at the National Service-Learning Conference®
As a fifteen-year-old, Heman Bekele was named TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year for his groundbreaking skin cancer prevention and treatment work. Born in Ethiopia, he immigrated to the US as a four-year-old with his family. Heman’s memories of people working under the glaring sun, plus the dramatic differences in skin cancer survival rates, were his driving forces. He developed a skin cancer-treating soap that encourages dendritic cells to boost their immune responses, thereby protecting the skin as an immunotherapeutic, a promising approach to early-stage cancer detection and treatment. As a previous winner of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, Heman is working with scientists to conduct clinical trials on mice and is on his way to securing a patent.
Christian Hovard is a senior at The Blake School in Minneapolis. Since 9th grade, he has volunteered at Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP), a local food shelf in Minnesota. Curious about funding and additional ways to get involved, he met with the CEO and started Chef Christian’s Catering 4 Charity to supplement VEAP’s funding, which garners donations for VEAP. He is using his passion for cooking to benefit the MN community.
Peter Levine is an Associate Dean and Professor of Citizenship & Public Affairs in Tufts University’s Jonathan Tisch College of Civic Life. He is a political philosopher and political scientist who specializes on civic life and has helped to develop Civic Studies as an international intellectual movement.
Dr. Matthew C. MacWilliams is the Global Public Opinion Lead of the Foundation International Communications Hub (Comms Hub), a foundation based in Spain that is dedicated to the furtherance of civil society and democracy globally. Dr. MacWilliams is also, a Non-Resident Fellow at the German Marshall Fund, Senior External Adviser to European Movement International in Brussels, and remains President of MacWilliams Sanders Communications. Dr. MacWilliams earned his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Massachusetts where he was a Visiting Research Associate and lectured on democracy and participation in the international Civic Initiative program.
Amy Meuers is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Leadership Council, the leading service-learning organization in the country for more than 40 years. Amy has spent 20 years with NYLC leading both national and international service-learning initiatives that expand the capacity of educators to utilize service-learning as an instructional strategy with students of all age-levels. Under her leadership, NYLC launched Youth as Solutions, a national service-learning program that supports teams of youth across the country in addressing issues impacting their communities.
Enrique has 15 years of experience as a consultant to the Ministry of Education of Argentina, specializing in promoting service-learning projects. He supported the service-learning institutionalization processes as an external consultant at several Latin American Universities. Since the creation of CLAYSS, he has been in charge of the International Relations of the organization, and the coordination of training activities and support for HE.
Andrew has been involved with Thirst Project, the world’s largest youth water organization, since 2014, serving as a student leader, a public speaker, and now their Director of School Programs. Andrew knows that young people are the most powerful mechanism for change in our world, and through Thirst Project, Andrew gives students all over the world the knowledge, motivation, and tools they need to end the global water crisis once and for all!
Sarah is a faculty member at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the Director of the first-year Great Problems Seminar program. She was the founding director of Lehigh University’s Center for Community Engagement and faculty member in Sociology and Anthropology. She co-chairs the Imagining America Assessing Practices of Public Scholarship (APPS) collective, which focuses on democratically-engaged assessment practices to empower and transform systems, communities, and individuals. She is also the co-director of the Community-Based Global Learning Collaborative (The Collaborative), a membership organization dedicated to advancing community-based global learning and research for more just, inclusive, and sustainable communities.
Allie Acevedo is the Volunteer Recruitment Manager for Appalachia Service Project (ASP). She began volunteering with ASP at 14 and is excited to share with you the impact that ASP’s programing can have on youth. ASP provides one of the most rewarding structured youth service opportunities in the nation — bringing thousands of volunteers from around the country to provide critical home repairs for hundreds of low-income families each year.
As an Education Specialist at the Chattahoochee-Flint RESA in Georgia, JoAnna addresses non-academic barriers to student success and helps build capacity for educators through specialized professional development. JoAnna demonstrates excellence in classroom teaching and research that focuses on languages, literacy, and service-learning. A driving force of her work is the belief in student voice to celebrate local history and servant leadership.
