"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel". Maya Angelou
E-Portfolio of
Deidre Gray
DEIDRE GRAY
Peirce College
OLM 590 Capstone Project
Fall 2018
My graduate Work Showcase
BIO
Deidre is a West Philadelphia Native and a graduate of Overbrook High School. In 1992 she became a proud alumna of West Chester University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. After contemplating the idea of returning to school, Deidre conquered her fear and applied to Peirce College's Graduate Studies program in January 2017. Deidre is in her final semester at Peirce College and is expected to complete the Organizational Leadership and Management (OLM) program in December 2018 and officially graduate in June 2019. The road has not been easy, but she is determined and has an awesome support system with her family, friends and peers in the OLM program.
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Deidre works full time as a Customer Service Representative at Penn Medicine and has been employed there for over four years. Deidre is also an entrepreneur. She is the President/CEO of Always A Positive Image, LLC Event Planning Services and the President/Lead Coach of Higher Learning College Prep Services. Prior to working at Penn she served as the Assistant Director at Younger Days Childcare and Development Center, Elective Teacher at Overbrook High School (Oasis Program) and the Office Manager for Bazile and Associates with Primerica Financial Services. After graduating from West Chester University, she began her career in the legal field in 1993. She also worked as a Victim Witness Coordinator in the Pre-Trial Division at the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office and a Senior Litigation Paralegal at Schnader Law. In her capacity at Schnader, she was assigned to the latex glove litigation. She also served on the legal team for a death penalty case (Court of Common Pleas) and an appellate case (Superior Court of Pennsylvania). Both cases resulted in successful decisions for the firm. She left the legal field in 2004 to pursue her passion as an entrepreneur.
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In addition to her professional responsibilities, Deidre serves as one of the Program Coordinators for the Peirce Graduate Student Association (2018-2019), President of the West Chester University Black Alumni Chapter (BAC) (2015-present), Chapter Liaison for the West Chester University Alumni Association (WCUAA) (2015- present) and is a member of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) (2018-present). Under her leadership with the BAC, the organization established its first scholarships and book awards which has assisted over nine students of color with college educational expenses. As of October 2018, the BAC raised over $10,000 for scholarships. Deidre also founded the Black Alumni Chapter's Mentoring Program in 2016 where she oversees the program and serves as the liaison for over 40 mentees. Deidre is committed to empowering and educating youth/young adults. She has adopted “Each one, teach one” as her personal mission statement. Deidre’s passion is to make a positive impact in the lives of young people and help them succeed. One person can make a difference in the world but TOGETHER, we can rock the world!!
Deidre's family is of the utmost importance to her. The title she is proudest of is, "Mom". Deidre is happily married to her best friend and husband, Kevin Gray of twenty-three years. They have two children, Kareem and Devynn. Her son and his wife, Melanie, her bonus daughter, have blessed Deidre and Kevin with two beautiful grandchildren, Symone and Kareem, Jr. Deidre was raised by her mother, Deidre Dyer, and her father, the Late Arnold Dyer. Her mother is her role model, her friend, her spiritual adviser and her shoulder to cry on. Deidre is a member of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Deidre's faith in God is what sustained her. She held on to the saying, "If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it" (Author Unknown). Deidre dedicates her degree to her family who supported her along this journey.
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PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
To download the full resume, click here
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA HEALTH SYSTEM
September 2014 - present
Process patient inquiries, assist with appointment requests, complaints, billing questions via phone or internet requests. Register callers for classes, health screenings and seminars. Facilitate Physician to Physician consult calls, assist international patients and patients requiring the assistance of a nurse for cancer related diagnoses. Previously managed patient registration, insurance verification and appointment scheduling for Penn Primary care and the Orthopedic department and assisted patients with communicating with their clinical care team.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
YOUNGER DAYS CHILDCARE AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER
July 2010 - September 2014
Develop and implement pre-school curriculum through direct classroom instruction to children ages 3-5. Provide transportation and homework assistance for school aged after school students. Coordinate programs, activities, special events and field trips and complete bi-annual assessment of children's development. Collect and manage incoming revenue and petty cash accounts, supervise and train assistants, aides and volunteers, organize and maintain student and staff records and prepare written correspondence to parents and outside organizations. Manage staff development and training, conduct staff meetings and prepare annual staff evaluations and prepare for and assist with annual state compliance audit.
ELECTIVE TEACHER - OASIS PROGRAM
OVERBROOK HIGH SCHOOL
(PUBLIC SPEAKING/EVENT PLANNING)
January 2010 - June 2010
Provide instruction for ninth through twelfth grade classes in Public Speaking and Event Planning that facilitate active learning experiences. Create weekly lesson plans and schemes of work that establish and communicate clear objectives for all learning activities and observe and evaluate student's performance and development via classwork, homework, tests and projects/assignments. Maintain and prepare accurate records and reports of students' progress and development, manage student behavior in the classroom by establishing and enforcing rules and procedures and serve as a substitute teacher for Conversational Spanish class when needed. Provided students with hands-on event planning experience including a recognition banquet including menu, invitations, creating centerpieces, program, set up and execution.
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