Andrew Goodman Campus Teams
Our nationwide network of students and higher education administrators advocates for voting rights on campus through voter registration drives, voter education events, and GOTV activities.
Our nationwide network of students and higher education administrators advocates for voting rights on campus through voter registration drives, voter education events, and GOTV activities.
Monica Clarke is the Freshman Academy Service Learning Coordinator and an adjunct English faculty member.
Ayanna Samuels-Francis is a Mass Communications major from Las Vegas, NV. She currently attends Alcorn State University and serves as the Student Government Association 1st Vice President, Student Ambassadors Campus Tour Coordinator, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. the Gamma Phi Chapter. Upon graduation, she intends to attend graduate school with aspirations of becoming a Vice President of Student Affairs at a Historically Black College or University.
Patrick Mason is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana. Mason is majoring in Biology with a concentration in medicine at the illustrious Alcorn State University. Patrick is a Spring 2019 initiate of the Delta Kappa Chapter of Alpha Phi Alph Fraternity, Inc. Mason proudly serves as the Student Government Association President. Upon the completion of his undergraduate matriculation, Mason plans to attend medical school in aspirations of becoming a Pediatrician.
Andrew Bloeser is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA. Before coming to Allegheny College, Andrew completed his B.A. at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois. His research and teaching interests lie primarily in political behavior, participation, and mobilization.
Jackie Sandoval is a proud Arizonan and first-generation American. A graduate of Northern Arizona University, she most recently served as the Deputy Communications Director for the Democratic Caucus at the Arizona House of Representatives. She has served throughout all levels of government, supporting and advising elected officials on messaging strategy, policy and effective community engagement across the state.
Jackie is also active in Democratic politics, where she holds numerous leadership roles and applies her expertise in the voting trends of millennial, rural and women voters and fundraising infrastructure. She serves on the executive committee for the Arizona Democratic Party and as a delegate-at-large to the DNC Youth Council, where she represents the Western region of the country. She was elected as a Congressional delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention and advises various campaigns each election cycle.
Jackie is devoted to making a difference in her community. She currently serves on several boards, including the Maryvale YMCA, Phoenix Suns Charities, Catholic Community Foundation and Epilepsy Foundation of Arizona. Recognizing the power and responsibility of mentoring, she invests heavily in emerging leaders, empowering women and minorities to become civically engaged and working with organizations that create opportunities for underserved communities. She has received numerous recognitions for her service, including Univision’s 40 Hispanic Leaders Under 40 award. Jackie is determined to make Arizona a greater place in which to live and thrive.
Ben Branama is a second-year student at Arizona State University studying Business Data Analytics. In his senior year of high school, Ben learned the importance of voter participation in a hard, but crucial, lesson. His hometown of Peoria, Arizona was one of two districts in the entire state that voted against an override bond that would help keep arts programs in public schools. With the bond being rejected by a narrow margin of just a few hundred votes, it was voter apathy among the parents and students in the community that will cost the kids of those neighborhoods for years to come. Now, at ASU, Ben seeks to cultivate a culture of voting and active civic engagement. He founded the club New Voters @ ASU, which has already registered hundreds of Arizona high schoolers to vote and partnered with organizations such as the ACLU and the League of Women Voters to give presentations on staying civically engaged. Outside of classes, Ben also stays involved with his work as a Supplemental Instruction tutor, writing for the school satire newspaper The State Herald, and as a member of the Pat Tillman Scholar program.
Natalie Murphy is a student at Arizona State University studying Public Service & Public Policy and minoring in Spanish. She hopes to pursue a masters in Public Administration after graduation. Upon arriving at ASU, she took an interest in civic engagement after seeing many students advocating for voter registration on campus. She cultivated this passion with her work in Undergraduate Student Government at the Tempe campus while interning in the Policy department. Outside of classes, Natalie stays busy with involvement in multiple organizations ranging from being a tour guide on the Tempe campus, membership of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, to serving as music director for ASU’s all female a cappella group. She is beyond excited to be an Ambassador for The Andrew Goodman Foundation and help with civic engagement efforts at ASU and the greater community.
Fernanda Ruiz Martinez is a first-generation college student studying Journalism and Mass Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations. She grew up in the southwest border of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. In her short time living in Arizona, Ruiz Martinez became interested in civic engagement and advocacy work through a Youth Leadership Development program with a national organization. Learning about Arizona politics and the way it has affected her community influenced her thinking and eagerness to be vocal in social action.
Anusha Natarajan is a student at Arizona State University, studying sociology and history with a minor in Spanish and certificates in human rights and international studies. Driven by change and hard work, Anusha likes to be involved in her community domestically and internationally. She is currently serving as the civic-engagement coalition chair and an Andrew Goodman Ambassador at her university, advancing voter education. As the Director of Advocacy of her honors college council, Anusha worked extensively with the Deans to increase civic engagement and racial justice across the campus. She helped develop the first racial justice Task Force at the honors college, which brings together faculty, staff, and students to come up with solutions to improve diversity and inclusion on campus. Passionate for culture and education, Anusha helped create an educational non-profit called Culture Talk, which provides resources for teachers and schools to use to diversify their curriculum in social studies.
Sarah de Veer coordinates engagement opportunities both on and off-campus for students who are interested in community service, activism, voter rights, and science outreach. She is also one of Bard’s Transportation Coordinators, to help students get to those off-campus opportunities and academic fields for the Engaged Liberal Arts and Sciences classes. Before joining the CCE staff, Sarah earned her Bachelor’s degree through Bard’s Film Production and Electronic Arts department, specifically focusing in documentary and community connections.
Erin Cannan joins the center staff after 15 years in the Division of Student Affairs at Bard. Erin arrived at Bard in 1995 as assistant dean of students/director of first-year students, responsible for orientation and student activities. She was promoted to dean of student affairs, responsible for the oversight of 12 departments within the Division of Student Affairs, and overseeing the work of the dean of campus life.
As deputy director of the center, Erin’s primary focus is on the development of local volunteer and internship opportunities. She facilitates local connections to school districts, government, and business while working to develop partnerships within the center network.
Erin earned her B.A. from State University of New York at Geneseo in 1992 and a master’s degree in student personnel services from Edinboro University.
Konnell Woods is studying Political Science at Baylor University. Originally from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Konnell developed his high level of commitment to serving others with the help of 6 siblings and his parents, John and Jerline Woods. Konnell currently serves as the Vice President of NAACP, while being apart of many on-campus organizations. After graduation, he plans to go straight to law school and positively impact social justice efforts today.
Alison Handy Twang is the assistant director at the Center for Civic Engagement. In this role, she is broadly responsible for promoting, developing and expanding community engagement opportunities for students. Alison oversees a number of community engagement initiatives, including the Bridging the Digital Divide Project, campus political engagement efforts and CCE's partnership with Promise Zone Community Schools. Before joining CCE, she worked in the nonprofit sector, focusing on philanthropy and student and young adult civic engagement. She received her bachelor's degree in political science and master's degree in public administration from Binghamton University and is currently pursuing her PhD in community and public affairs. She serves as president of the board of directors for the YWCA of Binghamton/Broome County and as a member of the advisory committee for the Rural Health Service Corps/AmeriCorps program. She currently resides in Binghamton with her husband, Dylan, and their chocolate lab, Keene.