A mama, partner, friend, sister and daughter – Shei is an international educator with extensive experience in inquiry and conceptual-based learning, skilled in teaching students across grades 1 to 12. Shei’s deep commitment lies in leading service, solutionary approach, global citizenship, and community engagement initiatives, enhancing collaborations with youth, educators, and organizations globally. Shei is pursuing a Master’s degree focusing on educational neuroscience, children and youth development, and international mindedness through the University of the People in partnership with the International Baccalaureate Organization.
Michael is the Director of Strategic Partnership and Impact at the Center for Civic Education. He attended Hope College and became a Social Studies teacher, teaching government, AP Government, English, and We the People in Michigan and Nashville. Michael earned a graduate degree from Harvard, worked in educational ethics, and was previously an Education Policy Consultant at the Wisconsin DPI. He lives in Madison with his wife and newborn son.
Dr. Kristin Bourdage is a former middle grades teacher, Associate Professor of language and literacy, Department Chair of Education, a literacy instructional coach, and a curriculum and instruction administrator. She currently serves as the Assistant Director of Professional Learning for at Partnerships for Authentic Learning and Leadership, a non-profit organization that supports K-12 schools with designing and implementing service-learning.
Lauren is a school counselor at Cambridge Elementary in San Antonio, TX, a 2019 and 2024 National School of Character. She is currently in her 19th year as a school counselor and serves as the Texas State Coordinator and Schools of Character evaluator with Character.org. She has led numerous trainings on service learning, building positive school culture and climate, daily morning meetings, and integrating character into classroom curriculum.
Teresa teaches in the Human Services Program at East Tennessee State University. She formerly directed the Service-Learning and America Reads programs. She has taught in various disciplines, including Human Services, Sociology, Women’s Studies, Cross Disciplinary, and Service-Learning. Her focus is on community-engaged learning. She has also worked in various capacities in Student Life and the nonprofit sector and is an avid volunteer.
Blair Brown is an arts educator and nonprofit leader dedicated to expanding access to dance and creative learning for youth worldwide. As Executive Director of Movement Exchange, she leads international dance service-learning exchanges in the U.S. and Panama, promoting cultural understanding and community building. Blair views dance as a universal language that connects people across differences, using movement as a tool to bridge divides.
Julie Budkowski is an educator and nonprofit leader dedicated to fostering community engagement and service learning. As Managing Director at the National Museum and Center for Service, she promotes programs that encourage schools and communities to honor civic involvement and increase participation in service. With a background in teaching and curriculum development, Julie incorporates her experiences into program development at the museum.
Jill Carey is an award-winning entrepreneur who started her first business in high school to finance her college education. She worked at Groupon during its meteoric rise, and then founded Youth Alliance Yoga, a social-emotional enrichment program for students in Chicago. After selling YAY in 2023, she joined Civic Bridgers to launch and scale programming that trains young leaders to combat polarization and champion pluralism.
Director of Counseling of Taipei Municipal Minzu Experimental Junior High School, Taiwan
Ph.D. of Educational Administration and Evaluation of University of Taipei, Taiwan (2017-2023)
I am Executive Director of non-profit organization Stamp out Stigma for Mental Health serving youth across Canada. Focusing on mental health initiatives to provide poverty relief, food security, access to educational resources and training, programs focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion and mental health among all population regardless of race, age, or religion. Youth leaders are passionate about making a positive difference in the world.
Silas Cole is the Director of Programs at the Volunteer Center South Bay/Harbor/Long Beach, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering the community to practice empathy, spread kindness, and volunteer where care is needed most. With over 12 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Silas specializes in program development and management. He currently leads initiatives focused on food insecurity, educational inequity, and teen mental health.
My service project Harvest Moon, which can be modeled in your community, is in honor of my Dad who passed away from colon cancer. I design paintings inspired by him and donate 100% of the profits to colon cancer efforts at the Roper St Francis Hospital in the Charleston, SC community. Spreading colon cancer awareness, funding medical advancements, and shining God’s light onto others through art is all that I am about- Painting for a Purpose!
Cayden Combs is a senior at Study Alternative High School in Springfield, MO. He has been involved in Study’s service-learning program for 2 years. Cayden help create and facilitate the on-site service-learning project at the National Service-Learning Conference last year. Graduating this spring, Cayden has started his college career by dual enrolling at Ozarks Technical College.
