ADA OBREA JAMES

ada@adajames.com

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EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION

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Coaching Certifications and Training

Professional Certified Coach (PCC), International Coach Federation (ICF), March 2016

Brené Brown Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator – Candidate (CDWF – Candidate), July 2014

Associate Certified Coach (ACC), International Coach Federation (ICF), November 2013

Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), The Coaches Training Institute (CTI), May 2013

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Stanford University, School of Education, Stanford, CA
Master of Arts in Education, September 2011; GPA: 3.86/4.0
Awards: Thomas G. and Terry B. Eastman Fellowship, James and Viola Quillen Scholarship
PhD Coursework: statistics, quantitative and qualitative research design and methodologies, inquiry and assessment, political economics, education in society, philanthropy, effective public speaking.

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Harvard University, Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA
Master of Education in Higher Education, June 2005; GPA: 3.22/4.0
Coursework: organizational behavior, leadership, student and career development theory, excellence and ethics at work, economics of colleges and universities, history of higher education, internship seminar.

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Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
Bachelor of Arts in Socio-Cultural Development, May 2004; GPA: 3.65/4.0
Minor: Education Studies; Honors: Cum Laude, Dean’s List all semesters

 

ADVISING, COACHING, AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE

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Ada James Coaching, Mountain View, CA

Career and Life Coach/Business Owner: Coach professionals in career and personal transition. Guide clients through values exploration to form a coherent life purpose vision. Reframe limiting perspectives and behaviors (perfectionism, procrastination, black-and-white thinking, etc.) that are inhibiting change. Build client confidence, self compassion, and understanding of emotions. Enhance client work performance, interpersonal relationships, leadership skills, and work/life balance. Create action plans and systems of accountability that enable living aligned with one’s own values and goals. Manage all finances, sales, website, contracts, and operations for the business. (January 2012-present)

 

The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Associate Director, MBA Program: Provided academic advising to MBA students in the areas of course selection, academic probation and dismissal, support resources, student crises, and concentration selection aligned with long-term career goals. Managed leave-of-absence process. Trained students in use of and administered aspects of course auction system. Directed all aspects of the 16 international exchange programs for the Graduate Division: managed application process, oriented and advised incoming and outgoing students, and collaborated closely with partner schools and internal university offices. Evaluated, revised, and adapted exchange systems and processes for greater efficiency, transparency, and accountability. Began investigating and negotiating new partnerships in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America. Oversaw the updating and editing process for the 100-page annual student handbook and some additional print and web content. (January 2008-July 2009)



College of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Assistant Director of Advising Services and Academic Support: Acted as case manager for students in academic and personal crisis as part of the College Academic Support Network (CaseNet). Coordinated medical leaves of absence, made appropriate referrals, and collaborated with resource offices. Provided academic advising via email, phone, appointment and walk-in. Oversaw and expanded the Major Advising Program (MAP), a peer-advising system. Managed the activities of faculty curricular committees and a student advisory board.  Maintained databases, website content, and publications content. Co-directed the College graduation ceremony. Commitment to Excellence Award Winner for contributions to the Hurricane Katrina Guest Student Project. (August 2005-January 2008)



Academic Resource Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Academic Programming Intern: Directed the implementation of sophomore transition programming. Developed new material and edited existing content for the freshman website focusing on choice of major, academics, career, and social/personal decisions. Initiated new mentorship opportunities, in collaboration with athletic coaches and faculty members. Created training materials for faculty and staff advisors and a self-discovery exercise for student reflection and goal setting. Planned and developed content for a six session series for Independent Activities Period 2006. (September 2004-May 2005)



Hiatt Career Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
Peer Advisor and Assistant for Programs and Outreach: Coordinated the “What Can I Do with a Major in…” program series. Promoted the visibility of Hiatt career events and services. Critiqued student resumes and provided advice. Arranged and conducted presentations in residence halls about cover letters, resumes, and job or internship searches. (August 2002-May 2004)



Center for Talented Youth, Johns Hopkins University, Lancaster, PA
Program Coordinator: Coordinated the recreational program for 500 twelve to sixteen year old students. Supervised four office assistants and directed forty residential assistants in the implementation of daily activities. Created systems of organization that increased efficiency and contributed to improved attendance and safety level at activities. (June-August 2003)
Residential Assistant: Supervised and supported students outside the classroom, mediated conflicts, enforced rules and policies, managed committee projects, and implemented the recreational program. (June-August 2001, 2002)



Department of Residence Life, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
Resident Advisor: Advised twenty-eight first-year female residents. Acted as role model and conflict mediator. Coordinated educational programs and enforced University policies in residence halls. Assisted with organization and implementation of housing selection process. (August 2003-May 2003) Provided similar support to community of forty-two co-ed upperclassman residents. (August 2001-May 2002)

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TEACHING EXPERIENCE

School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Teaching Assistant: Collaborated on curricular design, provided administrative and web support, and moderated and staffed panels for the Future Faculty Seminar, a class of approximately 230 PhD and post-doctoral students from across all schools and disciplines at Stanford who are planning to pursue a faculty career. Assisted instructor in the development of course content and materials. Acted as advisor and liaison to the humanities, social sciences, and education departments. Identified, invited, prepared, and introduced alumni and faculty speakers. Delivered some introductory remarks and guided panel discussions. (June-December 2010)





RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

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School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Research Assistant: Conducted a study with Dr. Mitchell Stevens, primary investigator, looking at ways to measure the outcomes of Title-VI-funded area-studies programs at universities, specifically the Stanford Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (CREEES). Created interview protocols. Interviewed current students in the CREEES master’s degree program, high school teachers participating in in-service training at Stanford, and university administrators. Wrote reports analyzing the data I gathered in these interviews and in my ethnographic field notes from the in-service training program. (September 2009-August 2010)

 

 

COMMITTEE WORK AND SERVICE

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Graduate Housing Advisory Committee, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Nominated student representative: Provided student perspective and input for housing policy decisions on issues including rental rate differentiation in areas where apartments differ greatly in size and furniture content and also on issues of theft and postal mail delivery problems. Recommended changes and served as liaison between the student body and the administration. (October 2009-December 2010)



Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
Undergraduate Departmental Representative: Advised students considering or pursuing an Independent Interdisciplinary Major (IIM). Coordinated an information session for prospective IIMs. Created a questionnaire and collected data to provide feedback to the administration regarding student perceptions of the IIM approval process. Served as liaison between students, faculty, and administration. (August 2003-May 2004)



Department of Residence Life, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
Elected representative to the RA Council: Represented the interests of resident advisors to the administration and participated in policy creation and change. (August 2001-May 2003)
Interviewer for RA Selection Process: Observed and evaluated personal and group interviews for resident advisor positions. (February-March 2002)
Elected representative to the Residential Leadership Training Committee: Created and implemented the curriculum for several biannual staff training programs. (August 2002-May 2003)

 

PUBLICATIONS

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Obrea, Ada. (2010 July 17). Review of Kimball, B.A. The Inception of Modern Professional Education. Education Review, 13.

 

SKILLS

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Computer: Highly proficient in most common office and Google applications, databases and records systems, website maintenance and social media. Basic knowledge of HTML. Learn to use new applications quickly.
Language: Fluent in Romanian; proficient in Spanish; basic knowledge of French.