Meet OCSL Staff

Role in CSL
Manages the IMPACT! program, which includes recruiting students, supporting students and community partners, and working with residence life staff
Co-teaches American Diversity (Hon 292D) and teaches IMPACT! Seminar (Hon 191S)

Education
Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Gender Studies, Bard College
Currently pursuing M.Ed. in Social Justice Education, UMass Amherst

Experience
Two years of national service with AmeriCorps Project POWER, a program in Asheville, NC, that works with youth grades K-12; the program focuses on conflict resolution, literacy, and community building.

Worked in residence life and community service at Simon’s Rock College for four years; Served as Director of Residence Life at Warren Wilson College for one year, prior to coming to UMass.

Spent a summer working with a sea turtle rehabilitation hospital in North Carolina.

Interesting facts about Shuli:
I enjoy long walks on the beach, Will Farrell movies, and playing with my dog, Leo.

Role in CSL
My role in the office primarily is to work with the Faculty Fellows program and other faculty interested in community service learning at UMass. I provide direct support to the CSL Faculty Fellows by assisting them with logistics such as identifying community partners, responding to various inquiries, and helping with other expressed needs. Additionally, I assist with planning of the Fellows' monthly seminars and support the Provost's Committee on Service Learning in publicizing and managing CSL Faculty Fellowships. Beyond those duties, I also help in training the undergraduate course assistants and assist each semester in developing a comprehensive list of CSL courses.

Education
Currently pursuing M.Ed. in Higher Education (Service-Learning & Engagement track) at UMass Amherst
B.S., Education (Early Childhood), Texas Christian University, 2003

Experience
I spent a year as an AmeriCorps*VISTA at Southern Methodist University through Texas Campus Compact. As the Community Relations Coordinator, I acted as a liaison between community-based organizations and SMU. Additionally, I planned a nonprofit fair, advised the student service group, assisted in the planning of the annual Community Service Day, and was a staff leader on an Alternative Spring Break trip.

I then spent another year as an AmeriCorps*VISTA at The University of Akron through Ohio Campus Compact. While at UA, I established the Office of Service-Learning & Civic Engagement and worked to promote it as a resource for faculty, students, and community organizations. I also assisted in planning UA's Make a Difference Day activities and worked with faculty independently and as a member of the Service-Learning Research Team in the Institute for Teaching and Learning.

Community Involvement

My passion for service was deepened initially through my experiences as a student at Texas Christian University. I was an active member of the national co-ed service organization Alpha Phi Omega, in addition to involvement with events like Hunger Week and Holocaust Memorial Week. I also took leadership positions in these and other organizations like TCU LEAPS (a campus-wide day of service) and Frog Camp (a program for new students). Through these experiences, I developed a particular interest in issues associated with AIDS/HIV, literacy, and hunger/homelessness. During my time as a VISTA, I also became interested in issues of social justice and effective community development.

Interesting facts
Though I was born and raised in Texas, my grandmother on my mother's side is Australian, and the majority of my extended family still lives in Australia and New Zealand. I am also half Canadian, as my father is from Canada.

I would eat Indian food every day if I could, and my guilty pleasures include taking naps on my couch and playing old video games.

Favorite quote

"Our obligation is to give meaning to life and in doing so to overcome the passive, indifferent life." ~Elie Wiesel

Role in CSL
I manage the Citizen Scholars Program and OCSL's contracted courses. My past experience in OCSL included managing and teaching in the IMPACT! first-year community service learning community and managing OCSL's Learn and Serve America grant.

Education
M.Ed., Higher Education Administration, University of Massachusetts Amherst
B.A., Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University

Community Involvement

Volunteered at Fort River Elementary School and the Amherst Adolescent Shelter.

Interesting facts
As the mother of two young sons, I have a special interest in the socialization of boys and conceptions of masculinity in American society.

Role in CSL
Community Service Assistant

Education
Currently pursing a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in Education
Also pursuing Five College Certificate in Culture, Health and Science

Experience
Has been part of the Hole in the Wall Gang camp staff, a teacher's assistant at Head Start, an Alternative Spring Break participant (2005), and a student teacher in Pretoria, South Africa (summer 2006)

Community Involvement

Volunteers one weekend/month as a counselor for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, serves on the English Major's Student Advisory Board

Interesting facts
Participating in National Student Exchange at the University of Hawai'i, Hilo during the Spring 2007 semester

Favorite quote
"Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like bananas." ~Groucho Marx

Role in CSL
I work with John (the director) to provide leadership for the Office. My responsibilities span many different areas, including staff supervision and development, budget management, communications and strategic planning. I also co-teach the course "Organizational Practice in CSL" each fall.

Education
M.S., Sport Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst
B.A., English Language and Literature, Smith College

Experience
Before coming to UMass in 2001, I was Director of the Greenfield AmeriCorps Program (now known as YouthServe AmeriCorps Program) in Greenfield, MA. I also served as Coordinator of "Get in the Game," a program of A Sporting Chance Foundation (now known as Girls in the Game) in Chicago, IL.