Katy Dolan is the Chair of NYLC’s Board of Directors, her latest chapter in 10+ years of NYLC involvement beginning in 2014 on the Youth Advisory Council as a young nonprofit leader. Outside of her volunteer service to NYLC, Katy is the COO of Impactive, a leading progressive political technology startup. She holds an AB cum laude in Sociology from Harvard University, and lives in Seattle, WA.
Sophia Dutton is a senior at California State University, Chico, majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders. As a North State Student Ambassador, she represents rural Plumas County — focusing on outreach, research, and advocacy to bridge the gap between rural communities and higher education. Sophia is committed to increasing access to education and resources for underserved populations.
Brynna Garcia is a third-year student at California State University Chico, majoring in Communication Studies. As a North State Student Ambassador, she engages in research, event planning, and outreach to support rural students. This program allows her to get involved within her community. She is passionate about advocacy and storytelling, working to break barriers within higher education and redefine the umbrella term we know as “rurality.”
At Cortico, Sarah is dedicated to amplifying student voices to foster greater community understanding. Sarah works closely with Cortico’s newly formed Student Leadership Circle, helping empower student leaders to shape student-led dialogue, collaboratively solve problems, and cultivate new ideas. Her previous experience includes work in the government and nonprofit sectors where she focused on her commitment to health equity and food security.
Debra Giambo, Ph.D., is a Professor of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at Florida Gulf Coast University in the College of Education. Research interests include multicultural study-away and service-learning experiences, engaging undergraduate students in research, effective instructional practices for English learners (ELs), culturally responsive teacher preparation, literacy and ELs, advocacy, and field experience-based research.
Greetings! My name is Chantel Kidd Gillus. My pronouns are she/her/hers, and I am from Weldon, North Carolina. I currently have an internship as the Oral Health Equity Intern under A Better Chance, A Better Community (ABC2). ABC2 is a community involvement organization that is both youth-led and youth-focused, and strives to invite systematic change.
Mollie Goldblum is the Teen Librarian at Providence Public Library. She has worked with youth of all ages in public libraries, schools, and out of school time programs for the last 9 years. Mollie is passionate about youth development, information and media literacy, and the power of stories.
Kathy (she/her) is an experienced educator and curriculum specialist with over 20 years in the field, currently serving as the K-12 Service Learning and Leadership Coordinator at San Domenico School. Passionate about empowering students and educators, Kathy brings innovative approaches to curriculum design, leadership training, and social impact education that builds a framework for a service centered school community culture.
Megan Hall is the Program Director for the Teens Lifting Teens Grant at Utah State University, where she oversees recruiting, budgeting, data collection & analysis, as well as writing curriculum and providing training and resources to the youth advisors on how to provide meaningful near-peer mentoring experiences and service learning for their youth. Last year they had 650 youth in their program and served over 7,000 youth state-wide.
Alexus Hansen graduated from the University of Nebraska Lincoln in 2022 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Science and minors in Plant Biology and Environmental Science. She works with Beyond School Bells as their Environmental Education and Hydroponic Specialist. Alexus assists with BSB’s Environmental Conservation Action Program, working to support and guide students through environmental and conservation related service-based learning.
Eileen is the director of the CSO student STEM ambassadors program with over 2,000 CSOs in 15 states and 3 countries. Eileen received a Bachelor of Arts from St. Olaf College and a Masters of Science from New York University. Eileen has always loved engaging with youth in informal education. Managing the CSO program is a culmination of her passion for youth empowerment and her enthusiasm for global engagement.
Khristopher Hill is a dynamic leader whose work spans business, government, and community advocacy. A Michigan State University graduate in Comparative Culture and Politics, he began as a community organizer, earning the Princeton Prize in Race Relations. As COO of Austin Logistics, Director of the Austin Foundation, and a two-time appointee to the Michigan Community Service Commission, Hill empowers youth and drives impactful change.
