Arianna Pattek

About Arianna Pattek

Hi! I\'m Arianna - I am a strategic external affairs leader advancing national and state-level impact through cross-sector partnerships, policy innovation, and public service. As Director of External Affairs for Serve Colorado, I lead efforts to elevate AmeriCorps and national service as vital tools for addressing urgent challenges—from youth mental health to climate resilience—through stakeholder engagement, resource development, and public policy.With a track record of designing and executing high-impact initiatives across government, philanthropy, and the private sector, I specialize in translating complex policy and program goals into compelling narratives, legislative wins, and durable coalitions. I’m especially energized by opportunities to build unlikely alliances and design creative, future-facing partnerships that bring new energy, talent, and resources into the public sector, particularly those that transform national service into clear, supported pathways to high-quality careers.Grounded in values of dignity, public good, and collaboration, I thrive in fast-moving, mission-driven environments where strategic communication, strong relationships, and thoughtful implementation are essential. I’m most energized when aligning people, policy, and purpose to drive lasting change.

Experience

1. Director of External Affairs (Polis-primavera Appointee)

   Serve Colorado

   Aug 2023 — Present · Denver, CO, US

   Lead statewide external affairs strategy for Serve Colorado, positioning service as a tool for addressing urgent challenges in youth mental health, climate resilience, and workforce development-Launched the Youth Mental Health Corps as a national model, generating 177M+ media impressions and securing $1.85M in diversified funding-Built and scaled the nation’s first Colorado National Guard–AmeriCorps wildfire mitigation crew, expanding into whole-of-state critical infrastructure planning-Secured $750K+ in philanthropic investments and advanced enterprise funding strategies to sustain and grow statewide service corps-Directed crisis communications and co-developed legal strategy during unprecedented AmeriCorps funding cuts, helping secure a federal injunction that protected Colorado programs and funding.

Education

• Georgetown University

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Foreign Service, Culture and Politics, Justice and Peace Studies

  2008 — 2012

• Harvard Graduate School of Education

  Master of Education (M.Ed.), International Education Policy

  2016 — 2017

Skills

• Fundraising
• Training
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Research
• Foreign Policy
• Youth Development
• Teaching
• Education
• Library Management
• Capacity Building
• Human Rights
• Teacher Training
• Student Leadership
• International Education
• English as a Second Language (Esl)
• Social Media
• International Development
• Teaching English as a Second Language
• Social Justice
• Nonprofits
• Curriculum Development
• Event Planning
• Leadership
• Adult Education
• Non-Governmental Organizations (Ngos)
• Leadership Development
• Program Management