Recent Liberal Studies Graduate Working for Global Service Learning Organization Monday, January 23, 2017
Meet Nina DelPrato
Job title: Program Assistant
Employer: Amizade
Degree earned: B.A. in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Global Cultural Studies
Graduated: Spring 2016
College activities: Treasurer of the Knitting and Kroquet Craft Club
Scholarship from Point Park: Trustee Scholarship
Hometown and current residence: Monroeville, Pa.
High school: Gateway Senior High School
Hobbies/interests: Crafting, sewing, travel and photography
LinkedIn: Nina DelPrato
-- Bibi Al-Ebrahim, Education Director, Amizade
How did you land your position with Amizade Global-Service Learning?
My time with Amizade began in February 2015. I joined the organization as an operations intern. In that role, I cataloged all donations, helped file and organize receipts and reviewed expense reports. In November 2015, I was temporarily hired as the operations assistant while my supervisor was on a short-term leave. During that period, I continued my responsibilities as an intern, as well as the added responsibilities of keeping Quickbooks in order and doing day-to-day operations work.
My temporary position came to an end at the beginning of April 2016. At that point, I only had one month of school left and continued to help at the office. Then right around the time of graduation, I was offered the full-time position of program assistant.
Tell us about the work you do.
Amizade is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through service and learning worldwide. Currently, we work with 16 communities and 12 countries, with each of our service sites focusing on different community initiatives. We typically work with universities, high schools and community groups to coordinate service programs designed to develop and manage empowering and sustainable community initiatives.
My job as program assistant is to handle all administrative aspects of our programming leading up to a group's departure including contracts, invoices, processing applications and liability waivers and sending important site and group information between the groups and our site directors.
What attracted you to Point Park University?
I was attracted to Point Park's urban campus, small class sizes and variety of classes offered in the liberal studies major.
How have your Point Park classes prepared you for this position?
My professors in the global cultural studies program always encouraged critical thinking regarding social and economic disparity. They provided us with a background on how hundreds of years of systemic racism, classism and sexism shape the increasingly global world that we live in today.
There was always a joke among my friends in the GCS program that what we learned in class left us with cynicism toward the world, but it's nice to know that the community and global engagement work that Amizade strives for helps to combat that cynicism.
What are your career goals for the next five years?
I would like to get a master's degree in either international development or human geography.
Do you have a favorite quote or is there anything else you would like to add?
One of my favorite professors, Dr. Ross, would always say, "Education is like a gym membership. You have to keep up with it and work at it — it shouldn't stop just because you have a degree."