Community Involvement

I serve on the Board of Directors of the Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts; after being on the organization's grantmaking committee for five years, I am now working with the development committee.

Interesting facts
I don't like to eat soup.it's too soupy!

Favorite quote
"Doing well without doing good, too, is simply not good enough." ~ Anna Quindlen

Role in CSL
Having worked in OCSL since the spring of 2005, my roles in the office have expanded over time. While fulfilling the duties of a CSA, I also serve as a member of the Communications team, helping to manage the photographic and digital media needs of the office. In particular, I am the editor of the office's weekly newsletter, The Long Hall, and I also annually direct and the produce the video shown at each year's Chancellor's Outstanding Community Service Awards Luncheon.

Education
Currently pursuing an undergraduate degree majoring in psychology and film/video production.

Community Involvement

I was a part of the IMPACT! service-learning community during my freshman year, and during that time, worked at the Capacidad after-school program at the Fort River Elementary School in Amherst. I have also been trained as an ESL tutor by the International Language Institute in Northampton, worked as a peer guidance counselor to help high school students in Springfield to prepare for the college application process, and participated in both the Meals-On-Wheels program and the Relay For Life.

Interesting facts
I am an internationally-ranked speedcubist (speedsolver of Rubik's Cubes), an editor on Wikipedia, and a Star Wars fan-filmmaker.

Favorite quote
"The only stupid question is the one left unasked" ~Jim Fitzgerald

Role in CSL
Director of the office; co-director of Citizen Scholars Program

Education
Ph.D., American Culture, University of Michigan, 1982
M.A., American Civilization, University of Texas, 1970
B.A., Plan II (interdisciplinary liberal arts), University of Texas, 1969

Experience
From 1973 to 1987, I taught courses on social issues and peace studies at the University of Michigan and directed a program of writing across the curriculum. For the next five years, I taught peace studies and writing at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and helped direct the Global Peace and Security Program. From 1992 to 2000, I helped lead the reconstruction of the curriculum at Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tennessee, to focus on the "civic arts"-the knowledge and skills needed by citizens to work collaboratively to build solutions to community and societal problems. I oversaw the introduction of service-learning into the curriculum, both creating and directing the service-learning center. Since 2000, I have been Director of OCSL.
For the 2005-2006 academic year, I was appointed as the first Visiting Faculty Fellow by Massachusetts Campus Compact. In this role I consulted with faculty and administrators at colleges and universities across the state to support the development of Community Service Learning and civic engagement.

Community Involvement

I have worked as a tutor and in a youth and family counseling center, a hotline/crisis counseling center, and a child care referral service. I've been on the board of directors of Habitat for Humanity. My current community involvement is organized mostly through my job-linking community organizations with students and faculty.

Interesting facts
I'm married and have three children and two grandchildren; my family and my work are the major focuses for my life.
I have a long commitment to the practice of nonviolence; I became a conscientious objector to war during the Vietnam War.
I love personal stories-funny or serious.

Favorite quote
"People are a lot like crabgrass. You look at a yard full of crabgrass, and it appears to be full of separate individuals, separate blades of grass. But if you dig down, you find that they all share a common root system, a common system for nourishment; they are all connected at the deepest point." ~Fran Peavey

Role in CSL
I work with the Five Colleges to promote community service and Community Based Learning (CBL) throughout the Pioneer Valley Region. I manage CSLinks, a web-accessible database of community service opportunities, meet regularly with networks of community-based organizations, and identify opportunities for collaboration across the Five Colleges campuses.

Education
B.A., Sociology, Magna Cum Laude, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2006
A.S., Liberal Studies, with Honors, Holyoke Community College, 2004

Experience
My senior honors thesis analyzed the success of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement, which was largely due to federal support for community-based organizations. I also spent a year as a student-worker for The Center for Popular Economics, a non-profit collective that teaches economic literacy to people fighting for social and economic justice.

Community Involvement

I am on the Leadership Council of the Kimball W. Howes Volunteer Center of the United Way of Hampshire County.

Interesting facts
I was born in Thailand, I have three younger siblings, I can't whistle, and Judie's is my favorite Amherst restaurant.

Favorite quote
"Be not simply good, be good for something." ~Henry David Thoreau

Role in CSL
I am a Community Service Assistant, as well as the Contracted Course Coordinator. I also work on the UMass Serves e-newsletters.

Education
Currently pursuing a degree in Psychology with a minor in Education.
I graduated from Peabody Veterans Memorial High School in June of 2005.

Experience
I've been with the Office of Community Service Learning since September of 2006.

Community Involvement

Student Bridges Program - Tutor at Holyoke Community College
SGA Senator 2005-2006
Phi Theta Kappa, FL
Amnesty International, Lima, Peru

Interesting facts
I'm a twin (my twin brother goes to Providence College). I am part of the dance group Encore!, which is an RSO here on campus. Dancing is one of my passions and I also love to rock climb. Of course, I am a huge fan of the Boston Red Sox!!!