Professional Team
Marie McSweeney Anderson
Assistant Director, York Road Initiative
410-617-1171
memcsweeney@loyola.edu
She, her, hers / They, them, theirs
Education: B.A. in Global Studies & Writing from Loyola University, pursing M.A. in Liberal Studies at Loyola University
Work Experience: Community organizing, volunteer coordination & management, community history research & storytelling, creating sustainable access to affordable produce, advocacy & education
Interests: Exploring Baltimore, building new relationships & connecting people, social justice & racial equity, visiting farmers' markets in every new city I go, live music & local bands, cooking with local produce, getting tattoos, & loving on my amazing family.
Maura Elwood
CCMA AmeriCorps VISTA, Community School Coordinator
mmelwood@loyola.edu
She, her, hers
Education: B.A., Speech/Language/Hearing Sciences, Loyola University Maryland
Work Experience: Professional communications, Volunteer recruitment, Public speaking
Interest: Watching movies, Roller skating and traveling.
Allen Brizee
Faculty Director for Community-Engaged Learning and Scholarship
410-617-2550
habrizee@loyola.edu
He, him, his
Education: A.S., Northern Virginia Community College; B.A. and M.A., English, Virginia Tech; Ph.D., English/Rhetoric and Composition, Purdue University
Work Experience: Associate Professor of Writing, rhetoric and composition, technical and professional writing, service-learning, engaged scholarship, digital Humanities, York Road Literacy and Employment Initiative, Loyola’s Commitment to Justice Committee
Interests: Civic engagement, teaching Sunday school, games and gaming, horology, the Orioles, percussion, spy novels, and hiking.
Pat Cassidy
Assistant Director, Immersion Programs
410-617-2112
pjcassidy@loyola.edu
He, him, his
Education: B.A., Social Work, Providence College; Spiritual and Pastoral Care – focus in spiritual direction, Loyola University Maryland
Work Experience: Jesuit Volunteer in Punta Gorda, Belize from 2008-2010 doing retreat ministry and socio-economic development work in Mayan villages; Program Coordinator for Jesuit Volunteer Corps’ domestic (Connecticut & Washington DC) and international (Belize & Tanzania) programs; Program Coordinator for Loyola's Messina first year living-learning community program; 200 Hour Certified Yoga Teacher; young adult spiritual and personal formation
Interests: Biking through Baltimore, trying new restaurants, creating, drinking coffee while writing, practicing yoga, and spending time with family and friends.
Andy Choi
Assistant Director, Student Supervision
410-617-2072
atchoi@loyola.edu
He, him, his
Education: B.A. in Spanish, minor in Sociology and M.A. in Teaching (Spanish), Loyola University Maryland
Work Experience: International immersion and volunteer coordination, communications and fundraising at CANTERA, Center for Communication and Popular Education in Managua, Nicaragua.
Interests: Exploring the journeys of life, spending quality and meaningful time with family and friends, practicing piano, trying new foods, playing tennis, drinking coffee and tea.
Gerald T. Ford
Associate Director, Administration
410-617-2638
gtford@loyola.edu
He, him, his
Education: B.A., Political Science and Public Policy, Clark Atlanta University; M.S. Public Management and Policy, Policy Analysis and Financial Management, Carnegie Mellon University; M.B.A., University of Baltimore
Work Experience: community economic development, budget analyst, policy analyst, program development and evaluation, grant management, nonprofit management training and consulting
Interests: Community empowerment, chess, cooking, spending time with my family, listening to music, spoken word poetry.
Elise Gower
Associate Director, Programs
410-617-5375
elgower@loyola.edu
She, her, hers
Education: M.S., Elementary Education, The University of Scranton; B.A Religious Students, Marywood University
Work Experience: Immersion coordination, justice advocacy & education, Ignatian spirituality, interfaith engagement, community relationship building, spiritual accompaniment, student leadership development, LGBTQ+ student advocacy and support
Interests: Traveling, exploring new communities, paddle boarding, crocheting, hiking, reading, racial equity and inclusion, learning through engagement, and time with friends and family.
