Jennie Vaccaro Sivak
Riva
Summary
Utilize extensive expertise and experience in the capacity of Director of Academic Programs
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Human Resources Manager
Gallaudet University
Washington
07.2023 - Current
- Lead HR operations, including front office, compliance, employee relations, and recognition programs.
- Supervise a team of 3 HR staff, ensuring high-quality service delivery and staff development.
- Manage FMLA, DCPFL, and workers’ compensation programs, ensuring regulatory compliance.
- Oversee annual compliance training and HR systems, including ServiceNow, to streamline processes.
- Provide employee benefits support, guidance, and issue resolution.
- Identify and implement process improvements to enhance HR efficiency and employee experience.
University Title IX
Gallaudet University
Washington
10.2018 - 07.2023
- Administered and enforced Title IX policies to ensure compliance with federal regulations regarding sex-based discrimination and harassment.
- Coordinated intake, assessment, and resolution of Title IX complaints involving students, faculty, and staff.
- Provided training and education to campus stakeholders on Title IX rights, reporting obligations, and prevention strategies.
MSSD Operations
Model Secondary School For The Deaf
Washington
01.2016 - 10.2018
- Coordinated daily operations of MSSD Student Life, supervising secretarial and student support staff to ensure efficient service delivery.
- Partnered with the Director of Student Life to manage programs, budgets, payroll, calendars, and year-end staff evaluations.
- Led Title IX-compliant investigations related to discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct involving students.
- Oversaw data management and maintained the master calendar for school, student life, and athletic activities.
- Planned and executed major Student Life events, including Student Registration, Back to School Night, and End-of-Year Ceremony.
- Collaborated with school leadership to support student programs, family engagement initiatives, and cross-departmental operations.
Student Life Manager
Model Secondary School for the Deaf
01.2009 - 01.2016
- Led Student Life program operations for MSSD residence halls, fostering students’ academic, social, and emotional development.
- Supervised, trained, and scheduled residential staff; ensured compliance with University and Clerc Center policies.
- Provided 24/7 on-call leadership, responding to crises and emergencies with sound professional judgment.
- Supported students, staff, and parents; guided disciplinary actions and hearings as needed.
- Served as Building Marshal and collaborated with school leadership to maintain a positive residential climate.
Coordinator of Student Development
Model Secondary School for the Deaf
01.2004 - 01.2009
- Coordinated and managed female residence halls and supervised the Residence Educators, Residential Night Assistants, and other staff in promoting the academic, social, emotional, and life planning the development of students after school hours and weekends. Provided emergency services to students when on-call; coordinated staff work schedules and training; ensured adherence to University and Clerc Center policies and procedures.
Head Residential Educator
Model Secondary School for the Deaf
01.2002 - 01.2004
- Served as building administrator. Enforced rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. Provided supervision and guidance to students after school and activities.
Coordinator of Peer Mediator Program/Sponsor
Model Secondary School for the Deaf
01.2000 - 01.2004
- Coordinated Peer Mediator Program by giving workshops to Peer Mediators students on how to help their peers to handle conflict resolution, hosted monthly events and ran weekly meetings and took them for retreat twice a year which involved team building, activities and bonding time. Kept track of all Peer Mediators’ behavior to maintain a good role model for our community and arranged community services two times a month.
World History Teacher
Model Secondary School For The Deaf
Washington
08.2002 - 06.2003
- Developed and implemented lesson plans to teach world history topics, emphasizing the development of critical thinking skills.
- Organized debates among students to promote critical thinking skills about world history topics.
- Integrated current events into lessons to illustrate how they relate to past developments in world history.
- Provided guidance to students in researching relevant primary sources for assignments.
- Initiated activities designed to recognize cultural diversity within the classroom setting.
- Prepared materials for parent-teacher conferences related to individual student performance in the class.
- Maintained accurate records of student grades, attendance and behavior for reporting purposes.
- Utilized technology in the classroom such as online maps and videos related to specific historical periods.
- Assigned tests, quizzes and group projects to assess growth of historical knowledge.
- Established learning objectives to satisfy state and federal educational standards.
Residential Educator
Model Secondary School for the Deaf
01.1999 - 01.2002
- Supervised students and guided students after school hours; supervised activities, enforcing rules and regulations; found ways to transfer the content of classroom instruction into the residence halls; provided students with multiple options for continuing their learning beyond the school day; assisted in developing facilitating experiences, opportunities, and activities that contribute to student’s total development. Provided emergency services to students when on-call.
Education
Master’s Degree - Deaf Education
Western Maryland College
Westminster, MD05.2003
Bachelor's Degree - Communication Arts
Gallaudet University
Washington, DC05.1998
Skills
- Organization and time management
- Creativity
- Dedication
- Leadership skills
- Communication skills
- Staff management
- Compliance
- Problem solving
- Team player
- Customer services
- Team supervision
- Conflict resolution
- Incident management
Awards And Activities
- Served as Vice-President for the Class of 1997 at Gallaudet University.
- Served as class sponsor for class 2000.
- Selected for the yearbook dedication for MSSD.
- Served as MSSD Pageant sponsor/chairperson from 2000 to 2005.
- Served as 10th Annual Deaf Teen America Pageant co-chairperson in 2006.
- Served as Co-Cultural Director at Student Body Government.
- Served as a lead committee member for the MSSD 40th Anniversary during the Fall of 2010.
- Served as Employee Relations Council Administrator at Clerc Center.
- Served as Gallaudet Staff Council (GSC) Representative for Administration Division from 2020 to 2022.
- Served on the MSCHE committee for workgroup two related to Ethics and Integrity from 2021-2022.
Timeline
Human Resources Manager
Gallaudet University
07.2023 - Current
University Title IX
Gallaudet University
10.2018 - 07.2023
MSSD Operations
Model Secondary School For The Deaf
01.2016 - 10.2018
Student Life Manager
Model Secondary School for the Deaf
01.2009 - 01.2016
Coordinator of Student Development
Model Secondary School for the Deaf
01.2004 - 01.2009
World History Teacher
Model Secondary School For The Deaf
08.2002 - 06.2003
Head Residential Educator
Model Secondary School for the Deaf
01.2002 - 01.2004
Coordinator of Peer Mediator Program/Sponsor
Model Secondary School for the Deaf
01.2000 - 01.2004
Residential Educator
Model Secondary School for the Deaf
01.1999 - 01.2002
Master’s Degree - Deaf Education
Western Maryland College
Bachelor's Degree - Communication Arts
Gallaudet University