Assistant Vice Provost and Executive Director of the Honey Nashmen Center for Public Service and Civic Engagement

Amy has been a thoughtful, persistent voice and advocate for civic engagement through its evolution and growth. From her work with the University of Pennsylvania, PHENND, George Washington University, Learn & Serve, and more, she has been a steward for the field. Amy brings depth, grit, and adaptability to these efforts, ensuring they thrive.

“The Bonner Network and the field of service-learning and community engagement have benefited tremendously from Amy’s wise leadership and steady guidance. Amy’s work at Learn & Serve America, especially, helped grow the presence of civic learning from K-16. She is a steady advocate within institutions, consortia (like the Partnership for Student Success), and at the policy level, while still being a dedicated mentor and friend.”

— Ariane Hoy

Assistant Director, Office of Community Engagement and Outreach

Amy Gilliland has been a steadfast advocate for civic engagement in higher education. With unwavering dedication, she has fostered campus-community partnerships at her current institution as well as at Maryville College. Over the years, Amy has designed and led faculty development in community-engagement and has prepared students for asset-based community engagement. Additionally, she also coordinates the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification and reclassification process in her current job. Amy’s passion for cultivating student leadership and community impact has inspired countless individuals in the network.

Program Manager

Amy Michael played a key role at Rutgers University - New Brunswick as the Associate Director of the Collaborative Center for Community Engagement, where she led various civic engagement programs, including the Bonner Leader Program. She co-taught a seminar focused on community service and was involved involved in significant initiatives like the Flags of Peace project and the Civic Voices Project. Through her leadership, she advanced innovative community-based learning, mentored students, and developed signature initiatives like redesigning the Certificate in Civic Engagement and Social Change leveraging the Foundation’s CEL grant. Her efforts in establishing community connections, co-curricular programming, and promoting civic responsibility are well appreciated by colleagues at Rutgers and in the Bonner network.

Assistant Dean for Student Wellbeing, former Centre Bonner Program Director

As we approach the conclusion of the 25th anniversary year of the Bonner Program at Centre College, we have taken time to reflect on the individuals who have made a lasting impact on our campus and community. To that end, the current Centre College Bonner Program staff would like to recognize Ann Young, the inaugural Director of the Bonner Program at Centre, for her vision and unwavering commitment to service, student development, and community partnerships. While she is no longer directly involved in the Bonner Program, Ann supports students at Centre in variety of ways and is truly invested in building strong relationships that endure the test of time. We have chosen to nominate Ann for the Legacy Award, a student affairs veteran, beloved community member, and engaged citizen of Danville-Boyle County.

“Ann has dedicated her life to the wellness of the Centre community, putting service and friendship at the center of her life.”

— Nathan Whitlock

Interim Pastor

Rev. Dr. Anne D. McKee served as Maryville College’s Campus Minister, faculty member in the Humanities division, and director of the Bonner Scholars and other service-based scholarship and student leadership programs. She inspired and mentored generations of students for 21 years at Maryville College. Known for leading the impactful Civic Rights Trip for first-year Bonners called “The Road to Justice,” Dr. McKee helped students develop a nuanced understanding of the social, personal, and systemic challenges faced in the United States through service and reflection. She deeply influenced civic engagement on campus. Her dedication and has left a lasting legacy, making her a guiding force in advancing social justice and community involvement across the Bonner network.

