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 at Alabama A&M Univeristy.
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.
Bintou Fofana is a rising junior at Allegheny College where she is pursuing a degree in International Studies with an area focus of West Africa (BA) along with a minor in Middle Eastern and North African Studies and a minor in French. Bintou’s passion and attentiveness in social justice and political science has allowed her to become an Andrew Goodman Ambassador, a participant in Allegheny’s Global Citizens Scholars program, a recipient of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives awards (for her work in anti-gun violence in the city of Philadelphia), and a host for her own podcast (Things Just Got Spicy🌶🔥). Bintou's goal as an Andrew Goodman Ambassador is to raise awareness about voter suppression/racial injustice and to encourage other students (especially students of color) to vote in local elections and elections in their hometown.
Ella is a junior studying Global Studies and International Letters and Cultures (Arabic Studies) in Barrett, the Honors College at ASU. She is originally from Lake Havasu City, Arizona, but moved to Tempe in order to study at a larger institution. Growing up in the age of social media, Ella became interested in information systems within public discourse and advocated for critical engagement with politicized topics. She worked as the Civic Engagement Chair for Changemaker Central (Tempe), where she created opportunities for ASU students to participate in civic engagement processes with the hope of increasing voter turnout in the next election. Being involved with the Next Generation Service Corps and an ASU/DOD funded research project, she utilizes curiosity, analytical skills, and insightful thinking to work towards an interconnected world. After finishing her education, Ella hopes to advise public policy around global cooperation through in-depth inquiries, including case study research and on-the-ground immersion.
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.
Cicily Wilson has been at Bard College for 10 years with much of that time spent in the world of Student Affairs and recently joining its Center for Civic Engagement. Prior to working at Bard, Cicily's career centered on nonprofit management with a focus on public relations, community development and fundraising for many organizations including the Elie Wiesel Foundation, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, and Girl Scouts. She hopes to use her skills in communications as well as student development to enhance student’s civic engagement journey at Bard through impactful connections with community partners.
Sarah deVeer began working for the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) in 2017 after earning her degree from Bard Annandale in Film and Electronic Arts, with a focus in documentary and community connections. Since then, she has been focusing on a variety of initiatives through the CCE, including education outreach, voter outreach, activism support, and community relation facilitation. A career highlight for Sarah was successfully obtaining a polling place on Bard's Annandale campus during the 2020 United States presidential election, after the institution had engaged in fighting for an on-campus polling place for 20 years.
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.
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.
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.
Teri Platt is a Community of Practice Fellow, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge at Civic Nation.
Teri Platt, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Administration and the Director of the Isabella T. Jenkins Honors Program at Clark Atlanta University. She has over 15 years of higher education teaching experience in courses on American political institutions, public policy, urban politics and planning, and research methodology. Dr. Platt has a long-standing commitment to research and service in areas of civic engagement and community-based participatory research activities. She is currently a Faculty Affiliate with Data Science Initiative of the Atlanta University Center Consortium and the Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development at Clark Atlanta University where she is a social science researcher and lead of the Community Engagement and Dissemination Core. Through her work with the CCRTD, Dr. Platt has received funding to explore the relationship between civic engagement, self-efficacy, and prostate health through the National Institutes of Health.
Dr. Platt was a 2021-2022 Fellow with the National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement at the University of California, Irvine where she evaluated student voter engagement at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). She is also the Faculty Champion for the Andrew Goodman Foundation HBCU Cohort; a Co-Designer with the Ask Every Student Initiative of the Students Learn, Students Vote coalition; a member of the Executive Council of the Students Learn, Students Vote Coalition; participant in the HBCU Community of Practice for the ALL IN Democracy Challenge; and Faculty Champion for the Democracy Fellows of the Campus Vote Project.
An active member of scholarly associations, Dr. Platt has served on committees and participated in the annual meetings of the American Society for Public Administration, Conference for Minority Public Administrators, Southeastern Conference for Public Administration, National Conference of Black Political Scientists, Midwest Political Science Association, and American Political Science Association.
Dr. Platt resides in Atlanta with her family and is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She provides additional service to the community through her church and the Atlanta Public Schools.
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.
Bob Frigo is the Assistant Dean and Director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life 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.
Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Alex Grass grew up and personally experienced the consequences of unfair voting practices, especially gerrymandering. Over the past seven years, Alex has worked tirelessly with his hometown and university to ensure that every young person has the resources and knowledge to vote successfully and have their voice heard in the democratic process. Studying Government and History, Alex loves living in the nation's capital and exploring new opportunities that are always popping up. He is extremely excited to be a member of the GU Votes team and working to get every Hoya registered to vote! Beyond his studies, Alex is on the Georgetown Club Frisbee and Club Baseball teams, enjoys cooking, and hopes to continue his work by attending law school.
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.
