Open to opportunities

Marissa Blodnik

@marissablodnik

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Experienced 4-H youth development leader specializing in STEM, food systems, and community partnerships.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I seek a senior role where I can lead youth STEM and food-systems programming, secure and manage grants, build community partnerships, and grow equitable outreach for underserved youth.

I am a results-driven 4-H youth development professional with a Master of Public Administration in Environmental Sustainability and a decade-plus career at Rutgers Cooperative Extension. I have led county-level programming, served as PI/Co-PI/site coordinator on multi-million dollar grants, and developed STEM, food systems, climate, and healthy living education for underserved youth.

I recruit, train, and supervise staff, volunteers, and teen ambassadors, build university and community partnerships, and design program evaluation tools. My work has produced published research, national presentations, and numerous awards recognizing innovation, teamwork, and excellence in urban youth programming.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

County 4-H Agent

Current

Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Jul 2017 - Present (8 years 2 months)

Manage Hudson and Essex County 4-H youth development programs, securing and administering over $3M in grants, implementing STEM, sustainable agriculture, and healthy living curricula, and supervising staff and volunteers who contribute 2,000+ hours annually.

Program Management Youth Development Project evaluation STEM Education Sustainable Agriculture Partnership Building

4-H Program Associate

Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Jun 2012 - Jun 2017 (5 years)

Developed and delivered county-level 4-H educational programs (climate change, leadership, healthy living) and supported program evaluation, outreach, and volunteer training across Essex and Hudson counties.

Curriculum Development Evaluation Outreach Community Engagement Educational Workshops

Project Coordinator

Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Apr 2011 - May 2012 (1 year 1 month)

Coordinated 4-H projects and interim agent duties including program implementation, partner coordination, and administrative support to sustain county programming.

Project Coordination Administrative Support Implementation Reporting Event Coordination

4-H Program Assistant

AmeriCorps VISTA

Apr 2010 - Mar 2011 (11 months)

Assisted county 4-H agent to expand programming in underserved Essex County communities by building community relationships and implementing electronic filing systems to improve program efficiency.

Community Outreach Program Expansion Database Management Stakeholder Engagement

Education Officer

Institute of International Education

Sep 2009 - Mar 2010 (6 months)

Served as liaison for IVLP participants, coordinating school visits and cultural exchange itineraries and expanding program participation from 6 to 55 schools through outreach and database development.

Program Coordination Cultural Exchange Outreach Database Development

Assistant Teacher

Ludwigsburg University

Oct 2008 - Aug 2009 (10 months)

Developed and delivered English immersion lessons for local kindergartens, conducted qualitative evaluations, and produced analytical reports to support program improvement.

Curriculum Design Lesson planning Reporting Early Childhood Education English Immersion