Director of Programs and Academic Events

I enthusiastically recommend April Backus for the Bonner Foundation Legacy Award. April graduated in May 2012 as a member of Siena College’s first cohort of Bonner Service Leaders. She remained at the Center for Academic Community Engagement (ACE) for four more years, supporting our students, our campus, and the local community through a number of roles with increasing responsibilities over time, including Bonner program director and director of ACE undergraduate programs. April left the Bonner network and ACE to direct the National Assessment for Community Engagement and Service (NASCE), a national survey based at the Siena College Research Institute (SCRI). This survey explores the breadth and depth of community engagement initiatives and activities on college campuses across the country. Siena used the resulting data from the NASCE to support our successful reclassification for our Carnegie Community Engagement Classification in 2024. While April was not directly supporting our Bonner program while at SCRI, her commitment to community engagement and the Capital Region of New York State helped us to understand and articulate our campus-wide and community impact. April currently works in the Provost’s office as the director of programs and academic events where she coordinates major campus events such as multiple commencement ceremonies, faculty recognition occasions, and celebrations of student and faculty research. April continues to be a valued colleague and friend of ACE. Although she is no longer directly involved with the Bonner Network, April has left an indelible mark on ACE. When I joined the ACE team in July 2015, April shared her knowledge and experience in the community engagement field in a generous and supportive way. She was an inspiring teacher and colleague during my first year in my new position. During our time together at ACE, I watched her juggle numerous projects, challenges, and graduate school while employing her skills to develop student and staff programming, training, and more. In addition, April has been an unparalleled mentor to many of the Bonner Service Leaders who came after her in the program. One of her former Bonner protégées, Kelly Finn ‘15, wrote: April has been one of the biggest influences in my life from the time I was a Bonner. She is one of the most hard-working and dedicated people that I know. She instilled a deep sense of confidence in me as a young person and helped guide me as a professional. I am forever grateful for her leadership in the Bonner network. She has impacted not only my life but hundreds of students who graduated from the Bonner program at Siena. I heartily recommend April Backus for the Bonner Foundation Legacy Award. I would be happy to share any additional information you may have about April’s qualifications, if necessary.

“April Backus' enthusiasm for and love of community engagement in NY's Capital Region is evident in many of her pursuits. She has been an inspiring and generous teacher, colleague, and friend. Her ability to juggle multiple tasks, build a spirit of camaraderie among a team, and general optimistic spirit are unparalleled.”

—Allison Schultz, Siena College

Associate Director

Arielle del Rosario embodies the spirit of the Bonner Legacy award through their profound contributions to civic and community engagement and their lasting impact on the Bonner Network. As a Rutgers University–New Brunswick Bonner alum, Arielle brought heart, insight, and strategy to their work—cultivating spaces for student leadership, facilitating powerful learning experiences, and centering the voices of those often unheard. Now at Project Pericles, Arielle continues to champion civic learning and democratic engagement on a national scale, supporting faculty, students, and institutions in weaving social responsibility into the fabric of higher education. Their work reflects an enduring commitment to public purpose, critical inquiry, and community partnership. Arielle’s thoughtful leadership, creativity, and care have left a meaningful legacy within the Bonner community. Arielle has shaped the field with grace and intention, and continues to inspire those committed to advancing justice through education. Arielle is a true steward of the values that guide the Bonner mission.

Director of the Carnegie Elective for Community Engagement

Cammie Jones-Friedrichs serves as the Director of the Carnegie Elective for Community Engagement. An innovative community strategist and a dedicated educator, she has spearheaded key initiatives around equity, social justice, and civic engagement. She provided critical professional development and mentorship for emerging leaders. Through community, institutional and educational partnerships, she has successfully launched sustainable partnership opportunities for students and community members domestically and globally. Her visionary leadership and inclusive approach have shaped meaningful progress within the field.

Prior: Asst. Professor of Philosophy & the Humanities, Associate Dean for Civic Learning, Bonner Director, Project Pericles Program Director

Christian Rice has been a driving force in civic engagement at Ursinus College for over 16 years. He was instrumental in the creation of UCARE—the Ursinus Center for Advocacy, Responsibility, and Engagement and also worked with his colleagues to create a minor in Peace and Social Justice Studies. As Associate Dean of Civic Learning and Bonner Director, Christian’s leadership strengthened community partnerships, expanded service-learning opportunities, and inspired students to take the lead in projects that foster social change. His teaching and scholarship focuses on examining the philosophical and moral underpinnings of human rights discourse. He received the Ursinus College Alumni Award for Service to Humanity in 2024 in recognition of his efforts at Ursinus to build a culture dedicated to civic engagement. His unwavering commitment has left a profound impact on both campus and community, making him a model for civic leadership in higher education.