Alyssa Rodriguez is a fourth-year first-generation ISU student double majoring in Political Science and Human Development & Family Studies with a minor in Public Relations. She is committed to improving systems for underserved communities by increasing equity and accessibility. She is passionate about advocating for quality education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and voting rights. At ISU Alyssa has participated in the GO VOTE 2.0 Innovation Sprint, working as their DEI Manager. She has competed in pitch competitions, pitching passion projects to aide barriers face by ISU students with adverse experiences. She is in her fourth year on the Student Union Board Executive Team, where she has served as both President and Vice President roles. After graduation, Alyssa hopes to remain active in her community through her work and innovation before pursuing a Master’s Degree.
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.
Elizabeth is a passionate political science major at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Elizabeth works as a Votes Ambassador, and is passionate about working towards the most positive change in politics. She is proud to serve on Student Government Board, and spends any time she can outside of the classroom serving her campus community.
Hannah Williams is an Ambassador from Morrisville, Pennsylvania who attends Kutztown University, majoring in Political Science with Paralegal Studies and minoring in Sociology. They plan to work as a Paralegal in the field of environmental law, and possibly attend law school to become an attorney in the specialty. Hannah is passionate about civil rights, environmental protection, and LGBTQ rights, and hopes to encourage students to vote intentionally and effectively. Besides their school activities, Hannah enjoys playing Nintendo Switch games and taking care of their beloved cat, Sylvia.
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.
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.
Born in Miami, Florida to a Cuban-American family, Sofia Vizcarra, 19, is an enthusiastic Miami-Dade Honors College student who will be majoring in Political Science. Growing up in a big family, she has always been outspoken and driven. As a freshman starting on her path of leadership and service, she hopes to absorb as much information about the democratic process as possible and learn how to make a meaningful impact in her community through connecting with others. Her biggest interests are government, American history, and social justice. She is most passionate about civic engagement, as voting is one of the single most effective ways to enact change in our country. She is proud to represent the student body of Kendall campus, as young people are undoubtedly the voice of the future. As a Vote Everywhere Ambassador with the prestigious Andrew Goodman Foundation, she is eager to encourage people to vote and learn more about the inner workings of our democracy.
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.
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.
Maggie Sampson is a student at Miami University studying Adolescent Young Adult Social Studies Education. She grew up in Madeira, OH, a suburb outside of Cincinnati. Outside of the classroom, she is on Associated Student Government as an on-campus senator and is President of the Miami Council for the Social Studies. In her free time, she likes to read, run, spend time with friends, and visit thrift shops and record stores.
Venus is a sophomore at Miami University from Cleveland, OH studying Political Science and Public Policy. They are passionate about politics, voting, and are excited to work with the Andrew Goodman Foundation in making a difference on college campuses.
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.”
Erin Mysogland is the Assistant Director of the Center for Community Action and Research and an Adjunct Lecturer of Peace and Justice Studies and History at Pace University. In both roles she works with students on civic engagement and social justice advocacy. She has a Master’s in History from Columbia University and continues to research themes including youth and activism.
Hayley Piazza is a sophomore at Pace University majoring in Health Science on a pre-physician assistant track. Hayley’s passion for civic engagement began when she was young and has only grown over time through her involvement in various clubs and organizations on campus. As a STEM major, one of Hayley’s goals during her time as an Andrew Goodman Ambassador is to motivate her fellow STEM and pre-health majors to be civically engaged. In the future, Hayley hopes to become a physician assistant, but also hopes to pursue a career in health policy to help eliminate disparities in health care.
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.
Karen Booth has worked in the civic and community engagement field for more than 20 years. For the past seven years, she has supervised Ramapo College's Civic and Community Engagement Center. The Center houses the Alternative Break Program, Leaders in Service, Student Leadership Programs, New Jersey Campus Compact's Changebuilder Initiative, and other co-curricular community and political engagement efforts. The Center also partners with faculty from time to time on currriculum-based civic involvement efforts. Karen has pursued graduate studies in religion and theology at Drew University Theological School. After studying at Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tennessee and Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, she earned her undergraduate degree from William Paterson University.
Bibhu is a Computer Science major and has been active in several organizations and activities at Ramapo College, including the Student Government Association, Palestroni Integrated Neuroscience Lab, and the Center for Student Involvement. He is elected as the Senator-at-Large in the SGA and represents the student body at the Academic Master Plan Taskforce. In addition, he is actively involved in the neuroscience lab where he is learning research methodologies to develop studies and explore the intersection of computer and cognitive sciences. Upon graduating, he plans to conduct research on existing AI systems and search for possible solutions to pave the way for General AI.