Annabelle Bangs (she/her) is a sophomore at Binghamton University studying philosophy, politics, and law. She also hope to graduate with a Master of Public Administration while at Binghamton. Annabelle has always thought that voting is a key part of our society, and that the importance of voting is extremely underrepresented by our leaders. As an Andrew Goodman Ambassador, Annabelle is excited to educate her peers about the importance of voting and encourage them to vote in elections that span from local to national.
Bilal Ali was born in Karachi, Pakistan and immigrated to the United States in 2016. He enrolled in Kingsborough Community College in Spring 2017 where he completed an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts. He graduated with Honors and received Dean’s List Recognition twice. He also volunteered as a Student Ambassador and Peer Mentor at Kingsborough where he participated in hosting student activities, events, and engaged in mentoring freshmen students. For his dedication and hard work, he received a Gold Medal and “Most Tenacious Peer Mentor” Award.
He began at The City College of New York in Spring 2019 where he majored in History. During the Academic Year 2019-20, he worked as a First-Year Experience Peer Mentor at Guttman Community College. His priorities not only included mentoring freshmen students, but also assisting in arranging student activities on campus. He graduated with his Bachelor’s in History with a Magna Cum Laude Recognition in 2021. He also received a “Model Mentor” Award for his work in Guttman Community College.
Currently, Bilal is enrolled in Binghamton University’s MA History Program. He is also affiliated with NYC Men Teach, a program which aims to recruit specifically men of color to become Educators in New York City’s public schools. He enjoys reading, walking, taking pictures, and watching comedy shows and movies.
Hannah Boyle is a student at Bowling Green State University double majoring in English Literature and Theatre. She has always loved being a part of a community and learning more about how to stay engaged with the community and world around her. Upon graduation, Hannah hopes to continue to graduate school and receive an MA in Theatre and a PhD in English. She enjoys helping others get engaged with their community and democracy and is very excited to be an Andrew Goodman Ambassador.
Elizabeth Banks is the Director of the Center for Civic Engagement & Learning (CCEL) at Case Western Reserve University. CCEL links the campus to the Cleveland community by providing and supporting opportunities for community service and action that promote awareness, learning, and leadership development. In addition to co-curricular programs, Elizabeth supports faculty with academic service-learning, teaches a capstone course that includes a week of service on Cumberland Island, Georgia, and serves as a faculty advisor for independent capstones that have a community-based component.
Before joining CWRU, Elizabeth worked in the nonprofit sector, teaching environmental education and volunteer trail-building programs in Michigan, Nevada, Everglades and Yellowstone National Parks. She also worked in biodiversity conservation and volunteer management with The Nature Conservancy in Maine, California, and Kentucky. She received her BA from Bowdoin College, Maine and MS from Miami University, Ohio.
Thalia Butts (she/her) is majoring in mass communications with a concentration in journalism and a minor in creative writing at Claflin University.
While matriculating at Claflin University, she has served in a variety of leadership positions across the campus, including the Student Government Association, Claflin University Association of Black Journalists, Panther S.T.E.P.S Peer Mentor Program, ACT Honors College, and the Freshmen College. As a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Thalia currently serves locally in the Gamma Chi chapter, on a regional level as the South Carolina State Facilitator, and on a national level as a member of the 2020-2021 Leadership DELTA cohort. While at Claflin, she was blessed many times with opportunities to travel to and study abroad in Japan, South Korea, Poland, and Finland.
She also worked as a Poll Defender with the MTV +1 the Polls initiative in Fall 2020 toward ensuring Claflin students had safe access to a polling place to exercise their right to vote.
After graduation, Thalia plans to pursue a Master of Mass Communications at the University of South Carolina, and then to secure full-time employment as a UX writer before retiring to become a midwife and farmer. As an alumna, she also hopes to travel frequently and be able to serve and contribute to her beloved Claflin University.
Zhariah Walker, a native of Hopkins, SC, is in the Alice Carson Tisdale honors college at the illustrious Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC. She is a Finance major, with a minor in Spanish and apart of multiple organizations on campus including the campus’ chapter of the NAACP, and currently serves as an executive assistant on the Student Government Association. Beyond campus life, Zhariah is very involved in the Orangeburg community; she has initiated and founded a mentoring and literacy program for young girls at a local elementary school near the University’s campus. Since a young child, Zhariah has always been very faith-oriented and driven to giving back to the community. She lives by the scripture 1 Timothy 4:12 which reads “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” Following graduation, Zhariah anticipates enrolling in a dual-degree law program earning an M.B.A in International Business and a Juris Doctorate to pursue a career in Sports and Entertainment Law.
Terrance Middleton, a native of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is a junior business administration major and marketing minor who attends the historical Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Terrance serves in numerous organizations on and off campus. He serves as the president of the Claflin University Chapter of NAACP and Parliamentarian for the Claflin University Student Government Association. Terrance’s life commitment is to his family, his community, and his future alma mater. He strives in life by helping others who need it the most, specializing in the effectiveness of not only young African Americans but of those who are seemingly overlooked. Terrance has made ground shaking movement on the campus by inviting presidential candidates to the campus through his organizations, hosting forums for the betterment of African Americans and minorities, giving back to local community organizations, and serving in his fullest potential regardless of the circumstances.
Janiah Henry, hailing from Middle Georgia, began her freshman year of college during her junior year of high school. She began her first year at Clark Atlanta University as a sophomore. She is interested in law and shaping public policy and is majoring in Political Science. Her highest aspirations are to be a District Attorney and later a woman of the U.S. Congress. Her experience as an African American woman with racial microaggressions, classroom neglect, voter suppression, and witnessing poverty and the school-to-prison pipeline destroy her community sparked her interest in serving her community through law. In high school, Janiah served as a member and ambassador of a civic engagement girls empowerment group by the name of New Vision MSK; with New Vision MSK Janiah worked to increase voting rights, voter registration, and voter turnout during election season. Janiah also served as a head intern on the first African American Woman District Attorney-Elect Anita Howard Campaign team. Janiah also served as a campaign administration for Elizabeth Johnson's Congressional Campaign. In the future, she hopes to attend law school to continue her work systemically helping her community and strengthening her platform for better civic engagement while holding her public offices.
Christina B. Williams is a Philadelphia, PA native and a rising senior at Clark Atlanta University where she is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science as a Provost Academic Excellence and Dean's List scholar. She is a leader in the student civic engagement space and has extensive experience serving in various elected student government positions as well as founding and presiding over several campus clubs and initiatives. Christina has held fellowships and internships with several nationally recognized civic organizations including The Andrew Goodman Foundation, Campus Vote Project, Public Citizen, the ACLU of Georgia, and Rock the Vote. She has also been highlighted by a number of media outlets including The National Journal, The Washington Post, and NPR. Christina aspires to attend law school following her undergraduate studies in order to become an attorney and utilize the law as a tool to defend the civil rights & civil liberties of marginalized communities.
Originally from Centennial, Colorado, Dana Karami is a student studying Policy Analysis and Management at Cornell University. She is interested in research and policy about children and families and believes elections and civic engagement can help bring about positive change in this area by amplifying the voices and needs of families. Dana is a co-founder and the current VP of Operations for Cornell Votes where she works with three internal departments of the organization to collect data, spread engagement messages, and hold events promoting voter registration and participation at Cornell and in the broader Ithaca community. Outside of Cornell Votes, Dana also works as part of the Translator Interpreter Program, the Cornell Intellectual Property and Ethics Club, and is an undergraduate scholar at the Institute of Politics and Global Affairs at Cornell.