Naya Houchen (she/her) is a dynamic and compassionate leader driven by a deep passion for civic engagement and social justice. As the Call For Kindness Program Coordinator at Riley’s Way, Naya supports and mentors young changemakers across the nation, inspiring them to create positive impact and meaningful change through kindness, empathy, and action. Her dedication to social equity fuels her work to cultivate a future rooted in kind leadership.
Hello, my name is Vernita. As an autodidact and emotional polymath, I crafted SOL3U with 30 years of experience working with diverse groups. Through participating in the Service-Learning Leadership Program and Breath4Change, I earned my Yoga and SEL Facilitation certification. In my journey to regain balance in my life, SOL3U is a concept that views emotions as true energy and emphasizes the importance of generating your own light.
Dr. Jefferson has extensive experience in public education and academia. She has been active in program development in literacy and math at all levels of public education. She has designed services for students across the span of special education. She teaches at undergraduate and graduate levels. Her work on innovative and immersive projects include the High Riding Art and Equestrian Camp, Camp Adventure (Research), and Team2 Literacy Program.
Mary is a senior at Springboro High School in Ohio. Since 9th grade, she has been a Green Ambassador for her school’s environmental club, and at the age of 16, became the youngest Ohio Certified Naturalist. She is also an active member of the Conservation Teen Advisory Council where she travels around Ohio for different educational and outreach opportunities. In her free time, Mary is an avid beekeeper and writer.
Adrian McConnell is the founding Executive Director of Youth Revive, Inc., where he leads the Ignite Me Action Civics Curriculum to empower marginalized youth. Through Ignite Me, he equips young people with civic knowledge, leadership skills, and a passion for community impact. With nearly two decades of experience in youth engagement, Adrian is committed to closing the civic empowerment gap and fostering the next generation of changemakers.
In her four decades as an educator, Leria McKenzie has been privileged to work full time with K-12 students, as well as part-time with undergraduates. Her duties started at a private elementary school, which lasted for the next 15 years, followed by a transition to the high school level. Currently, Leria works full time at a private high school in the United Arab Emirates. She also serves as part-time lecturer at a university.
Ashley McPherson is the Director of Programs at DoSomething, where she oversees a team of mission-led professionals who ensure youth members’ civic curiosities are met with education and engagement opportunities. She is a seasoned non-profit leader who has dedicated her career to studying and providing solutions that assist historically overlooked populations in successfully entering and persisting in the workforce and society at-large.
Waylon Miller is a senior at California State University, Chico, majoring in Nutrition and Food Science: Dietetics. As a North State Student Ambassador, he represents Lassen County and is committed to amplifying rural voices in campus communities, facilitating the transition of rural students to the collegiate environment and is conducting research on queer belongingness in rural spaces highlighting the intersectionality of being rural and queer.
Michael Minks has 20 years of experience in the education, youth development, national service, and public policy fields, including 18 years at Youth Service America. As YSA’s VP of Partnerships, he manages strategic planning & evaluation, communications & technology, and finance & HR for the organization. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of YSA’s weekly Youth Service Briefing. He is a Georgetown University and Saint John’s University alum.
Clark Moreland is the Director of the Heimmermann Center for Engaged Teaching at The University of Texas Permian Basin, where he serves on the Service Learning Advisory Committee. Clark has received several honors for his work as an educator, including being inducted into the UT System Academy of Distinguished Teachers. His chapter about service learning in developmental education will be published in Little Orange Book 3 (UT Press, 2026).
My name is Emma Nieto and I am a recent graduate of the University of Texas. I am an evaluator for the Future Problem Solving Community Projects Program, where I help guide and assess creative and critical thinking in young problem-solvers around the world. In addition, I work as the Marketing and Communication Coordinator for the Austin Marathon, combining my passion for community engagement with strategic communication.
My name is Vishal Pannela and I’m 14 years old in the 8th grade. I live in Roanoke Rapids and I attend Chaloner Middle School. I like helping people and giving myself challenges and want to become a cardiologist. I play tennis, soccer, and chess. I live with my mom, dad, and little sister.
Maddie Park is a sophomore at Castilleja School. She is passionate about finding solutions to target the youth mental health epidemic. Through her work on the Palo Alto Youth Council, AAPI Youth Rising, and Palo Alto Mayor’s Youth Wellbeing & Mental Health Task Force, she has organized multiple city-wide events and crafted policies to support teens. Her work has been featured in the Palo Alto Online and Silicon Zombies podcast.
