Grace Leaf, Transfer Counselor

Hi! I'm here to help you be successful in college and to connect you to my colleagues from across campus who also want you to succeed!

Please feel free to contact any of our helpful Student Services staff as well as stopping by the Office of Student Retention if you need any help.

I'm in Building 15, Room 102. Hope to see you soon!

Education

• Ph.D. candidate in Leadership Studies, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA (1997- Present)
• Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA
• Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Edward R. Murrow School of Communication, Washington State University, Pullman, WA

Washington State University Honors College Graduate, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Outstanding Senior Journalism Student

Professional Experience

Counselor, Spokane Community College, Spokane, WA (December 1997 to Present).
Provide academic and career counseling to new and continuing students; serve as liaison counselor to Arts & Sciences and Intercollegiate Athletics; past liaison assignments include Paralegal/Legal Nurse and the Business Computer Systems departments; taught New Student Orientation for International Students; served as Culinary Cultures Committee member for the Humanities Center Inaugural project (Fall 2004); served on the New Student Orientation Committee, Search Committee for Vice President of Learning, Search Committee for Vice President of Enrollment Services and Student Development; Kids' College teacher; Chaired Standard 3 for 2002-03 accreditation and served as survey coordinator for Students Services. Founding director of the CCS Leadership Development Program (started 2002).

Associate/Organizational Consultant, Center for Organizational Reform (COR), Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA (April 2000-September 2004). Provide organizational development seminars, training and diagnostic services to businesses, educational institutions and nonprofit agencies. Teach Leadership Institute workshops, as well as specialty topics in organizational change.

Assistant to the Vice President of Student Services, Spokane Community College, Spokane, WA (July 1996 to December 1997).
Coordinated the Hispanic Graduate Awards Banquet; generated publicity for International Education Week; served on New Student Orientation, and Fall Conference committees; wrote and edited student services newsletter; performed public relations, student outreach and troubleshooting in the vice president's absence.

Assistant Dean of Admission, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA (1994-96).
Directed campus day and overnight visitation program; selected, trained and advised 60 student Ambassadors; produced marketing videos; coordinated GEL (Gonzaga Experience Live!) preview weekend for 400 students and parents; served as admission counselor; edited marketing publications; designed CD ROM presentations for high school students; evaluated admission applications, including essays and references; interviewed prospective students; selected scholarship winners for various awards; created and directed Scholars' Roundtable, an advising and retention project for diversity scholarship winners. Served on the following committees: Steering Committee for the Task Force for Racial Equality and Cultural Understanding; Chair, Subcommittee for Recruitment and Retention; Total Quality Management; New Student Orientation.

Admission Counselor, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA (1993-94).
Met with prospective students, parents and alumni; designed marketing projects; traveled locally and regionally for outreach; maintained correspondence with prospective students; advised and counseled individuals and groups of prospective and current students.

Program Assistant, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA (1992-93).
Processed admission applications, performed general office duties, assisted with marketing projects and student outreach.

Graduate Assistant, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA (Fall 1992).
Provided programming, advising, counseling and advocacy to students of color through the Office of AHANA, Student Life Division.

Assistant Director of Program Information, International Ambassador Programs, (1990-92).
Prepared delegates for professional and technical exchanges overseas, primarily to the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, China, Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Marketing Coordinator, Copyguard USA (1989-90).
Coordinated advertising, public relations and marketing campaigns for Copyguard distributors, trade shows and publications.

Presentations, Publications and Papers

• Author of parenting and family book reviews for Saint George's School
• Contributing author for text book on qualitative research methods, Understanding RAP: Rapid Assessment Process, (Beebe, 2001)
• Presenter of "Insiders, Outsiders and In Between: An Insider's View of Rapid Appraisal Process (RAP)" at the Northwest Anthropological Association's spring conference, Moscow, ID, March 2001
• Contributing author, "Gifts" a remembrance published in Enchanted Companions: Stories of Dolls in Our Lives, (Burns, 2000)
• Workshop presenter of "Mavericks in Organizations" for the Center for Organizational Reform, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, November, 2000
• Co-author and trainer for the Toyota T-Ten Career Success manual and workshop, 1999

Conferences and Workshops

• AACC Leadership Summit "Growing Your Own Programs", Washington DD (January, 2004)
• Raising Gifted Boys, Whitworth College, (October 2001)
• Building and Repairing Trust in Organizations, COR, Gonzaga University, (April 2000)
• Women's Leadership Conference, SCC, Spokane, WA (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
• Women's Health Conference, Spokane, WA (1998)
• Washington Community and Technical College Counselors Assn., Leavenworth, WA (1998)
• Washington State Student Services Commission, Olympia, WA (1997)
• Congress on Race Relations, Spokane, WA (1997)
• Managing Diversity Conference, Mission Valley, CA (1997)
• PNACAC Regional Conference, Seattle, WA (1996)
• PACRAO Summer Success Seminar, Spokane, WA (1995)

Professional Training

• Excel
• Microsoft Windows
• Microsoft Graphics
• Internet Basics
• Year-long process consultant training from COR, Gonzaga University
• Week-long Clinical Observation at Chase-Brexton Health Services, an HIV clinic in Baltimore, MD
• Non-violent Interventions in the Workplace
• Implementing Self-Directed Work Teams
• How to Develop and Administer a Budget
• How to Manage Multiple Projects, Deadlines and Objectives
• How to Provide Exceptional Customer Service
• Eight-week Franklin Quest Productivity and Personal Coaching Series
• Career Success for Women
• Internship at the Feature's Desk of the Wilmington News-Journal

Activities and Awards

• President, Board of Trustees for the Spokane Area Children's Chorus (SACC), (June 2004-Present)
• Nominee for Outstanding Women of Leadership, Spokane Community College (March 2004)
• Gala Planning Committee, Spokane Theatrical Group (2002)
• Interdisciplinary Study Group Committee for the Doctoral Program Review Process, Gonzaga University (2001-2002)
• Board of Christian Nurture, Westminster Congregational United Church of Christ (2002)
• Board of Trustees Executive Committee, Spokane Area Children's Chorus (June 2001-June 2004)
• Saint George's Parent Teacher Association (2001-Present)
• Nominee for Outstanding Faculty Award at Spokane Community College (2000-01)
• Outstanding Diversity Program Award presented by the National Association of College Administrators (1998)
• Chewelah Junior Miss Association Member and Washington Junior Miss Association Judge (1986-2003)
• Production talent for local television and print advertising
• Organizational development trainer
• Free-lance writer