Originally from Yonkers, NY, Patrick Mehler is a student in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University with concentrations in alternative dispute resolution and leadership. He is the inaugural President of Cornell Votes and coordinates the organization's multi-prong approach to increasing voter participation and civic engagement at Cornell and in Ithaca, NY. Outside of Cornell Votes, Patrick also leads within the Scheinman Conflict Resolution Club, ILR Ambassadors, Club Sports Council, Cornell Bowling, Cornell Catholic, STAY Tutoring, and ILR Chatter Squad.
Isabel Mitchell-Starks is a sophomore Political Science major from the San Francisco Bay Area, currently studying at Dillard University in New Orleans, LA. She is a member of PODUS: President's Organization of Dillard's Up-and-coming Superstars, and the co-founder of Off the Grid DU, a student-led initiative cultivated to forge social connections between commuter/remote students and their counterparts on campus with the goal to spur inclusive student engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Isabel aspires to follow a career track in diplomacy through the U.S. State Department for the purpose of serving as a foreign diplomat overseas at U.S. embassies in public engagement divisions. She then plans to go on to work at the United Nations. She is passionate about promoting universal pillars of social advocacy, humanitarianism, and community-building. She's thrilled to join the collective of change-makers and voter activists that are continuing the remarkable mission and legacy of the Andrew Goodman Foundation!
Alex Dennis is the Assistant Director for Curricular Programs in the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement at East Carolina University. He currently oversees leadership and civic engagement programs with curricular components at ECU, including Citizen U (student version of a citizens academy), the Williams Leadership Award Program, democratic and voter engagement efforts on campus, and the planning of our four national days of service. Prior to his time working in student affairs, Alex worked as an academic advisor for the College of Arts and Sciences at ECU and prior to that he worked as a high school social studies teacher. He received his MS in Counselor Education from East Carolina University and his BS in Social Science Education from Appalachian State University.
Amrina Rangar is a student at East Carolina University and is studying Biology and History. In addition to being an Andrew Goodman Ambassador, Amrina is an active member of the environmental club, ReLeaf, and a member of the Honors College. She is looking forward to inspiring the students at East Carolina to become more civically engaged as well as encouraging her fellow students to exercise their right to vote.
Bob Frigo is the Associate Director of the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement at Elon University.
Bo Dalrymple is from Winston - Salem, NC, and is majoring in International & Global Studies and Political Science. Bo enjoys participating in Student Government, working on campus, and playing sports with his friends.
Hailing from Modesto, California and Las Vegas, Nevada, Shelby Benz is a student enrolled in Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service. Although her academic pathway is uncertain, she is eager to continue learning, exploring, and trying new things throughout her four years living in the nation’s capital. Shelby has a passion for helping people, mobilizing others for causes rooted in compassion, and tackling institutionalized ills through public policy and social advocacy. Shelby is excited to be a part of the GU Votes team and part of a movement to cultivate a more civically engaged youth community. Outside of her studies, Shelby is a member of the women’s rowing team, and enjoys planning fundraisers, meeting new people, and being politically active.
Byron Jones is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, and a proud product of the educational system in Georgia. Byron currently serves as the Assistant Director for the Student Civic Engagement office. Prior to assuming this role, Byron has served in various capacities at several University System of Georgia (USG) institutions including admissions recruiter and counselor, international recruiter, and student advisor just to name a few. Byron received a B.A. from Morehouse College and his M.Ed. from Mercer University. He is currently a doctoral student in Higher Education Leadership with an anticipated graduation date in December 2019.
Byron is a former Fulton County Youth Commissioner where he developed a passion for service and giving back to communities both locally and internationally. He currently serves on various nonprofit boards and is a member of a plethora of volunteer organizations. Additionally, he serves as an on-campus advisor for the following student organizations Big Brothers Big Sister, C.L.O.U.T., Hands on Atlanta, Panther Breakaway, and the YMCA. Byron is an ethical leader who models daily what he wants from the students he serves at Georgia State University and he encourages everyone to get involved and Make a STATEment.
Michael Evans is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at Georgia State University. He teaches undergraduate courses on American government and constitutional law, and graduate courses on teaching politics and civic skills at the college level. He is author of an American government textbook and conducts research on teaching effectiveness. He also leads a GSU project lab called "PACTL: Project on the Advancement of Civic Teaching and Learning." Students in that lab help Dr. Evans produce and curate teaching materials for civic educators in an effort to empower more young Americans with the skills and knowledge they need to participate effectively and responsibly in American democracy. Dr. Evans holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Maryland, an MA in Political Science from Western Washington University (WWU), and a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from WWU.
JP Peters is the Student Civic Engagement Advisor for the Civic Engagement Office at Georgia State University Perimeter College where he services five different campuses including our Clarkston Campus. The goal of the office is to connect each of our campuses to their communities and the Greater Metro Atlanta Area by providing and supporting opportunities for community service and action that promote awareness, learning, and leadership development. In addition to working with The Andrew Goodman Foundation, JP works with the three Food Pantries for Perimeter College, Panther Breakaway, and the MLK Day of Service to name a few.
Before his time at Georgia State University Perimeter College, JP worked two years as an AmeriCorps VISTA through the South Carolina Campus Compact at the University of South Carolina - Upstate and Coastal Carolina University. While serving he focused around the universities' alternative break program, student veteran services, food deserts, and community garden development in the two communities. He earned his B.S.Ed. in Exercise Science and Kinesiology from Georgia Southwestern State University and M.Ed. in Higher Education from Columbia College (SC).
JP Peters is the Student Civic Engagement Advisor for the Civic Engagement Office at Georgia State University Perimeter College where he services five different campuses including our Clarkston Campus. The goal of the office is to connect each of our campuses to their communities and the Greater Metro Atlanta Area by providing and supporting opportunities for community service and action that promote awareness, learning, and leadership development. In addition to working with The Andrew Goodman Foundation, JP works with the three Food Pantries for Perimeter College, Panther Breakaway, and the MLK Day of Service to name a few.
Before his time at Georgia State University Perimeter College, JP worked two years as an AmeriCorps VISTA through the South Carolina Campus Compact at the University of South Carolina - Upstate and Coastal Carolina University. While serving he focused around the universities' alternative break program, student veteran services, food deserts, and community garden development in the two communities. He earned his B.S.Ed. in Exercise Science and Kinesiology from Georgia Southwestern State University and M.Ed. in Higher Education from Columbia College (SC).
JP Peters is the Student Civic Engagement Advisor for the Civic Engagement Office at Georgia State University Perimeter College where he services five different campuses including our Clarkston Campus. The goal of the office is to connect each of our campuses to their communities and the Greater Metro Atlanta Area by providing and supporting opportunities for community service and action that promote awareness, learning, and leadership development. In addition to working with The Andrew Goodman Foundation, JP works with the three Food Pantries for Perimeter College, Panther Breakaway, and the MLK Day of Service to name a few.
Before his time at Georgia State University Perimeter College, JP worked two years as an AmeriCorps VISTA through the South Carolina Campus Compact at the University of South Carolina - Upstate and Coastal Carolina University. While serving he focused around the universities' alternative break program, student veteran services, food deserts, and community garden development in the two communities. He earned his B.S.Ed. in Exercise Science and Kinesiology from Georgia Southwestern State University and M.Ed. in Higher Education from Columbia College (SC).
Dr. Karen M. Kedrowski is Director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics and Professor of Political Science at Iowa State University. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and the University of Oklahoma, Norman. Dr. Kedrowski’s research agenda focuses primarily on women and politics and civic engagement. Prior to coming to Iowa State, she spent 24 years at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where she served in many roles, including Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Most gratifyingly, she led the University’s civic and voter engagement efforts.
