About Engage @ EMU
Engage@EMU is the University’s outward facing office charged with cultivating relationships and initiating and/or coordinating community and business partnerships and programs.
Engage is organized in three areas: Business, Academic and Community.
Specifically, Engage houses Professional Programs and Training, Academic Service-Learning, Camps, the EMU Testing Center and Eastern Scholars alongside large scale Community Programs such as the Legal Resource Center, EMU Bright Futures, The Family Empowerment Program and SEMIS.
The department recently presented updates to the EMU Board of Regents.
Engage Staff
Jessica ‘Decky’ Alexander, Professor and Director, Academic Engagement Programs
Jessica ‘Decky’ Alexander is a professor of applied drama/theatre and the Director of Engage@EMU, an office whose mission is to cultivate community and university collaboration. Both as a performer and as a faculty member, Decky has used the mediums of theatre and performance to foster voice with underserved and under-heard individuals and communities.
Decky’s current creative and scholarly endeavors include the use of theatre for faculty development, community performance, and community-based learning. Through Engage@EMU, Decky oversees The Family Empowerment Program, a supportive services program in affordable housing, and the Prevention Theatre Collective, a high school theatre program, which uses theatre as a preventive tool in the areas of substance use and abuse.
Recent and current projects include: Vital: A Fugue on Aging, An Ethnographic Performance with Limelight LLC., and In the Neighborhood, an art creating and community conversation in collaboration with the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation.
Recent publications include: Disrupting a Disruption or Live Everything, book chapter in Community Engagement 2.0?: Dialogs on the Future of the Civic in the Disrupted University, Palgrave MacMillian: NY 2014 and Addressing the Student Debt Crisis: Steps Universities Can Take, Academic Leader: 2019.
Presentations
“I am the only chosen person in this room!” Declarations and Detours of a life lived in Non-Jewish Spaces” at Limmud Michigan -March 22, 2020
Prof. Jessica "Decky" Alexander: "Stray Cats, Strangers, and Other Neighbors" - March 24, 2020, Honors College, EMU
Awards and Recognitions
- 2019 Student Advocacy Center Community Advocate Award;
- 2018 State of Michigan Specials Tribute -Ypsilanti Community Schools, State Representative Ronnie Peterson
- 2018 Dynamic Woman of Washtenaw County, Ypsilanti Community Schools
- 2017 United Way of Washtenaw County Poppenger Award
- 2007 ACLU Washtenaw County- Civil Liberties Champion Award
- 2005 Institutional Values Award for Diversity, Multicultural and Human Dignity
- 2002 Division of Enrollment Services Faculty Award
- Gold Medallion Outstanding Faculty Award, 1998.
Local Civic Engagement
- Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor-Board Member, Chair of JCRC
- Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation-Cultural and Economic Development Committee
- Ann Arbor YMCA-Board Member
- Awesome Foundation-Trustee
- A2Y Chamber-Policy Board
Education
- Master's, Fine Arts, Eastern Michigan University
- Bachelor's, Lawrence University
Symone Davis, Community Collaborative Graduate Assistant
As the Community Collaborative Graduate Assistant, Symone Davis helps to oversee the Community Work-Study Program for EMU which encourages students to use their federal work-study awards to assist local organizations in their community improvement efforts.
Education
- Master's, Clinical Mental Health Counseling (in progress), Eastern Michigan University
- Bachelor's, Psychology, Eastern Michigan University
Denise Jimenez, Communications and Operations Coordinator
Denise manages daily communications among the entire suite as well as large-scale events and partnerships. She works to create an inviting, effective and collaborative work environment for those who are within the university and external in the community.
She is happy to support new programs and initiatives that involves both campus and community. Denise strives to build strong connections whether it is through events, social media, or convenings.
Education
- Bachelor's, Business Administration, Marketing, Eastern Michigan University
Olivia Allen, Graduate Assistant, Academic-Service Learning
Olivia assists with the Academic-Service Learning (ASL) program and manages the Minors on Campus procedures at EMU. ASL strives to help faculty develop meaningful connections between their coursework and the community. Minors on Campus seeks to ensure safety for minors as they engage in EMU programming.
