MARIAH A-K BENDER

833 N Harlem Oak Park IL, 60302

(630) 747-4088
mbender3@slu.edu
Skype: reauxbeaulove
PROFILE
A young professional who is detail oriented and collaborates well with others.
Communicates well with a thirst for knowledge and professional growth.
EDUCATION
Saint Louis University
Bachelors of Arts in Secondary Education
Concentrations in History and African American Studies

Saint Louis, MO
Anticipated May 2015

DISTINCTIONS AND AWARDS

College of Education and Public Service - Deans List

Fall 2011-present

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship at Saint Louis University

Fall 2011-present

Benjamin J. Gilman International Scholarship Recipient

Fall 2014

Gilder Lehrman History Scholar Award Recipient

Spring 2015

Saint Louis University College of Arts and Sciences Knoedler Travel Award

Spring 2015

FOREIGN LANGUAGES:
Spanish: Intermediate
Swahili: Novice, Conversational
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Grand Center Arts Academy

Saint Louis, MO

Student Teacher
August 2013- present
Prepared bi-weekly lesson plans for 10th grade AP World History and regular World
History classes.
Met weekly with cooperating teacher to discuss plans for improvements, and receive
feedback about lessons.

City Garden Montessori Charter School

Saint Louis, MO
August 2011- January 2015

Afterschool Coordinator
Coordinate educational initiatives for the after school program
Supervise students during free play to ensure safety
Oversee sign in/sign out procedures while greeting parents/guardians
Classroom Assistant
Collaborate with lead teachers on social studies lesson plans.
Assist lead teachers with guiding activities for the junior high students and supporting
students in their transition to high school
Lead junior high students in small group project work
Development Intern
Collaborate with the developmental assistant to the Executive Director to the school on
fundraising, increasing family engagement, and volunteers for the school
Wrote and submitted St. Louis United Way grant proposal that was awarded to the school
Foster partnership between City Garden community and Saint Louis University through
sharing educational resources and opportunities
Missouri Coordinated Campaign
Saint Louis, Missouri
Campaign Intern
September 2013-November
2013
Canvassed the neighborhoods of Saint Louis to increase voter awareness.
Educated constituents about campaign initiatives
Provided information about polling locations and provided transportation to the polls.
Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP)
Information and Communications Intern
2014

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

February 2014-June

Constitution Documentation:
Conducted interviews of staff members on Tanzanias new constitution, implementation,
and TGNPs role in engagement of the constitution.
Website:
Managed website in collaboration with the Information and Communication Manager and
Media team
Brainstormed ways to make the website and applications more user-friendly
Case study summaries:
Transcribed case studies for library archive, blog and social media pages.
Wrote reports for donors, internal staff meetings, and website

Editing reports:
Edited press releases, donor statements, and reports for the Information and
Communications Manager
Wrote reports about the organizations networks for donors
Press Release and Articles:
Assisted the Executive Director in writing press releases about the organizations
advocacy and activism programs.
Wrote articles and press releases for the organizations blogs about important events in
the organization.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Saint Louis University
Independent Study for African History, Dr. George Ndege

Saint Louis, MO
Spring 2015

Submitted research proposal for seminar research paper

Researched and analyzed primary sources from the South African Database
Presented completed research in Phi Alpha Theta History Honors Society Annual
Conference
Independent Study for American History, Dr. Katrina D. Thompson
Saint Louis, MO
Fall 2014
Independent viewing of several films about American slavery
Completed weekly video reflections integrating film and race theories
Submitted proposal for final research paper for feedback
Independent Study for African-American Studies, Dr. Jonathan Smith

Saint Louis, MO
Fall 2014
Researched and analyzed primary sources from Black Freedom Movements in the U.S.
Independent reading of course readings
Presentation of new research and proposal of research
Presented completed research at the National Council of Black Studies in a panel
discussion
Saint Louis, MO
Research Assistant for History, Dr. Luke Yarbrough
Spring
2013

Analyzed primary sources from medieval Middle Eastern sources

Translated documents from French to English
Read independently and took notes on assigned primary and secondary sources