Zack Johnson is a student at Iowa State University majoring in Political Science and Data Science and minoring in Economics. He is involved on campus in research within the Political Science Department, as a Community Advisor within the residence halls, plays tuba in Iowa State's tuba/euphonium studio as well as sousaphone and bass guitar in ISU's marching band and pep band. Zack is passionate about seeking out the answers to why STEM students vote at such a low rate and doing things that will help to buck this trend.
Hayat Sumael is a member of the Class of 2021 at Iowa State University studying Criminal Justice and Women's and Gender Studies.
Leah Cassellia is the Director of Student Involvement at Kutztown University. She received her BA from University of Delaware and her MA from Kaplan University. Leah has worked for both public and private institutions and has extensive experience in housing, residence life, new student orientation, student activities, and student union operations.
Robert Couch is Langston University student from Kansas City, Kansas majoring in Computer Science. He began his experience at Langston as a member of the marching band, playing Trombone. During his sophomore year, he served on the Student Advisory Board for the state of Oklahoma. On campus, Robert is Chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the School of Business. He is also a Spring ’20 Initiate of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, Membership Chair of NAACP, Trombone Section Leader, and a Director of Civic Affairs for the Student Government Association.
Len Apcar holds the Wendell Gray Switzer Jr. Endowed Chair in Media Literacy, is a fellow at the Reilly Center for Media and Public Affairs and is a Professional-in-Residence. His teaching interests include how people can evaluate both media sources and information so they can fully participate in our representative democracy. He has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Hong Kong where he taught digital media courses.
In a nearly 40-year professional career at The New York Times and at the Wall Street Journal, he has been a reporter, Web editor, Washington editor and Asia editor. As editor of nytimes.com, the site won virtually every major online award for news, opinion and photography.
As chief Asia editor based in Hong Kong he helped create a 24-hour global newsroom for online and print. At the Journal he was a reporter in Detroit, Washington and Dallas.
He holds an M.S. from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and a B.A. in political science from Claremont McKenna College in California.
Dr. Robert S. Smith is the Harry G. John Professor of History and the Director of the Center for Urban Research, Teaching & Outreach at Marquette University. His research and teaching interests include African American history, civil rights history, and exploring the intersections of race and law. Dr. Smith is the author of Race, Labor & Civil Rights; Griggs v. Duke Power and the Struggle for Equal Employment Opportunity. Prior to joining Marquette University, Dr. Smith served as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Global Inclusion & Engagement and Director of the Cultures & Communities Program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Josh Young has helped lead service-learning, civic engagement and community-campus partnerships with Miami Dade College since 1994. He has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Virginia and master’s degrees in Social Work and Public Administration from Florida State University. He served two tours with the Peace Corps in Mali, West Africa and Paraguay, South America, and he ran summer community service programs for youth for four summers in the Dominican Republic with Visions International. Josh has been a national service-learning mentor with the American Association of Community Colleges and has extensive experience leading workshops for faculty, students, community partners, and administrators around the nation.
Dominique Adam is a purpose-driven, affiliative leader who passionately seeks to close the gap on disparities through empowering and engaging individuals as well as communities. During her formative years in New York and Haiti, Dominique witnessed resilience, perseverance, and creativity in the face of poverty, lack of access, and social injustice, which ignited her journey to be a part of the greater good. She earned both a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and Latin American & Caribbean studies and a Master’s in Public Administration and Policy from Florida State University. At FSU, Dominique served in several leadership capacities within Student Government, the Black Student Union, and the Caribbean Student Association and helped build coalition among student organizations across Florida as President of the Haitian Cultural Club. Dominique served as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Borough President of Brooklyn and Director of Community Outreach at Maimonides Medical Center, and later worked at Palm Beach State College.
Energized to be the change, Dominique is eager to apply her 15+ years of experience advancing awareness and maximizing access, prosperity, and advocacy for diverse populations across public, private, and non-profit sectors to contribute to the continued growth of communities, faculty, and students by way of activating civic participation and activism at MDC.
Nicole Molina is a 19-year-old Cuban-American who in the future will pursue a career in Law. She is currently a freshman at Miami Dade Honors College at Kendall Campus double majoring in Political Science & Journalism. She is also involved in Miami Dade College's Student Newspaper, known as The Reporter, as a briefing writer and photographer. Apart from this, she is also a member of the Modeled United Nations Chapter at Kendall Campus where she discusses and analyzes international world politics with classmates. Although this is Nicole's first time working in an organization addressing civic engagement and democracy, she is eager to become more informed. Nicole is excited and immensely grateful to be a part of the Andrew Goodman Network and expand her knowledge on voter education.
Josh Young has helped lead service-learning, civic engagement and community-campus partnerships with Miami Dade College since 1994. He has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Virginia and master’s degrees in Social Work and Public Administration from Florida State University. He served two tours with the Peace Corps in Mali, West Africa and Paraguay, South America, and he ran summer community service programs for youth for four summers in the Dominican Republic with Visions International. Josh has been a national service-learning mentor with the American Association of Community Colleges and has extensive experience leading workshops for faculty, students, community partners, and administrators around the nation.
Maria Villalobos was born and raised in Maracaibo, Venezuela and moved to Florida at the age of 10. She received her Bachelor degree in Psychology from FSU and her Master of Science in College Student Personnel Administration from Illinois State University. While at FSU, she found her passion for social justice and service and became heavily involved with the Center for Leadership and Social Change, the SGA and the Hispanic/Latino Student Union. Maria is extremely passionate about education equity and ensuring that all students receive a high-quality education. Prior to MDC, she was a Teach For America AmeriCorps member in Miami-Dade, an elementary school teacher in Redwood City, California, and the Character and Leadership Development Coordinator for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida. She has also worked at the university level at both Illinois State University and FIU, and is happiest when she gets to interact with students and engage in conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion. Maria is excited to be part of the MDC iCED family and continue to support students to become changemakers in their communities and beyond.
Josh Young has helped lead service-learning, civic engagement and community-campus partnerships with Miami Dade College since 1994. He has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Virginia and master’s degrees in Social Work and Public Administration from Florida State University. He served two tours with the Peace Corps in Mali, West Africa and Paraguay, South America, and he ran summer community service programs for youth for four summers in the Dominican Republic with Visions International. Josh has been a national service-learning mentor with the American Association of Community Colleges and has extensive experience leading workshops for faculty, students, community partners, and administrators around the nation.
Kiki Mutis was born in Colombia and has lived in Miami since 1981. She is an MDC alumna, and later earned an MS in Environmental Science from FIU. Kiki served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bolivia where she focused on soil and natural resource conservation and youth development. She has been an active board member of The Colombia Project Global, a micro-loan organization, and traveled to Colombia to meet program administrators and visit micro-loan recipients to understand their concerns better. Kiki worked for Citizens for a Better South Florida where she helped organize urban forestry projects and hands-on afterschool science programs. She also worked at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden as the Community Outreach Coordinator, and with Pelican Harbor Seabird Station where she was the Operations and Volunteer Manager. She also has led professional development workshops for the Earth Ethics Institute at MDC for many years.
Ana Zelaya is eighteen years old, was born in Honduras, and moved to Miami when she was twelve. She went to Coral Gables Senior High School, was on the International Baccalaureate magnet program, and graduated in May 2021. Currently, Ana attends Miami Dade College - Wolfson Campus and plans to graduate in fall 2023.