Education
- Master's, Fine Arts, Applied Drama & Theatre for the Young (in progress), Eastern Michigan University
- Bachelor's, Theatre Performance and Education, Oklahoma City University
Lamarr Mitchell, Graduate Assistant, Engage & University Special Projects
Lamarr serves as a project champion for some of EMU's key speical University events and/or University/Community programs and other duties. He's strives to reinforce the University's designation and dedication as a Carnegie Community Engaged Instituion.
Education
- Master's, Business Administration (in progress), Eastern Michigan University
- Bachelor's, Business Adminstration, Marketing, Eastern Michigan University
Caroline Sanders, Associate Director, Community Relations and Engagement
Caroline Sanders is the interim Associate Director of Community Relations and Engagement for EMU. Her primary role is to represent EMU in Southeast Michigan with emphasis in the Ypsilanti-Ann Arbor-Detroit communities. Her collaborative skills and university and community relationships allow her to serve as a two-way portal that benefits the community and university.
Boards
- Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Chamber
- Ypsilanti Rotary Club
- Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars-representative for EMU
Education
- Ph.D. Candidate, Research Emphasis on Student with Children in Higher Education
- Master's, Political Science and Legal Administration/Technology
- Bachelor's, Political Science and Legal Administration/Technology
Kaitlyn Savage, Graduate Assistant, The Collaborative Child Development Center Liasion
As the Collaborative Child Development Center Liaison, Kaitlyn aids the Ypsilanti YMCA Child Development Center, also known as the Collaborative with yearly events and monthly parent advisory meetings.
Education
- Master’s, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Eastern Michigan University (in progress)
- Bachelor's, Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Maine Orono
Luke Yates, Community Program Development Manager
Luke Yates is the Community Program Development Manager for Engage@EMU and currently oversees the EMU Testing & Certification Center, Washtenaw County/EMU Legal Resource Center and Eagle Engage Corps debt forgiveness program. Beyond directing these programs, Luke provides administrative support for all Engage projects and represents Engage on various community partnerships. Luke has been with Engage since 2016.
Boards
- Washtenaw County/EMU Legal Resource Center
- EMU Paralegal Studies Program Advisory Board
- Michigan Works Career and Educational Advisory Council
- Michigan College Access Network Higher Education Advisory Board
Education
- Master's, Public Administration, Eastern Michigan University
- Bachelor’s, Political Science, Beloit College
A. Begüm Aslan, Project Management and Grant Support
As project management and grant support consultant, Begüm’s responsibilities include the management of grants, correspondence with Engage@EMU project coordinators and stakeholders regarding project and hire needs, and communicating ongoing needs and tasks with other departments throughout university.
Begüm’s prior experiences span educational psychology, instructional technology, curriculum design, qualitative and quantitative research, and undergraduate/graduate teaching. She has earned her PhD in Learning Design and Technology from Wayne State University in 2020 and her dissertation provides a statistical analysis of faculty’s learning management system acceptance and use across different types of universities and colleges, which provides implications for successful implementation of learning management systems to support teaching and learning.
Education
- Doctorate, Learning Design and Technology, Wayne State University.
- Master’s, Educational Psychology, Eastern Michigan University.
- Master’s, Computer and Instructional Technology Teacher Education, Bilkent University, Turkey.
- Bachelor’s, Computer and Instructional Technology Teacher Education, Bilkent University, Turkey.
Program Directors
Wayne Doyle, Director, Veteran Student Support Services
Wayne and his team work very closely as part of EMU’s Veteran Resource Center to provide academic and career support for student veterans. The key areas of focus are to assist student veterans in career transition, increase graduation rates, and connect student veterans with the campus and community. Previously, Wayne spent 11 years active Army (Field Artillery) and 12 years US Army Reserve (Civil Affairs), Kosovo, Iraq, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret).
