies. I
gained experience on the national level, working within Congress, as well as on the state level, facilitating
a multi-partnered Lobby Day at the state legislature. The design concepts to which I had been exposed at
my undergraduate university, such as the Garden City Movement and New-Urbanism, piqued my interest
into urban design and administration. Today, however, I am putting those skills into practice by
researching best practices across the nation in Smart Growth and Complete Communities; ideas that will
lead us into the future with happier, healthier homes.
Ideally, I would like to expand upon my experience in the public sector through a summer internship in
municipal governance or planning. I am confident that my drive to help others, experience in government,
and ability to learn quickly will make me a successful candidate.