Adriana Granera is 19 years old and proud to be from Honduras. She is currently a freshman at Miami Dade College - Wolfson and majoring in architecture. This is Adriana's first time working in an organization that helps her understand the importance of voting and being actively engaged in the community. Adriana is excited and grateful to be a part of the Andrew Goodman Network.
Mariel Pagan has served as the Director of the Center for Student Involvement since September of 2017. The Center for Student Involvement houses the Office of Civic and Voter Engagement at Montclair State University. Mariel holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership, Management and Policy from Seton Hall University, an M.A. in Counseling Services from Rider University and a B.S. in Diplomacy & International Relations from Seton Hall University.
Jalen Curry is a political science and urban studies major at Morehouse College from Rock Hill, South Carolina. He is the president of the New Deal Democrats, a campus organization that aims to demystify the democratic process. Jalen also serves as presidential ambassador to the college. He looks forward to getting more people involved in all aspects of the political process.
Brandon L. Daye is an Agribusiness and Supply Chain Management double major student under the highly acclaimed Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics and College of Agriculture and Environmental Systems at North Carolina A&T State University. During his tenure at North Carolina A&T, he's held leadership positions in various organizations on campus. Most notably, SGA Senate Chairperson for the Campus Life Committee, Lead of the GOTV & Excitement Workgroup for the University Wide Civic Engagement Coalition, and Development Coordinator of the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement L.E.A.D.s. Mr. Daye is beginning his 2nd year an Andrew Goodman Ambassador for North Carolina A&T and he is overly excited to continue his goal of continuously educating and promoting the power of voter, social, and civic engagement. Upon graduation, Brandon hopes to obtain his MBA from Howard University, MISE from Florida A&M University, and PhD from Hampton University. Throughout the work of The Andrew Goodman Foundation, he promises to ensure 100% campus engagement, registration, and voting. Brandon preaches the great words of Barack Obama, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
Dr. Stanley Ebede serves as the Director of the Center for Civic and Community Engagement at Northampton Community College. He earned both his master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Northern Iowa. In his current role, he develops strategies that assist students to be agents of change in local and global communities.
Samadi Tavarez is a student at Pace University, where she majors in Political Science and plans to minor in Peace and Justice Studies. Back home in South Florida, when she attended Charles W. Flanagan, she was the founder and President of the Financial Literacy (FinLit) Club. She shared her passion for equipping low-income students of color with the skills and knowledge they need to handle their finances effectively. Additionally, Samadi was an executive board member for the Political Awareness and Civic Engagement (PACE) club, a non-partisan politically-oriented student organization devoted to engaging the student body in the political process. Similar to her in the PACE Club, Samadi’s mission with AGF is to inspire Pace students to actively engage with their community and learn how to combat social justice issues they care most about. She is honored to be an Andrew Goodman Ambassador and continue his work towards a just democracy.
Marisa Medici is an undergraduate student at Pace University pursuing a double major in Political Science and Communication Studies. Her enduring commitment to public service is rooted in her participation in Model United Nations and her work with the Upper Mohawk Valley Chapter of the United Nations Association throughout high school. Based on her previous experiences as a Co-Founder of a youth civic engagement and volunteerism organization (UNA-USA GenUN), she recognized the importance of youth involvement in communities. Marisa continues her initiatives by volunteering in her community with various organizations centered around food security and education. She plans to translate these social justice issues into her civic engagement work as an Andrew Goodman Ambassador. Marisa is eager to uplift student voices by supporting her peers through the process of voting and uncovering the causes that are important to them.
Emanuel Avila is the Associate Director of Judicial Affairs and Service Learning for Queens College, part of the City University of New York. In his role, he is responsible for monitoring the code of conduct, academic integrity policy, and any other matters related to conduct. He also serves as the Voter Registration Coordinator, crisis response administrator, and supports the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. He has been the Campus Champion for Queens College's Vote Everywhere team since 2014.
Keren Ortega is a business management major and environmental studies minor at Ramapo College of New Jersey. She is currently president of 1STEP, a club dedicated to sustainability and the environment. She is also the Alternative Break student coordinator, where she helps organize weeklong trips dedicated to community service. During her free time, Keren enjoys bullet journaling, hiking, and watching crime shows like Law and Order SVU and Brooklyn 99.
Dr. A. J. Stovall is a non-compromising social activist, educator, author, and lecturer. Stovall has committed his life and career to addressing and researching issues dealing with African American Politics, Economics, Education, and Culture. Stovall has been on the firing line, advocating social change, for more than 40 years. Stovall has been a key figure in directing and coordinating specialized minority, community and student programs and services. He earned the Ph.D. degree, Union Institute University, in Urban Studies (Black Politics); MA degree, Atlanta University, African American Studies; MS degree; Tennessee State University, Education Administration; and BA degree, University of Dubuque, History Psychology and Secondary Education. Presently, Stovall chairs the Division of Social Science, is Professor of Political Science and coordinates the Rust College International Program. Stovall serves on various community and academic based Boards, including the Association for Black Culture Centers and the Southern Association of African American Studies, Inc.
As Director of the John C. Culver Public Policy Center, Seth Andersen works with students interested in pursuing careers in politics and public service. The Center’s nonpartisan programs complement Simpson College’s Engaged Citizenship Curriculum by encouraging students to actively participate in our democracy and consider public service as their life’s work. Andersen fosters student development through the Culver Fellows program, which awards four-year scholarships to incoming Simpson College students who demonstrate a commitment to public service. He works with the Culver Fellows and Simpson College faculty and professional staff to educate the campus community and the broader public through the annual Culver Lecture, which brings prominent national figures to campus to meet with students and deliver a public lecture. The Culver Center also sponsors political debates, candidate visits, policy forums, and student trips to Washington, DC, state capitols, and presidential libraries.
Prior to joining the Culver Center, Andersen served as Executive Director of the American Judicature Society, an independent national organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice. He also served on the staff of the American Bar Association as Special Assistant to the President and Project Manager for the Standing Committee on Judicial Independence. He has written and spoken extensively on judicial independence, judicial selection, and the jury system. In addition to directing the Culver Center, Andersen develops financial and community support for arts, cultural, and music-related enterprises in Central Iowa. He created and produced Critical Mass, a weekly music critics’ program that aired on community radio station KFMG 98.9 FM in 2014-2015, and contributes his event planning and management experience to major concerts and festivals such as the 80/35 music festival, Hinterland music festival, Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival, and the Des Moines Social Club’s annual Food Truck Throwdown. Andersen holds a degree in history and American Studies from the University of Kansas.
Will Keck is a student at Simpson College majoring in Political Science with a minor in Business Management. He is previously from Waukee, IA where he interned at the Iowa State Capital and was Chairman of the State of Iowa Youth Advisory Council. While at Simpson he currently participates in Student Government as Class President, Speech and Debate, and Pre-Law Society.
