Curriculum Vitae
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Mary Claire Yanga Canavan
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Education
Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certificate - California State University of Long Beach (CSULB)
2024
Bachelor of Arts in English/Creative Writing - University of Southern California (USC)
1998 - 2000 & 2005 - 2007
Activity Leader Health Care - North Orange County Community College District School of Continuing Education
2009
Paraprofessional Mental Health Worker - Santa Ana College School of Continuing Education
2008
Women’s Leadership Training - A Window Between Worlds
2008
Art for Healing: Expressing Feelings with Color - Art & Creativity for Healing, Inc.
2008
12 Hours of Art Therapy Series, 2008
Childcare Assistant for my family’s daycare center, 1992 - 2004
Work Experience
American Language Institute Instructor, California State University Long Beach
June 2024 - July 2024
Teach low, intermediate and advanced level international exchange students
Develop lesson plans to reflect objectives and procedures for class
Tutor one on one on grammar and essay writing
Collaborate with colleagues to plan out curriculum for the English program
Create warm up exercises for student engagement and interaction
Observe teaching styles of colleagues and make adaptations to suit my own class needs
Organize social activities for students
Administrative Assistant, College Planning of Greater Long Beach - Long Beach, CA
December 2019 to November 2023
• Help build relationships with clients to guide families and students through the college planning and financial aid process of college admission
• Schedule appointments with families for individual consultations
• Organize, prepare and distribute collateral for educational workshops at local libraries
• Write and edit company documents, letters and emails
• General office duties working with Microsoft Office Suite and Advisor's Assistant database
Customer Service Representative, PrideStaff - Long Beach, CA
January 2019 to December 2019
• Exhibit great customer service skills by greeting and engaging with customers
• Register guests using computerized system
• Answer customer questions professionally and politely
• Relay any concerns to supervisor
Donor Database/Membership Coordinator, Store Associate & Visitor Services Associate, Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) - Long Beach, CA
2015 to 2018
• Work with development team to help provide customer support to donors and members
• Collaborate with communications and marketing team to create membership promotions
• Build lasting relationships with patrons and serve as the primary contact for members via phone, email or in person interaction
• Write membership renewal letters and edit content of membership correspondence
Client Advocate, AmeriCorps - Oahu, Hawaii
2012 to 2012
• Assisted the underserved people in the remote parts of the island find affordable and permanent housing through case management services
• Direct the homeless or those at-risk of homelessness to emergency/transitional shelters while assisting them to apply for government benefits and public housing
• Collaborate with community agencies and establish new client relationships through outreach
• Counsel individuals on setting educational and employment goals
Camp Recreational Activities Coordinator, HOMES, Inc., Orange County, CA
Summer 2008-09
• Lead arts and crafts group for individuals with mental disabilities
• Organize art supplies and materials for group
• Encourage participation from camp attendees to experience art making process
• Help to organize nightly campfire program by encouraging client participation
Activities Coordinator/Client Advocate, Pacific Clinics FSP Program - Santa Fe Springs, CA
2007 to 2009
• Assist social workers and case managers with obtaining basic needs such as food, clothing, financial resources, medical services, and housing for our clients who suffer from mental illness
• Spearhead a variety of arts and recreation programs new to the clinic
• Apply for and was granted funding to establish arts and crafts supply inventory
• Lead art sessions for those with psychological and social limitations that allow clients to express themselves artistically and verbally through art projects
• Coordinate field trips and recreational workshops to encourage socialization
• Encourage clients to obtain educational certificates and degrees to become employable and self-sufficient
Publications
• Staff Writer and Photographer, USC El Rodeo Yearbook, 2006
• Staff Writer, USC Bamboo Offshoot Student Newspaper, 2006
• Intern Staff Writer and Photographer, First Five LA in house magazine 2001
• Contributing Writer, Beverly Hills Newspaper, 2000
• Art and Entertainment Editor, Saddleback College Lariat Student Newspaper, 1996
• Staffer of the Year Award, Saddleback College Lariat Student Newspaper, 1995
• Staff Writer, Saddleback College Lariat Student Newspaper, 1995
Written Academic Papers
Authored essays, "Fairy Tales: Illuminating the Dark Shadows of Children" and "Spinning Silver: The Magic of Wanda"
English Course: Literature for Children and Young Adult
Attending Professor: Laura Scavuzzo Wheeler
Long Beach City College, Spring 2024
Additional Interests and Achievements
• Member, California Association of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CATESOL), 2024
• Member, Society of Children’s Book Writer’s and Illustrators (SCBWI), 2024
• Volunteer, Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue, 2017- 2020
• Dog Care and Training Volunteer, Hawaii Canine Assistance Network (HCAN), 2012
• Outstanding Leadership Award - A Window Between Worlds, 2009
• Journaling Award - Santa Ana College Continuing Education Program for Mental Health Workers, 2008
• Valedictorian - Santa Ana College College Continuing Education Program for Mental Health Workers, 2008
• Using Art to Help End Domestic Violence Leadership Training with full scholarship - A Window Between Worlds, 2008
*References provided upon request.