Sydney is a Senior Psychology major and is currently involved with several organizations at Ramapo College of New Jersey. She is the Vice President of Leadership and Recruitment Chair in Alpha Phi Omega, a professional national service fraternity, as well as the Civic and Political Engagement Student Coordinator within the Civic and Community Engagement Center on campus. Additionally Sydney is currently a part of Dr. Leah Warner’s research lab on campus as well as a research assistant in the I AM Research Lab through the University of Toronto under Dr. J. Garrett-Walker. Sydney hopes to pursue graduate school and conduct research concerning compulsory heterosexuality and the way it affects AFAB individuals' adolescent growth, how they develop their identities and sexuality.
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.
Kyle Werner is a student at Simpson College majoring in journalism and minoring in political science, from Winterset, Iowa. Before coming to Simpson, he worked for a national Senatorial race, and a U.S Representative’s team in finance, coordinating fundraising efforts and individual solicitations. He is also involved with Speech and Debate, the honors program, the SC Leader freshman orientation program, the Culver Public Policy Center, Pre-Law society, PRIDE, and the school publication, The Simpsonian. In the coming years, he will continue to intertwine his journalistic experiences with politics and continue the work to get out the vote.
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.
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.
Allee Mack is a junior at St. Lawrence University from Marietta, New York. She is pursuing a major in Government and a minor in History. In addition to being an AGF Ambassador, Allee is a senator for her school's student government, the secretary of St. Lawrence Advocates, and an employee at her school's fitness center. After graduation, Allee plans to relocate to DC and pursue a career in politics. Allee's main goal as an AGF Ambassador is to educate her peers on the importance of voting by developing panels that discuss what's going on in Congress.
Ashley is a sophomore History and English major with a minor in Medieval Studies. At Geneseo, she works as a Resident Assistant and an office assistant for the History Department, and is also involved in their student senate and Student Affairs Committee. Ashley is grateful for the opportunity to serve as one of the AGF ambassadors at Geneseo.
Charlotte is a sophomore Psychology major with a minor in Cognitive Science. She is involved in the student senate at Geneseo, as well as the College Senate and a psychological research lab. She is super excited to get to work with The Andrew Goodman Foundation!
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.
Lupe is a first-year at Texas Woman’s University, majoring in Nursing. Lupe’s passion for civic engagement stems from her desire to increase voter education and ensure all voters have an equal opportunity to vote. Lupe serves as a JOLT chapter coordinator, focusing on empowering young Latinx voters in her community. She is also the League of United Latin American Citizens district director, which consistently nurtures her passion for voter engagement. After receiving her undergraduate degree, she plans to continue volunteering to promote civic engagement through local organizations.
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.
Alex Fidanovski is a current sophomore at Tufts University majoring in Political Science and double minoring in Entrepreneurship and Film and Media Studies. She explores the intersection of politics and media and focuses on the role media plays in shaping public opinion. Alex is on the executive board for JumboVote, a nonpartisan organization at Tufts, that focuses on educating students on the importance of voting and civic engagement.
Alex Landy is a sophomore at Tufts University studying political science and urban studies. He has a passion for voter education efforts and increasing youth participation in our democratic process. Alex is also interested in legislative advocacy, public policy, and legal studies. Aside from his position on the Executive Board of Tufts’ voter resources group, JumboVote, he is also a Research Assistant for the Tufts Political Science Department and part of a youth-led organization across North American college campuses called Jewish on Campus.
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).
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.
Alex Edgar is a second-year at UC Berkeley studying Political Science with minors in Public Policy and Education. He is passionate about developing policy solutions to major social problems in order to create education systems and democratic institutions that are more responsive to the will and needs of the American people. Alex serves as the Director of the Associated Students of the University of California Vote Coalition, Civic Engagement Coordinator for the UC Student Association, and a Voter's Choice Act Ambassador for the California Secretary of State. He also is the Assistant to the Executive Director at the University of California National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement, a Criminal Justice Research Intern at the Constitutional Rights Foundation, and an ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Intern.
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.
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.
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.
I am a sophomore at the University of La Verne, majoring in Legal Studies and minoring in Ethnic Studies. Through the Andrew Goodman Foundation, I hope to raise awareness on campus about voter education and political literacy, and to encourage young people to participate in the planning of their future.
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.
Edler Jonhatan is a student at the University of Louisville majoring in Political Science and double minoring in Marketing and Social Change. He is also a Martin Luther King Jr. scholar and a Woodford R. Porter scholar. During his time on campus, Edler has held many leadership positions with organizations concentrated on developing the campus community. As a Haitian American, Edler believes that every voice matters, and voting is just one of many opportunities to have our voices be heard. He wants to start his political journey by encouraging the student body of the University of Louisville to become more politically informed and active.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nellie is a student at the VCU Honors College majoring in International Studies and Political Science. She hopes to one day have a career in Human Rights Law and continue to promote civic engagement in her community. In her free time, she enjoys singing in her A Capella group and volunteering at the Sacred Heart Center as an ESL teacher.
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.
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