Alicia Michelle S.

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT ALICIA MICHELLE S.

I am a visionary HR Executive, Nonprofit Strategist, and Grant Leader with over 25 years of experience driving organizational growth, talent strategy, and funding success across nonprofits, higher education, and government agencies. My expertise spans talent acquisition, organizational leadership, grant writing & management, fundraising strategy, compliance oversight, and inclusive workplace development.Grant & Fundraising Expertise:Secured and managed $10M+ in federal grants, nearly $1M in state funding, and multi-6-figure foundation awards.Authored 200+ competitive proposals and directed multi-million-dollar grant portfolios from opportunity identification through reporting and compliance.Ensured 100% on-time submissions and audit-ready financial reporting that consistently strengthened funder confidence and renewals.HR & Executive Leadership:Built HR infrastructure and led full-cycle talent acquisition & recruitment strategies to scale organizations rapidly — including saving a $15M federal grant by hiring and onboarding 15+ staff within 30 days.Trusted advisor to boards, CEOs, and executive teams on organizational design, DEI integration, conflict resolution, and leadership development.Experienced interim HR Director and Executive Director, managing budgets from $1M to $15M+ while stabilizing culture and aligning strategy.Teaching & Thought Leadership:15+ years as an Adjunct Professor at DePaul, Concordia, Benedictine, Dominican, and other universities, teaching Leadership, HR, Nonprofit Strategy, and Organizational Behavior.Speaker, coach, and mentor committed to building inclusive leaders and resilient organizations.Board & Community Leadership:Serve on boards with Loyola University (Risk Management), Elmhurst University (IPCE), and Solutions and Resources (gun violence prevention nonprofit).Advocate for youth development, women’s leadership, and workforce equity.What I bring: A proven ability to bridge strategy and execution, combining business acumen with people-first leadership. I thrive in roles where vision, funding, and talent must align to deliver measurable impact.Specialties & Keywords: Talent Acquisition • Grant Strategy • HR Executive Leadership • Nonprofit Management • Fundraising & Development • Federal & State Compliance • Inclusive Leadership • Organizational Development • DEI • Strategic Planning • Workforce Development