Adaris McNeese

About Adaris McNeese

I am a strategy, policy, and project management professional with over 12 years of experience working across the non-profit, public, and private sectors. Throughout my career I have led multi-disciplinary teams in honing strategic direction, assessing root causes, and developing actionable plans for sustainable solutions. Driven by a deep commitment to service and cultural exchange, my mission has been to make an impact in communities around the world. I started my career providing programming for youth and their families on the south side of Chicago. I dedicated several years to the Peace Corps Office of Inspector General where I assessed the agency’s programs for efficacy and adherence to laws and policies. One of the most rewarding and impactful aspects of this position was the opportunity to travel and work with teams around the world to identify issues and develop solutions specific to each country’s context. I worked at U.S. Bank Impact Finance leading projects supporting teams that mobilize community financing. I have also served as an operations consultant for an Africa-focused social impact firm, Baobab Consulting, building on the firm\'s capacity and leading projects championing cultural exchange.I have extensive experience collaborating with diverse teams to move through conflict and set common goals from building relationships with community partners and working with teams throughout Africa and Asia. I facilitated strategic planning sessions for cross-functional teams. As a project manager and auditor I assessed root causes of issues, managed stakeholders relationships, and incorporated change management principles to assist business owners in sustaining solutions.My key proficiencies include:Project ManagementChange ManagementStrategic FacilitationStrategic CommunicationWriting ReportsData Analysis and InterpretationStakeholder ManagementConflict ResolutionCollaborationRoot Cause AssessmentCross-Cultural Collaboration

Experience

1. Project Manager and Facilitator

   Currently Seeking New Role

   Jan 2026 — Present

Education

• Carnegie Mellon University - H. John Heinz III College

  Master of Science - MS

  2014 — 2016

• School for International Training

  Study Abroad-Senegal

  2009 — 2009

• Northwestern University

  Bachelor's degree

  2006 — 2010

Skills

• Event Planning
• Powerpoint
• Microsoft Excel
• Youth Development
• Conversational French
• Event Marketing
• Program Planning
• Microsoft Office
• Proposal Writing
• Independent Research
• Microsoft Word
• Research
• Data Analysis
• French
• Tutoring