Meet our new Fall 2026 team members at the Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL)! We are excited to introduce our new Democratic Engagement Coordinator and AmeriCorps VISTA, welcome our student staff and coordinators, and announce our Alternative Spartan Breaks and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance executive boards.

Katie Burkhardt is the Democratic Engagement Coordinator with MSUvote, a committee partially administered through the Center for Community Engaged Learning. After graduating from Michigan State University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and an additional major in Sociology, she earned a Master of Arts in the Social Sciences from the University of Chicago. She aims to connect students with opportunities to participate in the democratic process and help them develop plans to make their voices heard through civic engagement and voting.

Jaiden Suttles is the Center for Community Engaged Learning's Campus Compact/AmeriCorps VISTA serving with the America Reads/America Counts program. He graduated from Michigan State University in May 2026 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Law. Jaiden is passionate about creating resources and partnerships that support students, tutors, and community organizations while addressing local educational needs.

 

Spartan Volunteer Leaders

This fall, five Spartan Volunteer Leaders (SVLs) will join our team! Our SVLs provide essential support to CCEL staff by hosting service projects, representing CCEL at events for their peers, and helping staff with events and programs. Leaders in this role will work together to increase student engagement in CCEL programs, develop volunteer management skills, and make meaningful community impact.

Nyle Eggert is a third-year Neuroscience and Human Biology student. 

Alex Gustafson is a third-year Electrical Engineering student with a minor in Energy. 

Tara Kurncz is a second-year Pre-Nursing student. 

Sophia Lambros is a fourth-year Physiology student with a minor in Health Promotion.

Josephine Morley is a third-year Biosystems Engineering student.

 

MSUvote Interns

In preparation for midterm elections, MSUvote welcomes two interns as part of its efforts to promote civic engagement on our campus! Learn more about MSUvote.

Atlas Good is a fourth-year student majoring in Environmental Studies and Sustainability as well as Public Policy.

Avery Hecksel is a third-year student majoring in Politics, Rights, and Culture.

 

Community Engagement Scholars Program Cohort

The MSU Community Engagement Scholars Program (CESP) is an initiative offered by CCEL and the Office of the President in partnership with community organizations in Michigan, Together, scholars design and implement a cohort project, participate in professional development workshops, take part in reflective learning, and serve in community with local nonprofits.

Learn more about the Community Engagement Scholars Program.

Madge Bolek is a second year Masters of Social Work student from Traverse City, Michigan. She graduated from MSU in the summer of 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and two minors in Human Behavior and Social Services and Youth and Society. In her masters program, she is pursuing a concentration in child welfare as a Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellow. As a second year graduate coordinator for CESP, Madge hopes to continue to help the scholars learn about community engagement and community learning.

Kennedy Allen is a fourth-year dual degree student in Social Work and Arts and Humanities on the Community Engagement pathway, with minors in African American and African Studies and Human Behavior and Social Services. Kennedy is a Career Peer Lead at MSU Career Services, works as an Undergraduate Research Assistant Mentor, and is a member of RCAH Circle. 

Ellie Anderson is a second-year Honors College student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a minor in Math. She is member of the Honors College Service Club and Nursing Student Association. She also volunteers with McLaren Greater Lansing and the Edgewood Village Community Center, and was a participant of and mentor for the HC Impact program.

Roberto Garcia is a fourth-year student majoring in English, with a concentration in Creative Writing, and Sociology. He serves as co-organizer for the Bridge Scholars Program. He is currently engaged in a research project in which he ethnographically studies the extent to which non-native English speakers experience housing precarity due to their English proficiency. 

Sumaiya Imad is an undergraduate Economics student and Michigan State University’s 2026-2027 Newman Civic Fellow. She is a member of the Social Science Scholars Program and the Women’s Leadership Institute, where she further develops her leadership and research interests. 

Alana Mapp is a first-generation fourth-year Honors College student double majoring in Sociology and Arts and Humanities with a pathway in Community Engagement and a minor in African American and African Studies. Alana is also a member of the National Sociology Honor Society and undergraduate research assistant in the Sister Circle Mentoring Program.

Jazmyn Martinez is a third-year Social Work student with a minor in Human Behavior and Social Services. She is actively involved in the Student Organization of Latinx Social Workers (SOLASW), where she serves as E-Board Secretary, as well as Culturas de las Razas Unidas (CRU) and International Engagement Volunteers (IEV). 

Steven Pryszcz is a third-year Elementary Education student. He is involved with local soccer club Jaguars FC and Lansing Community Basketball. He is also a founding father of the Greek organization Delta Chi, serving as the Growth and Development chair.