Assistant Director, Community Engagement & Volunteer Center

Cindy Ferguson brings with her a decade of experience in strategic planning, recruitment, and community-engaged learning. In her prior role, she led the community-engaged learning initiatives at the University of Lynchburg and now at James Madison University, she leads efforts to enhance meaningful and sustainable relationships throughout the Shenandoah Valley. Cindy’s expertise in student advising and program development drives positive social change while expanding perspectives and building community. Her passion lies in empowering others to reach their full potential, making her a leader in transformative civic engagement.

“Cindy lives the ethos of her favorite quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald: “it's never too late to be whoever you want to be. I hope you live a life you're proud of, and if you find you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again."
—Rahayita Shah, The Bonner Foundation

Director of TRIO Student Support Services

Consuelo was instrumental in developing the foundation for the Bonner Program at Macalester. She drafted and co-wrote many Macalester Bonner policies, guidelines, and advised the sophomore cohort. Consuelo ensured the Bonner Foundation and support for Bonner students were reinforced and built upon each other.

Director of the Harward Center for Community Partnerships and Ann M. Harward Professor of Civic Engagement

Community has been a big part of Dr. Ray's life and career at Bates College. A visionary leader in community-engaged learning, she co-created a unique Faculty Fellows Program through the Foundation’s community engaged learning grant. She engaged key leaders in system-building projects and led workshops and seminars in community-engaged learning and research. Dr. Ray has developed programs that support the institution’s civic mission and uplift both campus and community. Her scholarship focuses on religion as well as community engagement. One of her key publications is “Self, World, and the Space Between: Community Engagement as Vocational Discernment (2016).” Her commitment to equity and social justice in higher education is well appreciated at Bates as well as in the Bonner Network.

Director of Bringing Theory to Practice

David Scobey serves as the Director for Bringing Theory to Practice, where he provides vision for the Paradigm Project, Changemakers network, and other innovative work. David helped launch the Bonner Program at Bates College, where he served as the inaugural Director of the Harward Center for Community Partnerships. A long-time professor, first at University of Michigan, David has promoted deep, holistic transformative teaching and learning.

“David brings a unique combination of skills and perspectives, as a historian, activist, educator, and leader. Whether articulating the Copernican Moments faced by higher education civic engagement or promoting individual and organization change, he does so with grit, respect, and integrity.”

— Ariane Hoy, The Bonner Foundation

Director of Student Civic Leadership Programs and Associate Director of Community-Engaged Learning at the Bates College Harward Center for Community Partnerships

Ellen Alcorn is the founding director of the Bonner Program at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. Under her wise leadership, the program has become the flagship student leadership experience at Bates--the one that sets the campus-wide standard for excellence and whose impact both on and off campus consistently impresses. What Ellen does better than just about anyone is love her students for who and where they are on their journey. She offers every single student affirmation and grace, no matter what, and that experience of feeling truly seen and cared for calls students to become better versions of themselves and to bring their full selves into their community work.

“Ellen: Your leadership of the Bonner Program at Bates, love for our students, and care for the wider community is extraordinary. You are such a gift!”

— Darby Ray, Bates College

Director of Regional Operations

Erin McGrath, Director of Regional Operations at AmeriCorps, is a deserving honoree of the Bonner Legacy award for her transformative contributions to civic and community engagement. Through her role at AmeriCorps, Erin has been a powerful bridge between national service infrastructure, ensuring seamless access to critical resources, training, and support for young people. She has enhanced capacity-building, promoted best practices in volunteer management, and championed collaborative service efforts. As a Bonner alum and former Bonner Foundation staff member, Erin is deeply rooted in higher education ecosystems, linking local projects to national systems of accountability and impact. She has advised on program design, strengthened community partnerships, and supported sustainable student service experiences that underscore Bonner values. Her quiet diligence, expertise, and generous mentorship have left an indelible mark on countless directors, coordinators, and scholars within the network. Erin McGrath’s legacy is one of systems-building, partnership, and service cultivation. Her strategic leadership has advanced the sector in both scope and depth, ensuring that Bonner’s mission lives on through empowered communities and prepared civic leaders. She embodies the essential foundations that sustain the Bonner movement and its long-running impact.

