Employment and Major Volunteering Activities

June 2011 to Present- Administrative Council Chairperson for Riverside United Methodist Church, Houston, Texas. Serve as the lay leader of a 72 year old church providing oversight in conjunction with the pastor in areas of ministry, mission and service to the community.

October 2007 to July 2011, President of Penn- Prepares Advises Leads and Serves
Penn P.A.L.S. (LLC) provided educational tutoring to students in the Missouri City, Texas area doing business as Huntington Learning Center.

March 2008 to October 2008, Committee Chair, United Negro College Fund, Education Walk. Led organizing effort of thousands of participants, dozens of corporate sponsors and raised over $300,000.

November 2005 to Present. President, Penn Consulting, Houston, Texas.
Founder of a consulting firm specializing in criminal justice, juvenile justice, homeland security, diversity issues, and volunteer organization management. Clients include the City of Houston, civic organizations, several universities, academic presses and various criminal justice entities.

February 2006 to April 2008. President, Houston/South East Texas Fulbright Alumni Association, Houston, Texas.
Founding president of the 50th Fulbright Alumni chapter in the United States. Within its two years the chapter was awarded over $8,000 in grants in order to promote international programming and outreach. The chapter conducted meetings, held cultural events, mentored visiting Fulbrights and networked with governmental, educational and international organizations in the Houston area in order to promote the ideals of the international Fulbright organization.

February 2004 to February 2005. Youth Group Director, Riverside United Methodist Church.
Leader of the youth program, which inspired teens to walk a Christian life and avoid the temptations of crime, drugs, pregnancy, and academic failure.

September 2003 to August 2004. Program Director, Waller County Teen Court Program.
Founded, directed, and coordinated a youth juvenile delinquency diversion program that takes first-time offenders and corrects their wrongs through peer interaction, community service, counseling, and restorative justice.

Summer 2000-Present. ACCESS Faculty Member/Service-Learning Coordinator, Prairie View A&M University.
Six-week summer study program for high school graduates. Taught over 610 high school graduates life-skills/educational preparation courses collectively titled “College Is Not the 13th Grade.” In the past, experiential/service-learning leader taking groups of over 100 students annually on a Civil Rights Bus Tour of the South (2004), Washington, DC (2005), rebuilding New Orleans (2006), and a return to New Orleans and a variety of service-leaning projects in Brownsville, Texas in conjunction with the University of Texas –Brownsville (2007). This year directed a service-learning tour throughout Civil Rights Mississippi, culminating with a service-learning project to build a park to remember Emmett Till in Glendora, Mississippi.

November 2001 to June 2003. Captain, Executive Officer/Battalion Supply Officer, U.S. Army Reserve, 10th BN, Medical, Houston, Texas.
Logistics officer in charge of $200,000 of U.S. government equipment in six states, supporting medical-training missions.

December 1999 to Present. Executive Director, Penn (PALS) Preparing, Advising, Leading, and Serving, Houston, Texas.
Director of a nonprofit organization that performs community service and has awarded over $40,000 in educational scholarships.

February 1998 to June 1999. 1st Lieutenant, Battalion Supply Officer, U.S. Army Reserve, 2/35th BN, Field Artillery, Carrolton, Texas.
Logistics officer in charge of $800,000 of U.S. government equipment.

January 1998 to July 1998. Community Development Specialist (VISTA), Corporation for National Service, North Side Interchurch Agency and Diamond Hill United Methodist Church, Fort Worth, Texas.
Developed an employment program that in one year placed 300 persons in jobs above the minimum wage. Created an English as a Second Language Program, Tutoring Program, Resale shop and Summer Camp Program to serve over 200 first generation Mexican Americans and their families.

August 1996 to December 1997. Child-care worker, Appalachian Youth Services, Ebensburg, Pennsylvania.
Supervised and provided services for twelve delinquent boys in a group home.

August 1995 to December 1997. 1st Lieutenant, Company Commander, U.S. Army Reserve, 455th QM, Trenton, New Jersey.
Commanded a company of 107 personnel. Duties included the following: development of short and long range plans, assessment of performance and readiness, accountability of over $3,000,000, and deployment to six “real-world” missions.

August 1993 to August 1996. Graduate Assistant, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania.

Conducted researched and taught courses. Founded the Minority Mentorship Program on campus.

October 1992 to August 1993. Criminal Investigator, Public Defenders Office, Washington, DC.
Investigated felony cases for indigent clients, collected evidence, served court documents, and provided court testimony.

September 1991 to September 1992. Alternative Certification Teacher, Meredith Elementary School, Temple, Texas.
Taught social studies to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students while pursuing teacher certification.

July 1991 to September 1991. Traveled extensively throughout Europe and the
United States.

February 1991 to July 1991. 2nd Lieutenant, Quartermaster, Officer Basic Course, U.S. Army, Fort Lee VA.
Volunteered for active duty during Operation Desert Storm. Completed college coursework in 3.5 years. Service time consisted of learning logistics, administration, and leadership according to United States Army doctrine.