Dr. Cynthia Neal Spence is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Spelman College and Director of the UNCF/Mellon Programs. Her teaching and research interests in the areas of sociology, criminology, law, and violence against women support the Law and Criminology concentration in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Dr. Spence has served in the capacities of Assistant Dean for Freshman Studies, Associate Academic Dean and Academic Dean at Spelman College. Her interest in issues of higher education access, service-learning, gender role socialization and violence against women frame her research, writing, community service involvement, and public speaking. Her publications include “A Woman’s College Perspective on the Education of Men” (2004) New Directors for Student Series and “The Spelman College Total Person Commits to Positive Social Change” (2006), Engaging Departments: Moving Faculty Cultures from Private to Public, Individual to Collective Force for the Common Good. Her most recent publication “Does Race Trump Gender? Black Women Negotiating their Spaces of Intersection in the 2008 Presidential Campaign” is included in the edited volume “Who Should Be First? Feminists Speak Out on the 2008 Presidential Campaign” (2010). As Director of the UNCF Mellon Programs, Dr. Spence creates, manages and oversees a suite of future faculty development and faculty career enhancement programs for UNCF (United Negro College Fund) students and faculty. The UNCF/Mellon Programs are housed at Spelman College and funded by the Andrew Mellon Foundation.
In her newest role, Dr. Spence serves as the Faculty Lead for the Spelman College Social Justice Fellows Program. Dr. Spence is committed to helping Spelman women fully actualize their commitment to “making a choice to change the world “through social justice advocacy. She has served as a consultant for the Ford Foundation Institutional Transformation Project, the University of Chicago Provost Initiative on Minority Affairs, the Agnes Scott College Center for Teaching and Learning and the Georgia Department of Corrections. She currently serves as Faculty Trustee on the Spelman College Board of Trustees and is the former chair of the Board of the non-profit agency Men Stopping Violence. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Georgia Women for Change and the Women’s Solidarity Society for the Center for Civil and Human Rights. Dr. Spence is a graduate of Spelman College where she earned her B.A. degree. She earned both the Masters and Ph.D. degrees from Rutgers University. She is married to Harold W. Spence and they are the proud parents of two daughters, Christie ’05 and Courtnee ’08.
Chandler Nutall is a third-year student at Spelman College studying English from Washington, D.C. Chandler’s passion for promoting civic engagement stems from her desire to increase civics education and training in academic curricula throughout the country. An Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Scholar, Chandler is the Secretary of Academic Affairs for the Spelman Student Government Association and a Fellow of the Spelman College Social Justice Program. She also serves as Secretary of the Honors Program Student Association and Co-President of the National Council of Negro Women, Spelman Section. She was recently named a 2021 HBCU Competitiveness Scholar by the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. After graduation, she intends to pursue a Juris Doctor degree.
Lauren Nicks (She/her) is a junior International Studies major Sociology minor from Long Island, New York. During the Fall 2021 semester, she is interning with the American Civil Liberties of Georgia on their Voting Access Project, focusing her efforts on recruiting poll workers, increasing the voter participation rate among HBCU students, and helping oversee redistricting efforts. During the summer after her freshman year, Lauren interned at Columbia University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, researching the Black maternal mortality disparity and how false assumptions about Black pain tolerance have caused the Black maternal mortality rate to continue to climb.
Lisa Torrey is a member of the faculty at St. Lawrence University, in the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Statistics. Along with Ed Harcourt and Choong-Soo Lee, Lisa conducts the computer science program at St. Lawrence. Before arriving there, Lisa graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2009 and of Dartmouth College in 2003.
Wendi Haugh is a cultural and linguistic anthropologist with a joint appointment in African Studies. She spent her junior year abroad in Kenya, and she has done research in northern Namibia on the ways that people construct a sense of national identity in songs, speeches, talk radio programs, celebrations, and conversations. She is currently launching a new research project on birding, bird guides, and bird-related ecotourism in eastern and southern Africa. She teaches Cultural Anthropology, Humans and Other Animals, Peoples and Cultures of Africa, and Environmental Conservation in Africa. She enjoys travel, bird watching, and hiking in her spare time.
Hannah Rutkowski is a St. Lawrence University senior studying creative writing, film, and gender. She is involved in several groups on campus, including holding editorial positions in many student-run publications like The Laurentian Magazine. Being a part of AGF has helped her be able to promote the civic engagement she finds dire to people her age today, while also giving her the tools to do that and more.
Nicholas Paul Palumbo is the Interim Director of Leadership and Service at the Center for Community. In this role, he is responsible for promoting, developing and expanding leadership and service opportunities for students. Nick oversees a number of leadership initiatives, including the Geneseo Opportunities for Leadership Development, Livingston Cares Service Trips, and the on-campus Voter Engagement Taskforce. Before joining the Center for Community, Nick has been serving the Geneseo community since 2016 as an adjunct faculty member in the department of psychology teaching courses in adolescent and child development, motivation psychology, and advance research methods. Prior to that, Nick was at the University of Rochester where he served as a project manager and adjunct professor in the department of counseling and human development. Nick earned a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Geneseo, a master’s from Syracuse University, and an advanced certificate in online teaching from the University of Rochester. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in human development from the University of Rochester. Nick enjoys spending time working with undergraduate students on research projects, reading, writing, and traveling to the Adirondacks. Nick also loves to cook and is always trying out new vegan recipes.
Dr. Delores Butler has a non-profit organization that focuses on empowering and cultivating spiritual connectedness among children, youth and families, through a holistic approach to promote physical health, mental awareness, social relationships and spiritual unity to advance knowledge of self.
Anissia Sherelle Fleming is a student majoring in Political Science. On campus, Anissia serves as the Executive Chief of Staff and the Executive Assistant to the President of the Groundbreaking 81st Student Government Association. She too is a member of her school’s Honors College and Pre-Alumni Council. As an Andrew Goodman Ambassador, she hopes to educate the students on TSU’s campus to the best of her ability about everything voting related because it’s imperative that they know more than just what’s needed for a presidential election. Outside of school, Anissia enjoys spending time with her family and listening to music!
Raised in Arkansas and in love with the mountains, Delaney is finding her Texas pride the longer she is in the state. The students she works with and the excitement they share in caring for their community through civic engagement have been the highlight of her time in Texas! In her time outside of work, you will find her eating a pastry, on a hike with friends, or going for a run.
Alexa Hoekstra is a freshman at Texas Woman’s University, majoring in Political Science with an Emphasis in Law and minoring in Business Management. While at Texas Woman’s University, Alexa hopes to engage the student body in Get out the Vote efforts and encourage conversations of civil discourse. After receiving her undergraduate degree, she plans to attend law school specializing in Civil Rights Advocacy where she will strive to promote civic engagement through volunteering and voting with the future goal of one day holding public office.
Mrs. Arna Shines is excited about being the new Andrew Goodman Campus Champion for Tougaloo College. She looks forward to supporting and contributing to the efforts to ensure that the spirit and tradition of civic engagement continues at Tougaloo College.
Kevana Funches is a student at the illustrious Tougaloo College studying Political Science with a minor in Pre-Law. She is a Servant Leader Scholar at TC with hopes to continue to serve and bring about change in her campus community and other communities. She is also a member of the NAACP, AAUW (American Association of University Women), and other organizations surrounded around her main goal of creating equity within all communities. After graduating from TC, Kevana plans to further her education in public policy and gain admissions to a reputable law school. She is ecstatic to be the Tougaloo College Andrew Goodman Ambassador and ignite change in her campus community.
Richard C. Fording is the Marilyn Williams Elmore and John Durr Elmore Endowed Professor of Political Science at the University of Alabama. He earned his B.A. at the University of Florida (1986), and his Ph.D. from Florida State University (1998). His primary teaching and research interests include public policy, race and politics, state politics, social movements, and quantitative methodology. He is the author or coauthor of articles appearing in a variety of journals, including American Political Science Review, American Sociological Review, American Journal of Political Science and Journal of Politics. He is the coauthor of Disciplining the Poor: Neoliberal Paternalism and the Persistent Power of Race (University of Chicago Press).