Aubrey is a writer and oral historian who is passionate about using creative practices to build equitable communities. As the High School Programs Manager at YCS, she hopes to use her background in community engagement and public history to cultivate strong ties between YCS staff, students, and community partners. She is originally from San Antonio, Texas but has also lived in Detroit and Pittsburgh before moving to the Bay Area.
The Youth Agricultural Cooperative (YAC) is an innovative youth-led program in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We engage young people aged 11-17 through service based experiences, leadership and shared governance, all grounded in agriculture and the environment. There are three organizational tenets to the YAC program: power equity for all members, a monetary award for time spent in the program, and service based learning.
Poppy Potter is a professional Energy Leadership Coach with over 30 years of experience empowering youth, educators, and youth development professionals. Poppy uses her expertise to support youth development practitioners’ wellness and professional growth through transformative coaching as the founder of Spark Potential, a coaching organization.
Chick-fil-A Leader Academy is a dynamic high school leadership program focused on nurturing students into servant leaders who create meaningful impact through action. Combining interactive curriculum with service projects, students learn essential leadership values and apply them in real-world settings. Since its start in 2013, the program has grown to 1,200 schools nationwide, empowering young leaders to make a difference in their communities.
Linda V. Rivera is the Deputy Director, for the NJ Governor’s Office of Volunteerism, responsible for program planning, training, fiscal administration and marketing. Linda has over 26 years of experience in service-learning, youth service, volunteerism, grant writing. Linda is a member of the NJ Grant Writing Professionals, an advisory council member of the NYLC and a co-founder of B-Men–a mentoring program for at-risk youth.
As the Director of Learning and Leadership at NYLC, Julie Rogers Bascom has dedicated over 20 years to advancing service-learning as a powerful tool for problem-solving in communities. She specializes in providing professional development for state leaders, K-12 teachers, afterschool professionals, and community leaders, equipping them with the skills and strategies needed to implement effective service-learning programs.
Cheyenne is the Program Director at Riley’s Way, overseeing the Call For Kindness program that empowers young leaders (13-23) to launch social impact projects that inspire kindness and strengthen communities. With a background in community organizing and youth development, Cheyenne curates dynamic leadership development training and provides personalized support, amplifying young changemakers’ voices for a more compassionate and connected world.
Laura Roye has facilitated nonprofit support groups & educational professional development for over 17 years. She specialized in EdTech & STEM as a public educator for 13 years, presenting at conferences across the state to promote collaboration, digital leadership, global connections, growth mindset, & critical thinking. Laura brought her experience & expertise to TXPOST in 2022, joining the team as the Quality & Program Initiatives Manager.
Tawnya Russell started her career in youth development years ago, when she was an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow. Now, Tawnya is the Manager of Youth Services for the City of Brighton in Colorado creating and delivering initiatives around post-secondary readiness and leadership development. She is an active community organizer, an advocate for those in need, and a mentor for young people in both her personal and professional life.
Morgan Salinas is an AmeriCorps program coordinator at Youth Villages. Her program provides service learning projects for youth with emotional and behavioral challenges. Within her three-plus years with the program, Morgan has helped successfully implement a variety of service learning projects, and empowered AmeriCorps members to provide thoughtful service learning projects to a population of youth who are often not asked to serve.
Dr. Karen Schreder is the Regional Faculty Fellow at California State University and is faculty in the School of Education. As the Regional Faculty Fellow at Chico State, Karen works with Student Ambassadors from rural regions. The Student Ambassadors connect with their communities, conduct relevant research, and work to advocate for, and amplify the richness and diversity of our North State region.
Patricia Shafer is Executive Director of the international nonprofit organization NewGen Peacebuilders and the associated Youth & Peace in Action initiative. She also serves as Senior Fellow for Peace Education at Washington, DC-based Alliance for Peacebuilding and Global Ambassador with the Institute for Economics & Peace. In these roles, Patricia’s focus is on leadership for the design and delivery of peace education.
