Loyola University Maryland

Center for Community, Service, and Justice

Get Involved at CCSJ

Our Team

Headshot photo of Ben Belz
Ben Belz He, him, his Assistant Director, Academic Engagement

Education: B.A. Environmental Studies, Baylor University; M.S.Ed. in Higher Education & Student Affairs, Baylor University

Work Experience: Community-engaged learning course development and implementation, civic engagement, undergraduate research programs, alternative spring break programming, campus-community partnerships, AmeriCorps VISTA alum.

Hobbies: reading, sports, exploring my new home (I'm new to Baltimore!), finding new podcasts to listen to non-stop, and spending time with family & friends.

Headshot of Cierra Bolding
Cierra Bolding She, her, hers Americore VISTA

Education: Some College Courses; Major: Secondary Education with a concentration in History – Grand Canyon University 
 
Work Experience: 5+ years in the banking industry (BB&T now Truist Bank & Tower Federal Credit Union), Main Office Assistant (Camp Sonshine), interpersonal skills, customer service, research & problem-solving abilities

 

Interest: Reading, anime, cosplaying, visiting museums, listening to podcasts/music, and social justice

Headshot of Pat Cassidy
Pat Cassidy He, him, his Associate Director, Programs

Education: B.A., Social Work, Providence College; M.A., 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; Assistant Director (Outreach & Advocacy; Immersion Programs) in CCSJ; 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. 

 

Headshot photo of Abbie Flanagan
Abbie Flanagan She, her, hers Assistant Director, Outreach & Advocacy

Education: B.S. Environmental Studies, University of Kansas; J.D., University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. 

Work experience: juvenile defense and educational advocacy, youth justice legislation and policy, nonprofit governance, experiential education, holistic case management, and resource connection, AmeriCorps alum. 

Interests: reading, exploring Baltimore, hiking with my dog, tennis, and traveling with my family.

Headshot photo of Gia Grier McGinnis
Gia Grier McGinnis She/Her/Hers Executive Director

Education: B.A., Environmental Studies, Washington College; M.S. Natural Resources and Environment (Environmental Justice Program), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Certificate, Risk Sciences and Public Policy, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), Morgan State University

Work Experience: Community-university partnerships and student program development; Community-engaged research; AmeriCorps VISTA alum; Biomedical risk communication in tobacco control; Informal STEMM and environmental education and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEMM career fields; Team and organizational development; Fund development; Strategic planning.

Interests: Hiking, reading, promoting mental health awareness, exploring new things in the city, wellness activities.

Nicole Hoban She, her, hers Program Assistant

Education: B.S. in Health Systems Management from University of Baltimore

Work Experience: Payroll and budgeting, administrative assisting, interned with the Director of Managed Care and Government relations at Saint Agnes Hospital

Interests: Gardening, anything outdoors, health and wellness, exercise, concerts and live music, hanging out with family, friends and my pets! 


Lemoine Joseph Jr. He, him, his Assistant Director, Student Leadership & Development

Education: B.A. in Mathematics with minor in Chemistry from Washington University in St. Louis, M.S.Ed. in High Education Administration from University of Pennsylvania 

Work Experience: Experience in gender-based violence prevention, civic engagement, student advising, teaching, facilitation, curriculum development and assessment 

Interests: Long-distance running, collecting vinyls, learning new recipes, struggling my way through yoga poses, connecting with family (traditional and chosen), taking moments to pause

Kyra McDonnell
Kyra McDonnell She, her, hers Program Coordinator, York Road Initiative

Education: B.A. in English Literature, minor in Communications from Loyola University Maryland

Work Experience: Food access and equity, local government particularly the 4th District Council Office of Baltimore City, policy research and community capacity building.

Interests: Exploring new communities locally & globally, textile crafts, reading, music live and through many playlists, spending intentional time with family & friends

 

Headshot photo of  Stephen Park
Stephen Park He, him, his Faculty Director, Community-Engaged Learning and Scholarship

Education: B.A., English, Cornell University; M.A., Humanities, University of Chicago; Ph.D., English, University of Southern California

Work Experience: Assistant Professor of English, Loyola University Maryland, including 10 semesters of service-learning courses; Assistant Professor of English, University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley; Lecturer, University of Southern California

Interests: Gardening, reading, social justice

Graduate Assistant Team

Undergraduate Student Intern Team

Student Intern Team

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.

  • Alison Diaz
  • Annabel Greene
  • Apryle Bennett
  • Bailey Skeeter
  • Bethany Richardson
  • Betsy Schuler
  • Camille Barrón
  • Cate Cino
  • Ciara Kelly
  • Ella Yohannes
  • Emma Sabino
  • Fatima Velasco
  • Hanna Addis
  • Jace Blehar
  • Jacob Bierstaker
  • Jess Clancy
  • Luisa Glass
  • Maddie Chelak
  • Maria (Mari) Sisco
  • Melissa Cruz
  • Nosa Omoregbee
  • Ryan Corrigan
  • Skylar Cho
  • Sydney Pinkett

CCSJ Interns may be reached at 410-617-2380, or ccsjassist@loyola.edu.