About

Carolyn is a tutor with seven years of experience in academia and tutoring. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Brandeis University with a double major in History of Art and Fine Arts. She is pursuing a dual master's degree in Art Therapy and Counseling at Lesley University and seeking to receive her art therapy license and LMHC degree. Carolyn has extensive experience in college admissions essay editing and counseling, working with students from diverse backgrounds and institutions.

She specializes in executive functioning skills and coaching, organization and planning, selecting topics and themes, and is skilled in Italian, French, history, and English literature and writing. Carolyn provides personalized support to each student, taking the time to understand their goals and needs. She has a high success rate and is published in a relevant field.

Carolyn's approach to tutoring is focused and results-driven. She believes every student has the potential to write a great essay and works tirelessly to help them realize their potential. Her goal is to help students develop a clear and compelling writing style that accurately represents their unique voice and experiences.

If you're looking for a professional, knowledgeable, and devoted college admissions essay tutor, contact Carolyn today. She's committed to helping students achieve their goals and has a proven track record of success.

      Resume

Carolyn Dong Juan Newman Brazil

For more information about my experiences, please visit my LinkedIn page:

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-brazil-071554130/

EDUCATION

Lesley University (Cambridge, MA): May 2024

MA Expressive Therapies (art therapy) & Counseling

Current Standing: Summa Cum Laude: 4.0 GPA

Brandeis University (Waltham, MA): May 2020

BA History of Art & BA of Fine Arts 

Magna Cum Laude: 3.73GPA

WORK 

Mental Health, Identity, and Adaptability Labs (Cambridge, MA): Research Assistant                                 

2023 – Present

·       Develop career resources for people with mental illness

·       Support the preparation of publications, website, and other dissemination materials 

·       Support new grant proposal application

·       Coordinate with stakeholders

·       Integral member of an advisory council for the research program

Project EMBRACE (Cambridge, MA): Expressive therapies Consultant and Team Member                                       

2023 – Present

·       Conduct mental health research and analyze market trends

·       Meet with mental health professionals to gather data and advice on app features

·       Synthesize and analyze data to identify insights

·       Provide psychology input and feedback on app design, content, and features

·       Give regular feedback and recommendations to development team

·       Conduct general research to stay updated in mental health field

·       Attend weekly group meetings for collaboration and progress updates

·       Participate in MIT competitions to pitch and market the app

·       Develop marketing strategies to increase app user base

Community Art Center (Cambridge, MA): Art Therapy Intern                                                                    

2022 – Present

·       Provided emotional, physical, and mental support to predominantly Black children aged 5-12 years old

·       Served meals and snacks, and assisted with art therapy and teaching curriculum

·       Ensured the mental, physical, and emotional safety of children, adapting approach to meet unique needs

·       Conducted art therapy protocols targeting cognitive, kinesthetic, and sensory needs

·       Performed secretarial and administrative tasks such as filing, organizing information, and research projects

·       Collaborated with other professionals to provide client centered care, demonstrating strong organizational and communication skills

Lesley University Center for Academic Achievement (Cambridge, MA): Graduate Student Tutor                            

2021- Present

·       Supported diverse students in developing skills for academic success through tutoring and guidance

·       Provided tailored one-on-one and small group tutoring sessions, including organizational and time management strategies

·       Collaborated with counseling and disability services when necessary

·       Improved students' reading comprehension, grammar, citation formatting, and research techniques

·       Assisted English language learners with reading, writing, and speaking skills

·       Tracked progress and provided feedback to students and faculty

·       Encouraged academic achievement and lifelong skills development

·       Demonstrated strong communication and interpersonal skills

Project R.I.S.E (Cambridge, MA & Gainesville, FL): Research Consultant & Assistant                               

Dec 2021- Present

·       Conducted qualitative interviews, cleaned, and analyzed data on anti-Asian hate experiences

·       Adhered to IRB policies and received training on ethical research practices

·       Assisted with publicity and media presence to increase awareness of anti-Asian hate

·       Created, edited, and proofread project-related essays, proposals, and research for quality and accuracy

·       Provided insights and advice to contribute to project success

Brandeis University FA 169a “Ecology and Art”: Graduate Course Assistant for Dr. Peter Kalb                    

Jan - Jun 2021

·       Supported instructor and students in a fast-paced academic environment

·       Graded exams, projects, quizzes, and essays with constructive feedback

·       Created assessments to gauge student knowledge

·       Tracked attendance and participation

·       Responded to online posts and inquiries

·       Organized Excel spreadsheets

·       Led engaging in-class discussions twice a week

·       Held weekly office hours for individual support

·       Collaborated with instructor to ensure student success

·       Accommodated special needs and addressed issues       

Brandeis University FA 71b “The Art of Japan”: Graduate Course Assistant for Dr. Aida Yuen Wong           

Jan - Jun 2021

·       Supported instructor and students in a fast-paced academic environment

·       Graded exams, projects, quizzes, and essays with constructive feedback

·       Created assessments to gauge student knowledge

·       Tracked attendance and participation

·       Responded to online posts and inquiries

·       Organized Excel spreadsheets

·       Led engaging in-class discussions twice a week

·       Held weekly office hours for individual support

·       Collaborated with instructor to ensure student success

·       Accommodated special needs and addressed issues       

Brandeis University FA 70b “The Art of China”: Graduate Course Assistant for Dr. Aida Yuen Wong           

Aug - Jan 2021 

·       Supported instructor and students in a fast-paced academic environment

·       Graded exams, projects, quizzes, and essays with constructive feedback

·       Created assessments to gauge student knowledge

·       Tracked attendance and participation

·       Responded to online posts and inquiries

·       Organized Excel spreadsheets

·       Led engaging in-class discussions twice a week

·       Held weekly office hours for individual support

·       Collaborated with instructor to ensure student success

·       Accommodated special needs and addressed issues       

Canvas Fine Arts (Boston, MA): Gallery Associate                                                                      

Aug - April 2019

·       Organized gallery events and social media platforms to increase online presence

