My name is Monica C. Evans and I am the founder of The Cosmopolitan Urbanist. Welcome and thank you for visiting.
On May 10, 2009, I will officially graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Masters Degree in Public Administration.
I understand that many local governments and non-profits are facing economically difficult times. I also know that these same organizations have work to do and residents to serve. I am interested in consulting with your organization; working on programs and projects that are important to your organization and community. I have the energy, self motivation, and organizational skills necessary to be successful as a consultant for your organization. I am a self starter who takes initiative, often looking for additional ways to be a contributing member of my organization or team.
I have worked in county and city government for over 5 years. I served as Assistant to the Clerk of County Commissioners in Orange County, North Carolina, where I was responsible for working on projects as directed by the Board of Commissioners. In that position, I maintained the county’s volunteer database and make recommendations to the Board concerning board appointments and other agenda items. In Orange County, I later served as Evening Facilities Director for the Seymour Senior Center. In that role, I worked primarily with departmental staff, senior center participants, and other users of the facilities. I supervised senior center staff and volunteers, and oversaw senior center activities and maintenance.
After I started graduate school in 2007, I worked in the Orange County Manager’s Office as a Management Intern. There, I worked directly with the County Manager and Assistant County Manager on special projects, including the implementation of a performance measurement tool that helped the Human Services Advisory Committee make funding decisions for local human service agencies.
While in graduate school, I completed a summer internship in the City Manager’s Office in the City of Decatur, Georgia, where I was mentored by Peggy Merriss. In Decatur, I worked on special projects for the Manager, and also rotated through other city departments performing projects for the Economic Development, Public Works, Tax and Finance, and Personnel offices. In particular, I designed and began implementation of a digital inclusion program, in conjunction with the Decatur Housing Authority and the Decatur School System. This program was designed to help Decatur’s public housing residents receive computer training and obtain a laptop for their home.
After my internship in Decatur, I returned to Chapel Hill and served as Government Relations Intern for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce. In that role, I completed local and regional economic research to assist Chamber members. I conducted survey research to ensure that downtown festival helped, rather than harmed, downtown businesses. I wrote news briefings and policy papers on topics that were of interest to the real estate and development businesses.
During graduate school I have endeavored to supplement my work experiences with an education that is both broad and deep. In addition to required courses in budgeting and finance, information technology, and human resources, I have taken elective that have given me the chance to find and follow my passions. My elective coursework has focused on affordable housing policy and finance, urban revitalization, law and budgeting. I understand the regulatory, financial and legal environment that governs affordable housing. I have learned about housing regulatory programs, such at HOME, Hope VI, CDBG, and others. In these courses and in my work experience, part of my duties has been to interpret and enforce local, state and federal rules.
I also have the leadership and writing skills that are needed to be successful. I am a team player, and I pride myself on being about to achieve consensus on group decisions. I understand the importance of leading by listening to others. On team projects and individually, I have researched, written and presented on various topics related to sustainability, community and economic development, as well as other topics as was required by my classes. I have also researched, written reports and implemented plans for various employers.
I possess the interpersonal, analytical, and communication skills that are necessary to work with your organization and community. In my past employment, I have performed customer service for diverse populations. I am kind and sincere, and am able to convey information to groups and individuals is ways that are easy to understand. I have written reports and presented material to academic, elected and appointed officials and citizen audiences. I am an effective and creative problem solver. I have worked as a consultant and/or intern for local agencies, and I have helped them address local needs in innovative ways, including the use of technology.
I have the energy, self motivation, and organizational skills necessary to be successful as a consultant for your organization. I am a self starter who takes initiative, often looking for additional ways to be a contributing member of my organization or team. Over the past 2 years, I have balanced my class work, projects and work duties well. I worked 10-30 hours a week outside of the School of Government. During those work experiences, I was successful at managing projects for multiple departments, and completing all projects in a timely fashion.