Boards
- TRiO Student Support Services Advisory Board
- TRiO McNair Scholars Advisory Board
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
Education
- Master's, Land Warfare, American Military University
- Bachelor's, Civil Engineering, West Point
Mark Hammond, Director, The Family Empowerment Program
Marquan Jackson joined The Family Empowerment program at its inception in 2012. His responsibilities include developing and refining strategies to sustain resident service coordination for residents of Ypsilanti Housing Commission communities. Marquan has been successful in securing both private and public funding to support the needs of the community. Marquan also serves as the homeless liaison for Ypsilanti Community Schools, where he coordinates services for students experiencing homelessness. Before joining FEP, Marquan gained clinical and macro practice experience in juvenile justice, community mental health, schools and foster care. Currently, Marquan has served six years as an executive board member for the United Way of Washtenaw County and most recently joined the board of IHN Alpha House (Family Shelter).
Education
- Master's, Social Work, University of Michigan
- Bachelor's, Political Science and Communication Studies, University of Michigan
Dr. Ethan Lowenstein, Director, Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition
Dr. Ethan Lowenstein is a professor of curriculum and instruction at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) and the Director of the Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition, a professional development network of schools, community partners, K-12 teachers, and university educators working together to address serious ecological and social problems in Southeast Michigan. The SEMIS Coalition is a hub of the Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative, the only statewide effort in the country focused on place-based education. He has two decades of experience in school systems reform, educational leadership development, and teacher professional development in moral, civic, and place-based education.
Currently principal investigator or co-principal investigator on the following grant projects:
- Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-Wet) Program (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
- Climate Resilience from the Youth Up (NOAA Environmental Literacy Program)
- Building Transformational Partnerships to Support Place-Based Education (Bay and Paul Family Foundation)
- Fostering Social-Emotional Learning Through Place-Based Education (NoVo Foundation)
Boards
- Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative-Vice President
- State of Michigan, Region#2 MiSTEM Partners Group
Education
- Ph.D., International Education, New York University
- Master's, Social Studies Education, New York University
- Bachelor's, Sociology/Anthropology, Carleton College
Suzie Staley, Director, EMU Bright Futures
Anthony Webster, TRiO Student Supports Services
Anthony is a proud native of Greenville, Mississippi. As an undergraduate student at Jackson State University, he recognized his passion for higher education and student success after being hired as a work-study student in the Dean of Students Office. As a McNair Scholar, he learned early in his college career how important it is to connect with resources, build community, and become involved. His commitment to supporting first-generation, low-income, and students with disabilities as they navigate their educational journey stems from his own experience of being labeled as "at-risk ." Anthony has called Michigan home for over a decade and is a graduate of the Eastern Michigan University Higher Education Student Affairs program. In addition, he is a student in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Ph.D. program at Wayne State University. His research will explore how to improve access and employment opportunities for minority students through the lens of the Critical Race Theory.
Elizabeth Stoner, Director, Professional Programs and Training
Elizabeth Stoner brings over twenty-five years of experience as a strategic thinker, creative problem solver and project and program leader in a variety of assignments connected by a common thread – helping people and organizations to grow, change and thrive. As Director of Business Engagement and Non-Credit Initiatives, she helps individuals gain the skills, knowledge and credentials they need to excel and advance in their workplaces and careers — and works with organizations to help them improve performance, reach business goals and comply with regulatory requirements.
Education
- Master's, Strategic Communication and Leadership (MASCL), Seton Hall University
- Bachelor's, English Language and Literature, Eastern Michigan University
Rod Wallace, Director, EMU Upward Bound
Rod and his team engineer college readiness and academic excellence in high school students through a federally-funded program, EMU Upward Bound. Rod also actively seeks and executes collaborative opportunities between the university and the community through Engage @ EMU.
Boards and Activities
- Director of Educational Programming, Grove Studios
- Founder, The Plugin
- PROMISE Initiative, Ypsilanti Community Middle School-Advisory Board
- TRIO Student Support Services and McNair Scholars-Advisory Board
- Washtenaw County My Brother’s Keeper-Steering Committee
- Formula 734-Executive Producer
- Washtenaw County Handle With Care Initiative-Committee
- Diversity Campus Climate Assessment-Committee
- The Phoenix-Advisor
- Aspiring Black Educators-Advisor
Education
- M.Ed, Marygrove College
- Bachelor's, History, Eastern Michigan University