·       Photographed art and created detailed labels for each piece

·       Greeted visitors, provided tours of artwork, and served as point of contact during gallery hours

·       Collaborated with a team to plan and execute successful gallery events

CDJB Tutoring editing work, college admissions consultant, college admissions essay tutor                             

2018- Present

·       Review, edit and provide feedback on written content, including essays, resumes, and thesis submissions

·       Advise and assist students in college applications, selection, and research

·       Provide guidance on research design, methodology, and data analysis for thesis work

·       Assist with brainstorming and outlining essay topics for college admissions essays

·       Ensure consistency in tone, style, and formatting of written work

·       Help students prepare for interviews and campus visits

·       Meet deadlines and communicate effectively with clients to provide the highest quality service

Brandeis University Writing Center: English Tutor                                                                     

 2016 – 2018

·       Conducted grammar drills and helped students develop writing assignments

·       Taught proper essay structure and style

·       Liaised between students and teachers by holding conferences and providing progress reports

·       Communicated effectively with students of diverse backgrounds and academic levels

·       Demonstrated expertise in English grammar and writing conventions to improve students' writing skills

·       Maintained a professional and supportive environment for academic assistance

·       Collaborated with other Writing Center staff to provide high-quality service to students

Brandeis University Gateway Program: Foreign Student Mentor                                                               

Aug 2017 – Feb 2018

·       Assisted Chinese International Students in adjusting to Brandeis campus life and Boston

·       Held weekly check-in meetings and provided emotional support to address any struggles or conflicts

·       Facilitated conflict resolution among students

·       Expanded students' social circle by introducing them to other campus events and communities

Project EMBRACE with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 

Embrace is a trauma informed mental health app project with graduate students from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This trauma-informed mental health app provides early support to individuals in need with its interactive storytelling platform and expressive arts therapy features. Embrace aims to help patients jump-start their healing process while waiting for their first psychotherapy appointment, addressing the critical problem of long waiting times that can reduce motivation and therapy completion rates. The app is user-friendly and accessible to people of all ages, genders, and cultural backgrounds, with support available in multiple languages.

RESEARCH

Project RISE—Resilience in a Struggling Era: transnational Chinese families in the pandemic                                      

2021 - Present

https://zhongyimin9814.wixsite.com/project-rise

“Project RISE explores the lived experiences of Chinese transnational families during the COVID-19 pandemic, their challenges, and coping strategies. It is designed to respond to these challenges in the domains of education & mental health, amplify the diverse voices of transnational Chinese children, youths, and families, and raise the public’s awareness of anti-Asian racism”

“New research traces the pandemic through stories of the Chinese diaspora”                                         

2021 - Present

https://lesley.edu/news/new-research-traces-the-pandemic-through-stories-of-the-chinese-diaspora

“It is crucial that we listen to individuals rather than broadly categorizing them, which can reinforce racial stereotypes. Often the media we consume operates by generalizing and oversimplifying, which does not permit us to understand the narrative’s complexities. It is imperative to give voice to individuals in these communities to spread awareness and increase cultural sensitivity,” says Art Therapy graduate student Carolyn Brazil”

Interdisciplinary Investigations                                                                                            

Mar - Present

https://lesley.edu/podcasts/interdisciplinary-investigations

Hosted by Associate Professor Jeff Perrin, Interdisciplinary Investigations is a podcast which highlights the interdisciplinary work and research of Lesley PhD students, alumni, and friends of the Lesley community. We focus on the subjective and phenomenological experience of listening. The foundation of our investigation focuses on making sense of the world through the sounds, and lack of sounds, that we encounter in our daily interactions. How do we hear these sounds and how do we create meaning from them? How does listening help us understand the world and our place in it

HONORS AND AWARDS

2023 M.I.T Creative Arts Competition Winner (3rd out of 41 teams)                                                   

April 2023

Awarded $2,500, EMBRACE placed 3rd out of 5 finalist teams and 41 teams overall. Building on MIT’s entrepreneurship legacy, the Creative Arts Competition supports arts-focused startups at the Institute, helping to turn students’ big ideas into successful business ventures. A year-long challenge, the Creative Arts Competition equips a cohort of semi-finalists, selected in Fall by application, with mentors and workshops to hone their products, business models, and pitches. The Competition culminates in a spring pitch event, where finalists compete for a $15,000 prize to launch new solutions for the creative industries.

Lesley University Expressive Therapies Founder’s Scholarship (Cambridge, MA)                                      

2021 – Present

This $20,000 scholarship is awarded to one master’s candidate in the expressive therapies who has demonstrated an impressive and strong academic record while has shown potential for further success within the counseling and art therapy field.

Racial Equity Research Grant from the Spencer Foundation (Cambridge, MA and Gainesville, FL)               

2021 – Present

This $75,000 grant supports education research projects that will contribute to understanding and ameliorating racial inequality in education. The grant funds studies that aim to understand and disrupt the reproduction and deepening of inequality in education, and which seek to (re)imagine and make new forms of equitable education. It is awarded to research projects that seek to envision educational opportunities in a multiplicity of education systems, levels, settings, and developmental ranges and that reach beyond documenting conditions and paradigms that contribute to persistent racial inequalities.

Brandeis University Rosalind W. Levine Prize in Fine Arts Winner (Waltham, MA)                              

2020

Awarded to a graduating senior in recognition of their accomplishments in fine art and art history.  

Westover School Award in Excellence in French Literature and Language Skills (Middlebury, CT)                 

 2016