MEET VANESSA R. PARSONS
Learn About Me
I’m an experienced professional on the Eastern End of Long Island in New York. With an undergraduate degree from Cornell University and an MA in Government from Johns Hopkins, I apply my rigorous love of learning and curiosity to all my endeavors. Currently, my volunteer work is focused on helping the students of New York get the proper amount of sleep their bodies need through advocacy and educational work with Start School Later New York as the Director of Policy and Advocacy.
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When I am not focusing on others, I like to swim in cold water, write haiku, and read all kinds of books.
DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING
LANDIS REFINING
July 2009- present
Leading an excellent team of customer service reps, warehouse workers, and production staff, designed company handbook, designed and implemented shipping changes to reduce costs by six percent, updating sales an marketing materials, curating social media outreach
SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR
RIVERHEAD FOUNDATION FOR MARINE RESEARCH AND PRESERVATION
July 2007-March 2009
Led dozens of volunteer training orientations, raise $7000 in new sponsorships for annual 5k run, implemented creative strategy to gain $3,000 in donations from local electronics company, obtained NYS raffle certification for large ticket raffle prizes, designed and created new sponsorship brochure, budgeted for more efficient fundraising
ASSISTANT CONSTITUTIONAL EDUCATOR, PROJECT MANAGER
WE THE PEOPLE FOUNDATION FOR CONSTITUTIONAL EDUCATION
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Nov 2005 - June 2007
Co-hosted live Constitutional web-casts, created organizational handbook, organized two complex national educational and fundraising tours including a lie three-day conference in Washington DC with 24 guest speakers and 150 guests, coordinated local voluteers
TEACHER AND EDUCATIONAL REFORM CONSULTANT AT THE AMERICAN ENGLISH SCHOOL
Dec 2004 - April 2005
Taught adult and 5th grade TEFL classes in northern China, created class projects and games, taught other teachers English songs to help their students with difficult letter sounds
DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND ADVOCACY: START SCHOOL LATER NEW YORK
June 2022 - Present
I started as the Southampton Chapter leader beginning in 2022, then the Eastern Suffolk Coordinator, now a State representative with the national 501(c)3, Start School Later. The goal is to raise awareness about and advocate for safe and healthy school hours. Through local and state-wide education of community members, legislators, and the media we are working to make later school start times a reality for all New York students.
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER
Sept 2018 - Present
Design and instruct in age-appropriate lesson for pre-k through 3rd grade using games, songs, crafts, and stories.
EAST QUOGUE CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Jan 2016- Present
Speaking at multiple town board meetings and writing numerous letters to the editor as part of multiple letters writing campaigns for or against certain local initiatives
EAST QUOGUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ORGANIC GARDEN COORDINATOR
Jan 2017 - June 2017
Initiated community campaign to build an edible school garden, designed budget and garden layout, secured $1,700 in grant money and raised an additional $1,400 in donations, coordinated volunteers before and during construction, rallied community support via social media and at School Board meeting
FOUNDER OF THE HEALTH NETWORK
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Jan 2015 - Dec 2016
Created a forty-five-minute presentation on the hidden toxins in our homes and health care products with tips on how to reduce exposure, gave dozens of presentations at local libraries in Suffolk County
LA LECHE LEAGUE LEADER
Dec 2013 - April 2017
Assisted mothers in navigating their mother/child relationship through breastfeeding, offered emotional and educational support through monthly meetings, phone calls, and social media
PUBLIC, EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT LEASED ACCESS TELEVISION MOVEMENT CO-FOUNDER
Sept 1999- Jan 2008
Educated community, Town Boards, County and State Legislators on importance of easy and affordable access to Public, Education, and Government Access Channels through multiple grassroots initiatives: public speaking, letter writing, and petitioning
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
MA GOVERNMENT
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
January 2019 - May 2021
Cum Laude. Concentration in Democratic Studies and Governance. My passion for civic education led me to write my thesis on the best methods for teaching civics to high school and college students. Rigorous studies in Western Political Thought, Economics, Voting and Campaign laws, Policy writing, and comparative federalism allowed me to expand my understanding of American governance and gain confidence in creating change.
TEFL CERTIFICATION, ZHUHAI CHINA
This course allowed me to gain experience in teaching English as a foreign language with communication techniques and skills useful in any profession
Nov 2004 - Dec 2004
BS INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR RELATIONS
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
Cum Laude, National Dean's List, Schwartz-Miller Scholarship. Classes focused on collective bargaining, economics, debating,and the historical context surrounding American labor laws and relations.
Sept 2002 - May 2004
AA LIBERAL ARTS
SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
With Honors, Phi Theta Kappa, Dean's List. Suffolk gave me the confidence I previously lacked in my academic life, and gave me great teachers, role models, and a desire to give back.
Sept 1999- January 2002
IN THE NEWS
Community Involvement + Civic Engagement
START SCHOOL LATER NEW YORK
"If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Want to change the world?
There's nothing to it"