Vidushani Jayalal
Assistant Director, Outreach & Advocacy
410-617-5352
vjayalal@loyola.edu
She, her, hers
Education: Bachelor’s in English Literature University of Maryland; Master’s in Social Work, University of Maryland
Work Experience: Program Associate at People for the American Way Foundation organizing young people; Program Coordinator for South Asian Americans Leading Together; Community Organizing Apprentice with the United Workers and the Baltimore Housing Roundtable; Neighborhood Fellow in Councilperson Zeke Cohen’s office conducting policy analysis and coordinating a taskforce on homelessness.
Interests: Cooking spicy foods, spending time with her family, and reading fiction from the Global South.
Malik Jordan
YRI 2030 Planning Consultant/Coordinator
410-617-2771
mjordan@loyola.edu
He, him, his
Education: Bachelor’s Degree English from Coppin State University and a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Georgetown University.
Work Experience: The Woda Group Inc., Baltimore, MD – Development Specialist; McCormack Baron Salazar/Urban Strategies Inc., St. Louis, MO – Assistant Director, Community Development; Annie E. Casey Foundation, Baltimore, MD – Community Change Consultant
Interests: gardening, playing basketball, swimming, reading, playing chess, watching sports.
Erin S. O'Keefe
Director
410-617-2699
eokeefe1@loyola.edu
She, her, hers
Education: B.A., Political Science, Writing and Asian studies, Loyola College; M.P.P., Urban Policy, UMBC
Work Experience: founding director for the York Road Initiative, community development, urban policy research, program development and evaluation, volunteer management, grant writing, fundraising
Interests: Reading novels and news, practicing yoga, learning daily, traveling, growing tomatoes, eating pizza, working through collective impact to make change.
Rosemary F. Riel
Assistant Director, Academic Engagement
410-617-2909
rfriel@loyola.edu
She, her, hers
Education: Master of Applied Anthropology, University of Maryland; Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, minor in Folklore, Ohio State University
Work Experience: 10+ years in higher education, social and health (in)equities, community/public/global health education, collaborative research, partnership building, program management and evaluation, professional development and training.
Interests: International travel, hiking, running, dog walking, home cooking, exploring new cuisines, practicing mindfulness
TBD
CCSJ Academic Engagement - Data Graduate Assistant
ccsjacademdata@loyola.edu
410-617-5522
TBD
CCSJ Immersion Programs Graduate Assistant
ccsjimmersonGA@loyola.edu
410-617-5632
Lauree Stewart
CCSJ Academic Engagement – Program Graduate Assistant
ccsjacademprogram@loyola.edu
410-617-5522
TBD
CCSJ Programs & Special Projects Graduate Assistant
ccsjspecialprojects@loyola.edu
410-617-5251
TBD
CCSJ Student Work-Study and Database Coordination
ccsjworkstudy@loyola.edu
410-617-5018
CCSJ Interns are liaisons between campus and specific community partners. Due to the pandemic, CCSJ had to reorganize to best suit the needs of the community. Therefore, our interns will focus on the following: 1) Publicity and marketing 2) Education and Youth Development 3) Resource Development and Food Access 4) Civic Engagement 5) Student Engagement. They organize training and orientation sessions, facilitate reflections on service experiences, and coordinate logistics, including transportation arrangements.
Ciara Kelly
Matt Dorsey
Rin Stockton-Jaurez
Jamilla Battle
Cara Kossuth
Kyra McDonnell
Nicole Rivas
Bailey Skeeter
Anna Hirsch
Frida Barrera Enciso
Dani Dompor
Bethany Richardson
Lily Norris
Paige Scudder
Dawn Elizabeth Rice
Sara Doyle
Nicole Rivas
Eníola Sokera
Brett-Ashley Hooper
Mechal (Ella) Yohannes
Jamie Hude
Aimee Feuda
Frances Almodovar
Maria Flynn
Kayla Thomsen
Gabriella Romo
Brian Smith
CCSJ Interns may be reached at 410-617-2380, or ccsjsa@loyola.edu