Courtney Wilkins is a California native, who finds great joy in seeing plans come to life. She discovered her passion for event planning while a student at Columbia University in the City of New York. She is currently Assistant Director of Conference & Event Planning for Pomona College in Claremont, CA, where she manages facility rentals for external clients and works in conjunction with campus departments to produce events for the College community.
As an undergraduate student, Courtney served as a Black Heritage Month co-chair for the Caribbean Students Association (2004-2005), a member of the Columbia College Student Council Student Life Committee (2003-2004), and as coordinator for the New Student Orientation Program (2005). In 2007, Courtney led the Columbia University Black Heritage Month Committee in hosting four signature on-campus events, which attracted healthy attendance from students from all backgrounds. Courtney also served as a student worker in the Student Development and Activities (SDA) office, assisting with the planning and implementation of student study breaks and monthly topic-based luncheons.
Following her graduation in 2007, Courtney worked as a program coordinator for the Dean of Student Affairs’ Office (DOSA) for Columbia College (CC) and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) , where she continued to plan morale-building events for students and staff alike. During her year in DOSA, Courtney planned and/or coordinated logistics for: office birthday celebrations, “Deans Care” events (providing students the opportunity to interact with school deans overseeing academic and student life), traditional campus events (Yule Log Ceremony), Summer Advising Sessions for incoming students throughout the nation, and Class Day (graduation) ceremonies for CC and SEAS.
In addition to her professional work for Columbia, Courtney served for three years as the event chair for the Black Alumni Council of Columbia University (BAC), overseeing annual events such as the Black Heritage Award Reception and Black Alumni Scholarship Reception, and assisting with smaller recruitment and retention events throughout her tenure. Courtney continued her work with the BAC after relocating to Los Angeles, encouraging event-based engagement with regional university alumni.
Courtney expanded and enhanced her logistical and event planning skills with the Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, assisting the Deputy for Special Projects with the planning and implementation of various meetings, town hall events, and community events. These events served to both increase engagement on a widespread level, and to make constituents aware of work done to beautify and restore their communities. Examples include: annual summits, in conjunction with the Empowerment Congress; opening celebrations for various health projects such as the MLK Center for Public Health, Harbor-UCLA Emergency Room, and MLK Outpatient Center; an annual community tree lighting ceremony, featuring a toy giveaway for local youth; and finale celebrations serving the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools in the Los Angeles County Second Supervisorial District.
Courtney holds a certificate in Meeting and Event Planning from California State University, Long Beach.
Credentials:
- Certificate, Meeting and Event Planning, California State University, Long Beach
- Ceritified, Virtual Event & Meeting Management
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