Dawn Hayden
Madison, WI and Chicago, IL 60657
(608)770-8054 • dawnhayden@outlook.com

Summary of Qualifications

• Created a national media campaign to end violence against women in Sri Lanka as part of the USAID SAFE program, including training 114 multi-ethnic youth in social media, public service announcements, street drama, blogging, and video production.
• Produced eight documentaries (6 to 42 minutes in length) focused on peace and reconciliation efforts in Sri Lanka.
• Developed three websites and administered two social media pages for USAID’s PROMOTE: Women in the Economy program in Afghanistan.

Creative & Professional Experience

Social Media Video Production
Metropolis Coffee Co. – February 2025-Present
Produce and edit short-form video content for social platforms.

Graphic Design & Content Strategy
Neighborhood Free Health Clinic – 2020-Present
Create graphics for fundraising, outreach, and health awareness.

Professional Experience

Dexis International — Addis Ababa, Ethiopia / Madison, WI
Operations Manager | Feb 2020 – Aug 2020

• Led strategic communications activities tailored to regional governments and diverse ethnic and religious audiences.
• Launched operational protocols for HR, finance, grants, IT, and security prior to COVID-19 restrictions.

DAI (Development Alternatives, Inc.) — Remote / Philippines
Communication and Reporting Specialist (Consultant) | Jan 2019 – Mar 2019

• Drafted the final report for the USAID ENGAGE program.
• Collaborated with field communications teams to gather impact data and stakeholder feedback to create visuals, provide data analysis, and write copy.

West Corporation — Middleton, WI
GCS Sales Associate | Nov 2018 – Feb 2020

• Managed both incoming and outgoing sales-focused calls for American Express.

DAI — Remote / Pakistan
Grant & Program Support Consultant | May 2018 – Oct 2018

• Designed concept notes and grant proposals addressing civil society strengthening and democratic transition.
• Authored the final Life of Project report for USAID.

Dexis Consulting Group — Myanmar & Washington, D.C.
Capture Team Consultant | Mar 2018 – Apr 2018

• Supported USAID proposal development for conflict-affected communities in Myanmar through field visits, stakeholder interviews, and analysis.

DAI — Sri Lanka & New Orleans, LA
Reconnaissance Consultant | Jan 2017 – Apr 2017

• Met with 52 organizations in Sri Lanka to prepare for a reconciliation-focused USAID proposal and delivered a summary context analysis.

DAI, PROMOTE: Women in the Economy —Kabul, Afghanistan
Technical Services Manager | Mar 2016 – Dec 2016

• Led crosscutting teams (communications, M&E, knowledge management, IT, and market analysis) supporting a $71M USAID program.
• Managed IT and software teams to design and launch the national Knowledge Management Portal (KMP), including user research, survey development, and iterative UX testing.
• Developed internal dashboards and systems to support regional data flow and performance tracking.
• Oversaw websites and social platforms; coordinated internal communications and donor storytelling.

Acting Deputy Chief of Party Operations / Grants Specialist | Dec 2015 – Mar 2016

• Managed procurement, subcontracts, operations, finance, HR, and IT during transition

DAI, SIKA-North — Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan
Stabilization Director | Jan 2014 – May 2015

• Oversaw and designed a portfolio of 185 grants and community engagement projects across five districts

DAI, RISEN — Vavuniya and Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Regional Program Manager | Sep 2010 – Nov 2013

• Designed and implemented 142 grants totaling $8.65M to support reintegration and reconciliation.
• Produced eight documentaries and trained youth in social change media strategies.
• Delivered speeches, press releases, and appeared on television on behalf of the program.

Education

Bachelor of Design, Digital Multimedia Design
Certificate in Digital Arts, College of Arts and Architecture
Pennsylvania State University — Expected Spring 2025

Creative Practice

• BeLovingKindness Collage Series, 2025
  Digital collage project exploring compassion, presence, and emotional metaphor through photography, experimental typography, and layered design.
• Capstone Video Series: Metropolis Coffee Co., 2025
  Produced an experimental participatory social media video series in partnership with the owner and filmed base footage for twenty training videos highlighting barista technique, customer connection, and visual storytelling.

Awards & Recognitions

• Dean’s List, College of Arts and Architecture, 2023–2024
• VIP Woman of the Year, National Association of Professional Women, 2015

Select Publications & Presentations

• Contributor, Equal Rights, Equal Justice: Toolkit for Addressing Gender-Based Violence Through Rule of Law Projects, USAID, 2014
• Music, Peace-building, and Reintegration, Rikskonsertene Regional Conference, New Delhi, 2013
• A Systemic Approach to Youth Employment, Global Youth Economic Opportunities Conference, Washington D.C., 2011

Community Involvement & Leadership

• Runway AI Student Ambassador, 2024–2025
• Neighborhood Free Health Clinic
  • Vice President, Board of Directors | Oct 2023 – Present
  • Social Media and Outreach Volunteer | Sep 2020 – Oct 2023
• Fitchburg Progress Volunteer | 2023–Present
• New Orleans Film Festival Volunteer | 2015–2017
• WisDems Madtown O’s Website Manager and Elections Volunteer | 2018–2023
• City of Madison Election Official | 2019–Present
• Veterans Community Response, Board Member | 2014–Present
• Community Focused Disaster Response, Board Member | 2005–2014