DAYNA LI
Los Angeles,CA
Summary
Media and publications professional with experience in journalism, communications, and filmmaking/multimedia. Interest in international human rights, arts (theater, film, music), and using media to tell socially relevant stories and spread awareness. Strong background in academic research/writing. Comparative Politics BA from Princeton University, Film Production/Directing MFA from Chapman University.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Publications Fellow, Rising Experts Director
Young Professionals in Foreign Policy
Remote (Washington DC-based)
08.2024 - Current
- Company Overview: YPFP works to build the next generation of diverse foreign policy leaders.
- Operations: One of six fellows guiding YPFP's mission to oversee programming for global membership (1,000+ members)
- Program Management: Choosing ~15 Experts through competitive application process, overseeing team of 30+ people (Experts & ~16 editors) through editing and publishing 45-60 articles, lead monthly check-ins w/ Assistant Managing Editors
- Program Design and Report Writing: Created 2025 strategic plan, defined program goals w/metrics (OKRs), keeping track of metrics and writing program updates on in YPFP Quarterly Reports
- External/Media Relations: Developing partnerships w/ non-profits/think tanks (ie. Irregular Warfare Initiative, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation) and publications, overseeing collaboration w/ YPFP Discussion Groups, where Experts present their research and writing
- Attended UN Summit of the Future Youth Action Days
Communications Officer
Young Professionals in Foreign Policy
05.2024 - Current
- Created video (6 mins) and series of short videos for 20th Anniversary and Gala event promotion - collecting existing pictures and videos, coordinating interviews, editing multiple cuts on Premiere
- Drafted post graphics for Rising Expert Program announcements
Assistant Managing Editor
Young Professionals in Foreign Policy
03.2023 - 12.2024
- Editing: Lead editing process for 3-4 Experts at a time (edit 1st/final drafts, connecting Experts w/ editors)
- Media Relations: Identify appropriate outlets, pitch articles, work with publication editors (20 op-eds published in The Diplomat, Inkstick Media, Geopolitical Monitor, Fair Observer, Diplomatic Courier)
Virtual Service Pilot Participant
Peace Corps/Egna Le Egna Youth Health & Development Organization
Remote (Ethiopia-Based)
10.2024 - Current
- Company Overview: Egna Le Egna is an Ethiopia-based organization addressing sexual/reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, economic empowerment for youth and women. Engagement with Egna Le Egna is organized through the Peace Corps' Virtual Service Pilot Program.
- Communications: Assess current digital presence, create and implement digital marketing strategy & branding manual
- Web Design: Design new website, organize breakdown of Egna Le Egna's programs for this website
- Social Media Management: Create and manage social media pages
- Workshop Design: Deliver digital marketing workshops to staff
Employment Volunteer
International Rescue Committee, IRC
Glendale, California
04.2024 - Current
- External Relations: Represent IRC at job fairs, establish connections with potential employers
- Comms Design: Design/edit flyers on Canva
- Workshop Design/Facilitation: Co-designing, leading monthly Job Club workshops
Digital Marketing Consultant
The Village Idiot Studio
04.2024 - 08.2024
- Company Overview: An irreverent attempt to demystify our messy world through courses, video, articles, and artwork.
- Comms Strategy: Assessed organization's current digital presence and created comms strategy, create content calendar
- Comms Design: Design, send external comms (emails, newsletters, social media posts, web content) on Canva & Constant Contact
- Social Media Management: Manage social media, Youtube accounts
- Website Management: Manage organization's Wordpress website
- Multimedia: Create/edit videos on Premiere for social media, website
Director
Narrative and Documentary Short Films
06.2012 - Current
- Director for 10+ short films recognized by 60+ festivals: budgets typically ranging from $10k-$60k and crew size up to 50 people
- "Sex Sells" (Producer/Co-Director) - Chapman Community Voices Seminar doc short on US decriminalization of prostitution debate
- "Qafas" (Director) - Narrative short on Syrian family who become refugees, Academy-Qualifying Austin Film Fest Jury Award nominee
- "Nature's Nurturers" (Co-Director/Co-Editor) - Princeton Global Seminar doc short on Maasai students learning about conservation
- "Alexander is a Legacy" (Director, Editor) - USC summer course doc short on a young gay man's struggles coming out to his late mother
- Comms and Web Design/Management: Managed films' Facebook and Instagram, designed & managed Squarespace for films
AmeriCorps Youth/Volunteer Coordinator
American Red Cross
San Francisco, USA
11.2016 - 08.2017
- Youth Mentorship: Mentored Youth Executive Board (YEB), overseeing programming for 22 Bay Area high school clubs (blood drives, preparedness activities, CPR training)
- Multimedia: Filmed/edited disaster preparedness video featuring YEB
- Comms: Drafted/sent monthly volunteer newsletter
- External Relations: Established relationships w/ community organizations to conduct disaster presentations
Education
MFA - Film Production, Directing Emphasis
Chapman University
Orange, California05.2020
Bachelor of Arts - Politics (Comparative); Minors: Visual Arts (Film), French
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey05.2014
Skills
- Policy Research
- Academic Writing
- Journalism - Writing and Editing
- MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- G-Suite (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides)
- Outlook
- Photography/Videography
- Video Editing - Adobe Premiere, Avid, Final Cut
- Video Sharing: Youtube, Vimeo
- Social Media/Analytics: FB, IG, LinkedIn, X
- Website Creation & Management: Squarespace, Wordpress
- Design: Canva
Languages
English
Elementary
French
Professional Working
Chinese (Mandarin)
Limited Working
Additional Training & Courses
- Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (2024) - Fellows' Retreat: leadership/management workshops
- University of Colorado Boulder/Coursera (2024): Principles of PR, Working w/ the Media
- Academy of Art (2016-2017): Visual Storytelling, Directing, Documentary, Pitching, Editing
- University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts (2012): Documentary Filmmaking
Timeline
Virtual Service Pilot Participant
Peace Corps/Egna Le Egna Youth Health & Development Organization
10.2024 - Current
Publications Fellow, Rising Experts Director
Young Professionals in Foreign Policy
08.2024 - Current
Communications Officer
Young Professionals in Foreign Policy
05.2024 - Current
Employment Volunteer
International Rescue Committee, IRC
04.2024 - Current
Digital Marketing Consultant
The Village Idiot Studio
04.2024 - 08.2024
Assistant Managing Editor
Young Professionals in Foreign Policy
03.2023 - 12.2024
AmeriCorps Youth/Volunteer Coordinator
American Red Cross
11.2016 - 08.2017
Director
Narrative and Documentary Short Films
06.2012 - Current
MFA - Film Production, Directing Emphasis
Chapman University
Bachelor of Arts - Politics (Comparative); Minors: Visual Arts (Film), French
Princeton University