Sam Robson is a Philosophy and Political Science student at the University of Alabama. He is currently managing a voting rights restoration clinic with the Blackburn Institute and researching student voting access with Dr. Richard Fording. Sam also works as an editor of the undergraduate Capstone Journal of Law and Public Policy. A University Fellow and Honors College student, Sam is dedicated to promoting civic engagement on his campus and his community through advocacy, research, and education. He hopes to attend law school upon graduation and wishes to pursue a career in public interest law.
Anthony Butler is the Director of Transitions and Community Engagement at UB. He has more than a decade of experience in the areas of student development, community engagement and developing community partnerships, student leadership and transition programs, and non-profit PR and marketing. In his role as Director of Transitions and Community Engagement, Anthony is responsible for planning University of Baltimore’s new student orientation, commencement exercises, community engagement opportunities, and strengths-based initiatives. He also teaches the senior capstone course in the College of Public Affairs’ Community Leadership and Nonprofit Management program. He has a bachelor of arts in English from Salisbury University and a master of arts in Publications Design with a specialization in creative writing and publishing arts from University of Baltimore. In his free time he enjoys writing fiction and poetry.
Dr. Sandra Bass joined the Center in January 2015. As Director, she provides leadership to the Center and support to its team. Sandra received her PhD in political science at Berkeley and her doctoral research explored police behavior, community organizing, and the dynamics between police and communities of color in Oakland and Seattle. Upon completing her program, she was appointed as assistant professor of Criminology and Political Science at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she integrated service learning into both her undergraduate and graduate courses. In 2002 Sandra joined the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and in 2010 she was selected to lead the Foundation’s girl’s education, women’s leadership, and reproductive health program in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2012, Sandra volunteered for the Obama campaign in the battleground states of Nevada and Colorado, and later, was appointed executive director of Teach With Africa. Sandra holds a BA from San Jose State University, and an MA and PhD from UC Berkeley, all in political science. She also serves on the regional Board of the Jefferson Awards Foundation, the Chancellor’s Community Partnership Fund, and is the immediate past Board Chair of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in Oakland.
Junshik is a student at the University of California-Berkeley majoring in Psychology and Political Science and minoring in Art History. He is a Co-Director of ASUC Vote Coalition, which has helped him develop his passion for civic engagement and voter empowerment, along with voter protection. He is extremely excited to be part of The Andrew Goodman Foundation team as an Ambassador at UC-Berkeley and is thrilled to continue the legacy of Andrew, James, and Michael.
Lesley Graybeal is the Director of Service-Learning in the Division of Outreach and Community Engagement at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas. She earned her BA and MA degrees in English and Ph.D. in Social Foundations of Education at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia and previously served as faculty member and Service-Learning Program Coordinator at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, North Carolina. In her role as Director of Service-Learning, Lesley’s work includes community partnership development and nonprofit support, faculty development in community-engaged pedagogy and scholarship, and coordination of co-curricular service and civic engagement opportunities for students.
Emma Davis is a student at the University of Central Arkansas majoring in Political Science and minoring in Legal Studies. She is an active member of the UCA Chapter of the NAACP and an active member of UCA Young Democrats of America. She developed a passion for politics in high school after attending ALA Arkansas Girls State and Arkansas Governor's School. She realized that people have power to change the systems around us and that it is up to the people to do it. In Summer 2020, she was selected to be a part of the Governor of Arkansas' Task Force for the Improvement of Law Enforcement following the murders of Breonna Taylor, Amaud Arbery, and George Floyd. She was able to regulate training, accountability measures, and community interaction with law enforcement among many other things while serving on the task force.
Purvi Patel joined the IOP in February 2019 as the Director of Civic and Campus Engagement. In this role, she advises the IOP’s Civic Engagement student leadership, builds relationships with community partners, and works on civic engagement program development and strategy. Previously, Purvi worked as an administrator in diversity and student life at Washington University in St. Louis, Loyola University Maryland, and Oberlin College. Purvi is from Dallas, Texas and graduated with a B.A. in History from Loyola University Chicago, and a M.A. in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University.
Grant Neeley teaches and conducts research in several public policy fields, public administration, state politics and political behavior. Prior to joining the UD faculty, Grant was on the faculty at Texas Tech, the University of Cincinnati, and Ball State University. He also serves as a Public Affairs Officer in the Navy Reserve. He has played on and coached several collegiate club lacrosse teams.
Grant served as the Director of the MPA Program at UD from May 2007 to August 2014. In 2014, he became the Director of Graduate Academic Affairs for the College of Arts and Sciences. He is currently the chair of the Department of Political Science.
Myrna Hugo is a Program Coordinator for the Office of Civic and Community Engagement. In her role, Myrna works with students to foster one of the university’s core values of community engagement through community-based learning opportunities. She also coordinates with community partners to identify and support collaboration that builds a culture of civic engagement within their neighboring communities. Prior to joining the University of La Verne, Myrna was a member of the President’s Office administrative team at the University of Redlands.
Kaley Ann Ponce is a Communications Major and Marketing Minor at the University of La Verne. She is involved in the Residence Hall Association as Vice President and is a member of the sorority Sigma Kappa. Having been a poll worker twice before, she is very much looking forward to helping more people get the opportunity to vote through The Andrew Goodman Foundation.
Kathy Meyer is a Coordinator of Student Leadership for the Office of Student Involvement at the University of Louisville. She coordinates leadership and service opportunities for students and serves as advisor to the Engage, Lead, Serve Board, Freshmen LEAD, and Task Force Freshmen programs.
Erin Byrnes has served as the Lead for Democratic engagement since the fall of 2016 and directs nonpartisan student voter registration, engagement, and education across the University of Michigan’s central campus. She also coordinates the Big Ten Voting Challenge, a friendly competition to enhance student participation in the democratic process across the Big Ten Conference.
Erin grew up in Dearborn, MI where she was recently elected to serve on the City Council. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and a former New York City Teaching Fellow, with a Master’s in Education from CUNY.
Ben Leavitt is a University of Michigan undergraduate majoring in History and French. As an Andrew Goodman Ambassador for the University of Michigan’s Ginsberg Center, he works with faculty, staff, and student organizations to increase student voter engagement and election turnout. Ben also serves on the Ginsberg Center’s Student Advisory Board, specializing as a member of the Community Engagement Grants evaluation team. He is passionate about the intersection of social justice and the legal system, previously interning with a legal nonprofit organization (specializing in domestic violence) and an immigration law firm.
Caroline Leonard is a student at the University of Mississippi majoring in Chemical Engineering and International Studies and minoring in Arabic. She hopes to help increase civic involvement and political literacy on campus through her role as an Andrew Goodman Ambassador by increasing voter education and turnout.
Faustine Sun is the Academically Based Community Service (ABCS) Coordinator at the Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania. A recent Penn alum, Faustine spent her undergraduate years encouraging students to become more involved in the Philadelphia community and has continued to do so in her new role as the liaison between Penn faculty, students, and community partners. Her main goal is to support and encourage students on their way to becoming more democratic, civically-minded citizens.
Originally from Glenview, Illinois, Elizabeth is a student at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in communication with minors in consumer psychology and law & society. She serves as the digital coordinator for Penn Leads the vote, monitoring digital outreach and messaging for civic engagement on campus. She is additionally a member of the women’s varsity volleyball team as well as the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.
