JESSIE M.

DRYDEN
5007 Wyaconda St. Hannibal, MO 63401 573-822-3728 jessiemdryden@gmail.com


Profile
Statement





Summary of
Qualifications






Education











Professional
Experience



























Highly qualified and creatively proficient social engineer & urban/spatial political scientist with 5 years
field experience in social science research, sustainable urban development, project management &
practical peacemaking & mediation strategies. Autonomous fieldwork reveals a deep understanding of
theory, an exceptional ability to implement theory efficiently & effectively, ambitious in pioneering
projects & leading research teams, strong theoretical & creative writing, & innovative & resourceful
problem-solving skills.
Published Scholar Intersecting Oppressions: Racial-Ethnic Stratification in
Domestic Work & Implications for Identity-based Organizing
Conducted Colorados first study & legislative campaign on Domestic Workers
Published Education & Evaluation Manual for Pe@ce Garden Project
Lead researcher for OSHA Grant on Day Laborers
Self Published Author & Artist
Social Engineer focusing on community sustainability & peacemaking

Masters of Arts, Political Science emphasis in Urban & Spatial Politics & Peacemaking July 2011
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
Thesis: On the Job with Domestic Workers: Workplace Abuse & Worker Exploitation in Colorados
Invisible Workforce (Published) & Intersecting Oppressions: Racial-Ethnic Stratification in
Domestic Work & Implications for Identity-based Organizing (Published Journal for Workplace
Rights 2012). Designed survey, executed field research, & intersectional analysis for the first study
on domestic workers in Colorado.
Cumulative GPA: 3.884

Bachelors of Arts, Magna Cum Laude, Sociology, Peace & Justice Studies
REGIS UNIVERSITY, Denver, CO
Social Engineer July 2011-Present
Common Sense for an Uncommon Bond, Hannibal, MO; Chicago, IL; Denver, CO; Berlin, Germany

Founder of Common Sense for an Uncommon Bond--social engineering and consulting
resources to promote peaceful & sustainable living in rural America. Objective is to transform
cities & communities into sustainable urban environments, using education as the foundation
for social change in conjunction with principles of nonviolent discourse, to reclaim abandoned
public space & revive our sense of collective social identity by addressing basic needs through
education & self-reliance skill-building. Common Ground Community Garden project
engineerHannibal, MOs first community garden. Consultant for creative, experiential
learning based charter school in Chicago, IL and Denver, CO. Independent research study The
Art of Pe@ce: the Tale of Two Berlins evaluating Berlin, Germanys street art & the political
implications for peacemaking.
Expert Consultant for Hope Academy (Denver, CO) for experiential learning curriculum
development for charter school.
Consultant for Hannibal Public School elementary school garden development-Eugene Field &
Oakwood Elementary.
Promoter & activist for healing gardens & demonstration gardens
Program & curriculum development for outreach strategy in garden projects
Research & evaluation specialist for several partner projects
OSHA Research & Development Research Lead October, 2010-July, 2011
El Centro Humanitario, Denver, CO
Assisted in the development of needs assessment survey for Day Laborers and Domestic Workers
in Denver for $200k OSHA grant. Lead research for survey & coordinated team of 17 graduate
students.




















































Skills &
Commendations










Analyzed & recorded survey results, conducted qualitative research, personal testimonies for
report. Used evaluation to create curriculum & training guides for health & safety classes.
Domestic Workers Campaign Liaison & Organizer January 2009 May, 2011
El Centro Humanitario, University of Colorado Denver
Outreach and community organizer for Colorado domestic workers. Spearheaded legislative
campaign, assisted in the creation of legislation (Domestic Workers Bill of Rights), & led
Domestic Workers Rights Community Advisory & Domestic Workers Alliance. Planned and
successfully executed press release for study, received national & international attention.
Coordinated the national survey in Colorado for the National Domestic Workers Alliance.
Significantly contributed to the strategic outreach plans for national survey. Constructed
programs & classes that nurtured peace & mediation strategies, customized to fit the specific
needs of Colorado domestic workers.
Created press releases & media contacts for results of Colorado domestic worker survey. Article
released by AP & picked up by all major media outlets, even Canadian Business Journal.
Helped design & implement new website for El Centro Humanitario
Grantwriting for organization for general funds, programs, & research studies

Teaching Assistant January 2011-May 2011
University of Colorado Denver Department of Political Science
Taught classes on immigration legislation & peacemaking for Introduction to Political Science
undergraduate class. Worked one on one with students to develop political paradigms for final
papers. Evaluated tests & term papers for students. Led a walking tour of Denver to discuss how
politics shapes a citys landscape and architecture.
Graduate Assistant January 2010 August 2011
University of Colorado Denver
International & National policy research on Domestic Workers Rights. Conducted personal
interviews & gathered testimonies of workers for public education campaign & survey report.
Also conducted research on Denvers Campaign to End Homelessness for five year evaluation of
ten year plan.
Contract Specialist February 2007February 2009
NICE Systems Inc, Denver, CO
Produced & customized service maintenance agreements ranging from $10k over $100k,
$68million in 2008 revenues. Prepared & modified complex sales quotations for an established
customer base/ $18 million in bookings for Q4. Assisted sales director with research & analysis
on our top customers accounting for 30% of business. Managed client relationships & work
effectively with 30 - 60 assigned accounts per quarter achieving maintenance revenue targets
(received bonus & commendations). Time & Materials invoicing specialist/accounts payable &
receivable accounting for $1 million in projected revenue per quarter. Helped develop Oracle
database for business operations.

GIS/Qualitative/Quantitative Data Analysis
TEFL Certified
Mental Health First Aid Certified
Permaculture Certified
Organic Gardening Certified
Trained conflict mediator
Peer mentor & counselor for at-risk youth
Taught English using Marshall Rosenbergs discourse for nonviolence to Day Laborers and
Domestic Workers through theater, music, & art
Language(s): French (Intermediate), Spanish (Beginner), German (Beginner)
Adept in Social Media
Basic Web Design Skills