Margie Smagacz is the Project Based Learning Manager at Chicago Public School’s Department of Student Voice and Engagement. She has over 25 years of experience with Project Based Learning and is a Certified Project Based Learning Instructor through UPenn’s Graduate School of Education. Her work has has been pivitol in changing the high school Service Learning Graduation Requirement from volunteer hours to high quality Inquiry to Action projects.
Amiya Smith, a dedicated 18-year-old senior enrolled at Bertie Early College High School. My commitment to academic excellence is complemented by my active engagement in a diverse range of sports, including band, tennis, and basketball. I aspire to go to college for nursing and pursue the career path that is becoming a Travel Registered Pediatric Registered Nurse. Since late 2023, I have proudly served as an ambassador for School Meals For All NC.
Dr. Jessica Spence Moss is an interfaith activist and academic. She is the Assistant Director of Interfaith Programs at CSU Long Beach and the Executive Director of Interfaith Youth Alliance. Jessica is in awe of the beauty she finds in the diversity of religions and is inspired by the ethical traditions of the world. Her passion for interfaith is solidified as she gains an understanding of diverse perspectives and deepens her own.
My name is Dakota Staggs and I work with Beyond School Bells (BSB), Nebraska’s statewide afterschool network. I have degrees in Environmental Studies and Natural Resource Sciences from the University of Nebraska Lincoln (GBR). I lead BSB’s Environment and Conservation Action Program with the goal of connecting students to the environment around them and creating opportunities for youth leadership.
Corinne Taylor is a sophmore at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln majoring in Fisheries and Wildlife. For the last year and a half she has worked with the non-profit Beyond School Bells in their hydroponic freight farm. The farm is used as an after-school tool to help lead service learning projects, educate students on hydroponics, and more. With her degree, she hopes to continue engaging students and the environment through outdoor education.
James is a global changemaker whose work has focused on supporting a new generation of youth leaders from over 50 countries that are designing innovative solutions for some of the world’s most pressing problems. He is the Executive Director of Compass Institute, a Senior Fellow emeritus at the University of Minnesota, and the co-founder (with his wife) of NYLC’s Professional Development Department.
Driven by family, authentic action, nature, and reflection – Dom is an international school service learning educator with a passion for supporting those around him to develop their service leadership endeavours, especially young solutionary changemakers. He is inspired by the ways in which we can collaboratively draw on a constellation of knowledge, skills, and dispositions to regeneratively solve some of the world’s deepest systemic challenges. He has an academic background in exercise physiology and neurocognition, and holds a Master’s degree in Climate Change and Development through the University of London SOAS.
Director of General Affairs of Taipei Municipal Minzu Experimental Junior High School, Taiwan
Top 100 Elite Information Technology Application Talent Education Award, Taipei, Taiwan
I am Chester B. Williams. I am an Enfieldale in Enfield, NC. I am a 2002 graduate of North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University with a BS in Mathematics and BFA in Professional Theatre. I matriculated at Indiana University to earn my master’s in mathematical physics. I have worked in education for over 10 years in Indiana, Virginia and North Carolina respectively. I am the founder and CEO of ABC2.
As the Director of Admission + Community Outreach at GLOW Academy, Jen brings 20+ years of experience focusing on community relations, event planning, fundraising, project management, and volunteer engagement. A certified Red Cross Instructor, she has served on PTAs, volunteered with Girl Scouts and local nonprofits in NC. Her passion for service was sparked in childhood, assisting her Dad and older brothers, all dedicated volunteer firefighters.
Simran Wraich is a third-year Criminal Justice major at Chico State and a North State Student Ambassador. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between rural communities and higher education through research, outreach programs, and local connections. Simran is dedicated to supporting rural students, developing initiatives that reflect their communities, and helping high school students see the value of pursuing higher education.
Alli Zuel, CVA (she/her) is the Volunteer Engagement Manager at America’s Service Commissions (ASC). In her position at ASC, Alli works with service commissions that support AmeriCorps VISTA projects, Volunteer Generation Fund, and broader volunteer engagement strategies including youth service. Alli is a proud AmeriCorps alum. She achieved her Certification in Volunteer Administration (CVA) in October 2021.
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