Angeline is the Campus Champion at the University of San Francisco and oversees the University's undergraduate public service programs and supports community-engaged learning across the institution. She has a diverse background in the public sector, specializing in immigration, economic, and community development issues for government agencies and non-profit organizations. Most recently she worked with UNICEF to design mentorship and education programs in Vietnam and at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C., managing social and economic policy analyses for communities of color. She holds a Master of Public Policy from the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Studies from Trinity University. Angie is a seasoned organizer and community development and policy strategist with over ten years of experience working on social justice, civic engagement, and equity issues. A native of Texas, she currently lives in San Francisco.
Josh Dineros (he/him) is a student at the University of San Francisco studying Politics and minoring in Advertising and Philippine Studies. He is a Leo T. McCarthy Center Public Service Fellow and an Honors College Fellow where he has focused his academic work on the K-12 public education system. As a queer Filipinx-American student, he is passionate about closing inequity gaps in our education system by amplifying the voices and stories of students of color, LGBTQ+ students, and low-income families. After graduation, he hopes to attend a master’s program where he will continue to work with community members and elected officials to create change for student communities.
Kallie Barrie is a Politics major with a minor in Health Studies at the University of San Francisco. She was born in Portland, Oregon and moved to San Francisco for college. She has worked with the Food as Medicine Collaborative in San Francisco on a policy initiative to include better food access into Medi-Cal Funding for culturally appropriate and equitable food access across the state of California. She hopes to attend Law School after she graduates and work in Health Law and Policy and further this work in expansion of Medicare to include all people as well as increase mental health care accessibility.
Sofia Sanchez is a politics major and legal studies minor. She was born and raised in Los Angeles and moved to San Francisco for school where she has been interning in San Francisco's District 6 for Matt Haney. She has worked on vaccine rollout, accessibility to COVID-19 testing, and issues regarding housing and homelessness. She hopes to attend law school to integrate her background as a first-generation college student and her experiences. She believes that expanding voter registration, accessibility, and education are the best ways to take the first step in being proactive in politics.
Allison Clark Ellis, Ph.D., is the Civic Engagement Coordinator and an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of South Carolina Upstate. Her teaching and research focuses on American politics, and specifically political behavior, campaigns and elections, and political parties.
Makenzie Duncan is a Political Science major and Pre-Law minor at the University of South Carolina Upstate with hopes of attending law school. Makenzie is the President of Engage at Upstate, an organization dedicated to improving civic engagement on campus in partnership with The Andrew Goodman Foundation. She is passionate about political activism and participation. Her long term goal is to work with nonprofits whose work is aimed at providing legal services to marginalized communities.
Milan Washington is a native Washingtonian majoring in Biology at the University of the District
of Columbia. Washington is working towards becoming a veterinarian and hopes to own an animal hospital and shelter one day. In addition to school, she is involved in the Media Ministry, helping with the video equipment during Sunday services, and administrative services for her church. Milan is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.
Sydney Kincart is majoring in political science with an emphasis in public policy. She’s pursuing a double minor in disability studies and campaign management. She writes for her school paper and is actively involved in volunteering through the campus service center. Her interest in politics began during the fifth grade civics unit and her time serving as a United States Senate Page solidified that ambition. She hopes to work in disability law, policy, and advocacy.
Peggy James is Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Professional Studies, and has been working on active citizenship, engagement, and voting for 30 years at the University of Wisconsin - Parkside. She has a PhD in Political Science, and has led the Election Experience on campus for three presidential elections. She is only one member of the Parkside team, and is constantly amazed at the energy that the team creates around active citizen engagement.
Logan goes to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where he studies civil engineering. Engineering is very interesting to Logan, but he also enjoys politics. He currently is a part of UW Platteville’s Student Senate, and that's what led him to get involved in other roles like being an Andrew Goodman Ambassador. Becoming an Ambassador has helped Logan become a better leader and help him within his career.
Jacqueline Smith-Mason, Ph.D., joined The Honors College in 2004 and serves as the Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Research. She previously taught courses in criminal justice and political science in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at VCU. In addition, she has also held various policy research positions in state government.
Her research and teaching interests include public policy affecting women, families and children, challenges facing the American criminal justice system, public sector management and issues related to honors education.
Dr. Smith-Mason received her Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration and M.S. in Criminal Justice from VCU, as well as her B.A. in Sociology from George Mason University.
Emily Leary is pursuing a major in Communication Arts and a minor in Creative Writing at VCUArts. After graduation, she plans to become a children’s book author and illustrator, as well as a studio artist. As an Ambassador for The Andrew Goodman Foundation, she hopes to spread awareness of voting to her college peers through visual art. She believes that art is an incredible form of communication and wants to use it to share messages across campus.
Kyren Clemons is a Marketing major at Virginia State University. He has an extreme passion for voting and has seen the importance of expressing the right to vote well before he was able to himself. To Kyren, everything that deals with voting and getting the message out has a correlation to marketing. Therefore, he is glad to be able to combine two of his passions for a common goal. He is extremely honored to part of The Andrew Goodman Foundation's HBCU Cohort.
Dr. Russell M. Frazier is an Orlando, Florida native, and he currently serves as Department Head of Political Science at Xavier University of Louisiana. Dr. Frazier was recently honored in the Cambridge Who’s Who Among Executives, Professionals and Entrepreneurs, a nationally distributed publication recognizing exceptional members of our national community. He is also a former Southern Regional Education Board and Benjamin Lever Doctoral Fellow. Dr. Frazier is an active member of the American Political Science Association and an active member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). In addition to Dr. Frazier's professional and scholarly endeavors, he serves his community through many Xavier University community initiatives, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity incorporated, and recently served as a Board member for the New Orleans Court Appointed Special Advocates organization.
Prior to Dr. Frazier’s Xavier University faculty appointment, he served as a Western Kentucky University Post-Doctoral Fellow; Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Director of Student Programs at Southern University and A & M College; and as the Director of Residence Life at Kentucky State University. He has a progressive and diverse career in higher education that spans almost 20 years. As a result, Dr. Frazier has published multiple articles concerning effective policy implementation, effectively taught complex course material, successfully directed complex administrative agencies, and managed successful academic programs.
Dr. Frazier began his B.A. studies at Kentucky State University where he completed his undergraduate degree in criminal justice. After working for the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts, he earned his second degree from Kentucky State University: A Master of Public Administration. After serving several years as a public agency administrator, he earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy with a concentration in community development at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Frazier’s desire to understand the intricate mechanisms associated with community development is what led him to pursue this area of study.
Aside from Dr. Frazier’s community service and busy career demands, he also manages the responsibility of being a father to his son, Brandon Frazier. In his free time, he enjoys reading literature relative to his research interests: community development, policy implementation, policy evaluation, and organizational theory.
Jaleel Ross is a Political Science major from Lafayette, Louisiana. As an advocate for social justice both on his campus and in his community, Jaleel has served as the Vice President of his university's chapter of The College Democrats. While holding this position, Jaleel was able to engage, educate, and mobilize student voters in elections both on and off campus. Additionally, Jaleel has also been a part of various organizations geared toward service, leadership, and social justice on his campus.
Tia Alexander is a student at Xavier University of Louisiana pursuing a Political Science Pre-Law major with a minor in Philosophy. A native New Orleanian, she enjoys attending college in her city and remaining close to its culture and her family. In her free time, Tia enjoys running her Pre-Law Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta as its President, participating in AGF voter engagement efforts with her peers, and volunteering with CourtWatch NOLA. In the future, she hopes to attend law school.
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