Read and synthesized literature and input data using prosopographical database

SERVICE
Phi Alpha Theta National History Honors Society

Saint Louis, MO
August 2013-Spring 2015

VP of Affairs

Corresponded with Undergraduate Students about induction into the society

Planned fraternal events for PAT members
Recruitment for the society on campus and through various Humanities departments
Coordinated annual Trivia Night fundraiser for the society
Maintained 3.0 GPA in History coursework

Loyola High School

Mabibo, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Volunteer Tutor
February 2014-June 2014
Collaborated with classroom teachers on English assignments for secondary students
Provided one-on-one tutoring with secondary students with English prompts,
conversational English, and grammar improvement
Structured tutoring sessions with positive reinforcement, strong student-student
interactions, and focus on literacy.
Northside Community Center
Afterschool Assistant

Saint Louis, MO
Fall 2012-Spring 2013

Greeted elementary and middle school students

Assisted with snack preparation
Guided middle school students to educational games and enrichment exercises
Assisted Junior Achievement project with high school students

King Scholar Society Committee for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship
Saint Louis, MO
Co-Founder and External Relations Co-Chair

August 2011-August 2013

Co-founded a planning committee of MLK Scholars for events, service opportunities, and
facilitating monthly meet and greet
Managed team of fellow scholars on implementation of new programming in the
scholarship
Collaborated with Program Coordinator on retreat events for scholars, monthly meet and
greets, and the annual Scholarship Interview Weekend
Collaborated with Director of the Cross Cultural Center on service opportunities and
support for the scholarship growth and development through the CCC
Attended monthly steering committee meetings to provide student input on goals for the
MLK Scholarship
Attended scholarship wide events and fielded questions about the scholarship from
incoming Freshman

PRESENTATIONS
Conferences
Bender, Mariah, Preston-Rea, Lauren, Buehler, Jennifer (2015, April) Preparing Teachers for
Diverse Environments Presented at American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL
Bender, Mariah (2015, April) Performing Blackness: Critical Performance Pedagogy in the
Secondary Social Studies Classroom, Presented at Senior Legacy Symposium, College of
Education and Public Service, Saint Louis University.
Bender, Mariah (2015, April) Political Refinements of Black Consciousness, Black Power, and
Black Resistance in South Africa and the American South in the Black Liberation Movement
(1960-1976) Presented at Phi Alpha Theta Paper Conference, College of Arts and Sciences, Saint
Louis University
Bender, Mariah (2015, March) Afrocentricity in Education: A Progressive Redefinition, Without
Africans There Is No Sugar: Slavery and Resistance in Brazil, The Rise of a Black Republic and
the Potential Demise of White Hegemony in Early America 1791-1804. Presented at National
Council for Black Studies, Los Angeles, CA
Panels:
Global and Local Social Justice Panel: Doing Justice At The Clock Tower, Saint Louis
University, February 2015
Ong Symposium: Black Freedom Movements: 1960s to Now, April 2015
College and Faculty Assembly: Lessons from Ferguson: Black Lives Matter- Creating Safe
Spaces for Black Students Fall 2014

MEMBERSHIPS
Phi Alpha Theta History Honors Society; Alpha Mu Chapter
Society of African American Studies

SKILLS
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Qualitative Research, Excel, PowerPoint, Political Campaigning,
Written Communications, Lesson Planning, Public Speaking, Classroom Management, Conflict
Mediation, Grant Writing, Intermediate Spanish, Basic and Conversational Kiswahili
REFERENCES
Mr. Patrick D. Garrett- Outreach Coordinator at City Garden Montessori Charter School Saint
Louis Missouri
pat@citygardenschool.org
(314) 664-7646
Dr. Alexander Cuenca- Assistant Professor of Social Studies Education at Saint Louis
University in the College of Education and Public Service
acuenca@slu.edu
Ms. Casey Jagusch- World History Teacher at Grand Center Arts Academy
Casey.jagusch@grandcenterartsacademy.org
Ms. Janet Namara- English Department Head at Loyola High School Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Namarajanet07@gmail.com
Ms. Kenny Ngomuo- Manager of Information and Communications, Tanzania Gender
Networking Programme, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
kngomuo@tgnp.org