The Compact AmeriCorps VISTA Profiles who are our vistas? Texas Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA members commit to twelve months of national service. They work within their communities to build capacity, with a particular focus on sustainability. Currently, our VISTA members serve at twelve institutions across the state. Garnesha Beck Garnesha’s primary focus at The University of Texas at Tyler is the promotion of Service-Learning. She recruits faculty, assesses previous projects and is developing a Service-Learning website for the Office of Community Relations. Additionally, Garnesha works in collaboration with the Office of Community Relations, cultivating and supporting campus-community partnerships and fostering community engagement initiatives. Garnesha has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Grambling State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Dallas. She is supervised by David Hill. Ansa Copeland Ansa is a liaison for the Office of Civic Engagement between Southwestern University and the larger Georgetown community regarding environmental issues and civic engagement initiatives. She works with a variety of student organizations to promote student activism and responsible citizenship. Furthermore, Ansa teaches an environmental studies course and is the advisor to a communal residence center for civically- and environmentally-minded students. Ansa has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Southwestern University. She is supervised by Suzy Pukys. Jessica Estorga AmeriCorps VISTA, The University of Texas at Austin Paul Felarca Paul is the Service-Learning Initiatives Coordinator in the Service-Learning Center at St. Mary’s University. He works with faculty and community partners, implementing Service-Learning initiatives and engages students through monthly “good neighbor” projects within the community. Paul also coordinates the Summer Service Program, an opportunity for students to connect with and serve at several community partner organizations. In addition, Paul serves on the President’s Peace Commission—a university council of faculty, students and staff that raise awareness for local and global community issues. Paul has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from The University of Texas at San Antonio. He is supervised by Norma Gaier. Josh Franco Josh is the Service-Learning Coordinator in the Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism at Our Lady of the Lake University where he administers student orientations for between twelve and fifteen courses each semester; for certain courses, he coordinates logistics—synchronizing efforts and troubleshooting obstacles. Occasionally, he facilitates classes on behalf of faculty and community partners. In the community, Josh maintains and establishes new relationships with organizations. On campus, Josh recruits new faculty for Service-Learning courses and promotes this pedagogy among students. Josh has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History from Southwestern University. He is supervised by Cynthia Medina. Kelly Ann Grace Kelly Ann serves as the Civic Engagement Coordinator in the Service-Learning Center at St. Mary's University. Her role is to enhance student leadership in civic engagement and increase awareness of civic engagement. She partners students with community organizations, in order to provide students with in-depth understanding of current social issues. Kelly Ann also plans and organizes alternative spring break service immersion trips. In addition, she serves on the President’s Peace Commission, the Martin Luther King Day Committee and the Women’s History Month Committee. Kelly Ann has a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology with a minor in Health Care Ethics from Saint Joseph’s University. She is supervised by Norma Gaier. Josh Hernandez Josh is the Service-Learning Coordinator at Texas State Technical College-Harlingen in the Office of Student Success. He serves on the Student Activities Advisory Committee and the Quality Enhancement Plan Committee, where as the Service-Learning advisor, he implements experiential learning and reflection into student life. Josh also works with the Student Government Association, the environmental club and the media club. Additionally, he coordinates a preparatory program for students interested in surgical technology. Josh developed and implemented two initiatives designed to engage students of the millennial generation—Ycare is a podcast for this generation which provides students a voice and a forum for open dialog and the discussion of social issues; the i.know initiative connects upperclassmen with first year students as guides and mentors. The Living Democracy video project challenges students to use their creativity and the technology of their generation to produce thirty to sixty second public service announcements espousing the importance of civic and political engagement. Josh has an Associate of Arts degree in Applied Science from Texas State Technical College-Harligen. He is supervised by Richard Kirk. Jennifer Huesers Jennifer is the Service-Learning Coordinator at Blinn College. She works with the director of Service-Learning on professional development materials for faculty and faculty-focused workshops, as well as assists in the development of a long-term assessment strategy. Through presentations to faculty and students, Jennifer encourages campus-community involvement, focusing specifically on sustainability initiatives. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University. She is supervised by John Beaver. Ann Lewandowski Ann Lewandowski is one of two AmeriCorps VISTA leaders in the state office of Texas Campus Compact. Ann served her first year in AmeriCorps VISTA with Florida Alliance of Student Services and Florida Campus Compact. Since 2006, Ann has served as the Texas Campus Compact VISTA co-leader and Events Coordinator. Currently, she works closely with Matthew to support and assist fourteen TXCC VISTAs on twelve member campuses. Ann has worked to improve the TXCC VISTA program by developing policy and procedures, implementing new trainings and developing new resources to assist VISTAs implementing campus and community initiatives. Ann has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Lourdes College. Amie Lewis Amie’s mission in the Center for Community Involvement and Service-Learning at Texas Christian University is threefold. First, she raises awareness of Service-Learning and civic engagement opportunities through presentations, workshops, publications and the creation of a database to manage community agency profiles. Second, Amie advocates for increasing community service and volunteerism that benefits under-served communities through university partnerships with community-based organizations and programs that engage the community. Third, to engage student leadership, Amie works with FrogHouse, a TCU-Habitat for Humanity program, and Habitat for Humanity's Collegiate Challenge, an alternative spring break program designed to encourage responsible citizenship. She also co-teaches a community action course through the university's Center for Ethical Leadership and Responsible Citizenship and coordinates volunteer and nonprofit fairs. Amie has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from McKendree University. She is supervised by Peter Thompson. Joe Macchia Joe is the Coordinator of Research and Service-Learning in the Office of Leadership and Community Involvement at Southern Methodist University where he furthers the advancement of Service-Learning initiatives. In part, Joe assists faculty with Service-Learning curriculum development and implementation—helping to establish the university’s inaugural international Service-Learning course. He is the co-creator and primary author of SMU Service-Learning Connection, a monthly e-newsletter designed to bring increased awareness and support of community service, civic engagement and social justice issues to Southern Methodist’s faculty. Additionally, Joe works to enhance university-community agency relations and is coordinating and serving as trip advisor for a human rights pilgrimage through eastern Europe. Joe has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Hofstra University. He is supervised by Stella Mulberry. Iliana Melendez AmeriCorps VISTA, The University of Texas at Austin Iliana is supervised by Yvonne Fuentes. Caroline Nichols Caroline is the Service Coordinator at St. Edward's University. She works in the Office of Student Life, advising the newly founded Student Service Council, a student organization whose mission is to engage the campus in civic opportunities through service projects and educational campaigns. Caroline chairs project committees, such as Labor Day and Founder’s Day service projects, and actively pursues new service initiatives. She is collaborating with the Leadership Program to create and implement a service project for the Hilltop Leaders, a program available to freshmen and sophomores and facilitated by the Student Leadership Team. These students are selected for their desire to explore the many ways leadership manifests itself in different settings. Caroline has also created the other spring break alternative, where students have the opportunity to serve in their own community. Caroline has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Hope College. She is supervised by Peter Erickson. Mykle Tomlinson AmeriCorps VISTA, Texas State University-San Marcos Mykle is supervised by Oren Renick. Matthew Zielsdorf Matthew is one of two AmeriCorps VISTA leaders in the state office of Texas Campus Compact. He and Ann lead a team of fourteen AmeriCorps VISTA members across the state. Primarily, he focuses on leadership development, team training, support, communication and resource generation. In addition to these duties, Matthew supports Texas Campus Compact's information technology and website and chairs a committee on digital storytelling. Matthew has a Bachelor of Arts degree in German and International Studies from Southwestern University.