Drew Clower

Organizing and operations professional with over a decade of experience building collaborative teams, developing worker leadership, and mobilizing colleagues toward shared goals. Skilled in campaign organizing, workplace engagement, and coalition-building, with a people-centered, equity-driven approach. Brings extensive experience across higher education and hospitality environments, combining operational precision, cross-cultural communication, and frontline worker insight to support collective action and organizational change.

• Co-led successful union campaign establishing the first blended faculty-and-staff unit at Northwestern.
• Implemented inclusion and communication initiatives improving workplace culture and team cohesion.
• Developed staff training and mentorship programs that strengthened service quality and retention.
• Bridged operations and organizing by grounding workflow improvements in worker needs and frontline experience.

• Member, Diversity Leaders Group – Northwestern University: Advised on equity initiatives and staff engagement.
• Advisory Board Member, Women’s Center: Supported gender equity programming and policy recommendations.
• Core Leader, GQNBT Task Force: Advanced institutional practices supporting gender-expansive workers.
• Co-chair, Women’s Center Search Committee: Led an equitable, transparent hiring process.

• Manager Foundations Certificate – Northwestern University: Training in supervision, performance coaching, communication, and operational leadership.
• Restorative Practices Trained Facilitator – Office of Equity, Northwestern University: Mediation, relationship repair, and equity-driven communication frameworks.
• LGBTQIA+ Ally Training Facilitator – Northwestern University: Inclusive practices, worker advocacy, and facilitation of allyship workshops.

• Organizing & Leadership Development
• Co-led Northwestern University’s first blended faculty-and-staff bargaining unit with SEIU Local 73; built internal leadership networks and achieved a successful campaign outcome.
• Conducted one-on-one and small-group organizing conversations to identify leaders, surface workplace issues, and develop shared vision for collective action.
• Experienced in strategic campaign planning, member mobilization, and leadership training.
• Communication & Engagement
• Facilitated organizing meetings, listening sessions, and peer-led discussions to build participation and trust.
• Taught English Language Learners (ELL), strengthening cross-cultural communication, mentorship, and community-building skills.
• Proficient in Spanish; able to communicate effectively across diverse worker communities.
• Operations, Problem-Solving & Conflict Resolution
• Managed logistics, staffing, and service operations in academic and hospitality environments with competing priorities and rapid changes.
• Experienced in restorative practices and conflict mediation, creating equitable and collaborative team cultures.
• Skilled in analyzing processes, identifying workflow inefficiencies, and implementing solutions that support both people and operations.
• Mentorship & Team Development
• Over a decade of experience supervising, training, and coaching diverse teams.
• Built accountability and communication frameworks that improved service quality and morale.
• Skilled in developing emerging leaders and grounding teams in shared values and mutual support.