Deanna Retland and is a Public Policy student on a pre-med track. She is actively involved in Aspiring Black Women Doctors, the Minority Association for Pre-Medical Students (MAPS), and the Michigan Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP). 

Mia Thurman is a third-year International Relations and Social Relations and Policy student through James Madison College. She is a part of JMC Student Senate serving as the Community Service Network chair and a member of Mock Trial and Delta Phi Epsilon, a professional foreign service sorority. 

Jessica Watley is a fourth-year student majoring in Arts and Humanities on the Community Engagement pathway with a minor in Writing. Jessica holds several roles within her college, notably serving as the Senior Communications and Digital Media intern for RCAH.

 

Alternative Spartan Breaks Executive Board

Alternative Spartan Breaks (ASB) provides weekend and weeklong opportunities for teams of undergraduate students to immerse themselves in a community and work alongside an agency working toward social change. Each alternative break focuses on addressing different UN Goals, while also educating participants about the communities they serve. Students gain personal growth, develop leadership skills, and build connections with others. Meet our ASB executive board members below, and learn more about ASB.

Alex Gustafson, Vice President of Finance, third-year Electrical Engineering student with a minor in Energy

Nitish Natesan, Treasurer, fourth-year Neuroscience student

Avanthi Thummapudi, Vice President of Internal Communications, second-year Human Biology student with a minor in Business

Slavik Yuguy, Secretary, fourth-year Biochemistry student

Maria Pereira, Vice President of Weekend Education, fourth-year Physiology student

Neha Jampana, Vice President of Weeklong Education, third-year Public Policy student

Sophia Lambros, Vice President of Weekend Service, fourth-year Physiology student with a minor in Health Promotion

Alayna Keller, Vice President of Weeklong Service, third-year Physiology student

Bleona Prenaj, Co-Director of External Communications, fourth-year Human Biology student

Elliana Ramer, Co-Director of External Communications, second-year human Biosystems Engineering student

Josephine Morley, External Communications Chair, third-year Biosystems Engineering student

 

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Executive Board

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is a volunteer organization that provides income tax return assistance and preparation at no cost to taxpayers. VITA is sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service and is organized by professionals and students across the United States. At Michigan State University, our dedicated student volunteers help low-income individuals and families in the Greater Lansing area complete federal, state, local, and/or foreign tax forms. We provide valuable career-related experience as well as outstanding volunteer experience that provides relief to the Greater Lansing community. Learn more about VITA.

Calvin Zheng, President, fourth-year Supply Chain Management student with a minor in economics

Ella McNames, Vice President, second-year Accounting student

Erica Yang, Treasurer, fourth-year Accounting student with minors in Data Science and Information Technology

Brayden Shimon, Secretary, third-year Accounting student

Haider Najar, PR/Social Media Director, third-year Accounting student

Austin Matera, Recruiter/Volunteer Relations, third-year Accounting student

Andrea Filip, Client Relations, third-year Finance student with a minor in Wealth Management

Emma Grigg, Education Chair, Masters of Science in Accounting student

 

Pre-Health Volunteer Cohort Leaders

Greater Lansing is very fortunate to have two hospitals, McLaren Greater Lansing and University of Michigan Health - Sparrow, that welcome college students to serve alongside their healthcare professionals. Both partners offer a variety of volunteer opportunities within their organization, along with many days and times in which students can serve. We thank this year’s pre-health student volunteer cohort leaders for organizing their peers in service! Learn more about pre-health volunteering.

Angelo Asker, McLaren Greater Lansing Unit Leader

Nitish Natesan, McLaren Greater Lansing Unit Leader

Bengi Nketsiah, McLaren Greater Lansing Unit Leader

Ahmed Ahmed-Omer, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Nina Arnett, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Lisa Cela, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Angelica Costa, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Sophia Dragan, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Nyle Eggert, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Zachary Gillespie, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Kylee Henney, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Kaylah Higbee, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Lakshmi Jampana, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Kasturi Kurwalkar, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Megan Lancaster, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Lan Le, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Varshini Mavuluri, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Andrea Moldovan, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Dinh Nguyen, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Sanvi Patel, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Joshua Perez, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Tejus Prabhu, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Kailash Raghavendra, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Roshini Raja, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Ariana Riegle, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Noah Rioux, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Celine Samaan, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Peter Sanin, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Julia Sorotchuk, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

John Szuma, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Grace Titus, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Jada Weaver, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator

Maren Williams, UM Health - Sparrow Unit Coordinator