Director

Hillary Kane, Director of the Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development (PHENND), has been a transformative force in advancing civic and community engagement in higher education. Since joining PHENND in 1999, she has expanded the organization from five to over 30 member institutions, fostering collaborations that bridge the gap between academia and underserved communities. Under her leadership, PHENND has launched impactful programs such as the Next Steps AmeriCorps and the K-16 VISTA Project, which place AmeriCorps members in schools and nonprofits to build capacity and support students' success. Kane's strategic vision has also led to the development of the PHENND Fellows program, which places recent college graduates in full-time VISTA positions at local organizations, and the Promise Corps initiative, which pairs high school students with AmeriCorps members for mentorship and college readiness support . Her commitment to systemic change is evident in PHENND's role in supporting the School District of Philadelphia's Community Schools program and its efforts to increase college completion rates among low-income and first-generation students. Kane's enduring impact on both the Bonner Network and the broader field of civic engagement makes her a deserving recipient of the Bonner Legacy Award.

Director of Civic Learning and Engagement

John Reiff has played an instrumental role in advancing civic learning and community engagement in higher education. For decades, he built and taught in a successful multiyear program and academic pathway at UMASS Amherst. He has also worked statewide to promote the integration of community engagement and anti-racism work across two- and four-year institutions. His legacy is deep and lasting.

“John is one of the kindest, most sincere, and deeply committed organizers, teachers, and advocates I’ve ever met. I feel honored to have had the opportunity to collaborate with him, whether on VALUE rubrics, the CLDE framework and strategy, and Project HERE. John is a profoundly effective mentor. He inspires me.”

— Ariane Hoy, The Bonner Foundation

Professor of Higher Education at UMASS Boston and Senior Scholar

John is a dedicated champion, scholar, and teacher for civic and community engagement. In his role in undergraduate and graduate education (at UMASS Boston), as a field leader with the Bonner Network and Campus Compact, organizer of Project HERE, and architect of the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, John promotes the depth and quality of our work.

“John has played a critical role in the field and within the Bonner Network over these decades. His work as a scholar, promoting the transformation of teaching and learning to more collaborative, community-driven practice, was deeply important to the Bonner High-Impact Initiative. It’s been a blessing to be in conversation with John through many different roles and collaborations. Thank you for your commitment and insights!”

— Ariane Hoy, The Bonner Foundation

Chief Executive Officer

Reverend Joe Blosser, Ph.D, is the former founding Executive Director of the Center for Community Engagement and Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy at High Point University. During his time at HPU, he also launched several key initiatives, including the Service Learning Program, the Bonner Leader Program, the HPU AmeriCorps VISTA Program, and the Civic Responsibility and Social Innovation minor. He is the author of To Love Our Neighbors: Radical Practices in Solidarity, Sufficiency & Sustainability and has published extensively on ethics, economics, and sustainable community development through peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Nationally recognized for his leadership in community change, social innovation, and ethical analysis, Dr. Blosser has devoted his career to advancing sustainable nonprofits, grassroots movements, education, and economic development aimed at transforming neighborhoods and promoting social progress. Currently, Dr. Blosser serves as Chair of the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service and sits on several nonprofit boards. He is an accomplished speaker and scholar, with over 20 peer-reviewed publications and more than 100 lectures delivered across the U.S. and internationally, focusing on business ethics, community development, and religious studies. As Principal Investigator on numerous federal and private grants, he has supported initiatives that strengthen local communities. In addition to his academic and public service work, Dr. Blosser brings deep expertise in grant writing, program evaluation, strategic planning, fundraising, and nonprofit consulting. He is especially committed to advancing anti-racist, equity-centered approaches to social change. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Earl and Kathryn Family Foundation, which invests in organizations across the greater High Point area and beyond to improve quality of life and reduce barriers to opportunity.

“We are deeply grateful to Reverend Dr. Joe B. Blosser for his visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to community empowerment, and tireless work to advance equity, education, and opportunity. His legacy of service, innovation, and ethical engagement continues to inspire meaningful change and build stronger, more inclusive communities.”

— Kimberly Drye-Dancy, High Point University

Executive Director

Kevin Winchell has been a driving force in advancing civic engagement and student leadership at Stetson University. As Director of Community Engagement at Stetson University, he connected students, faculty, and community non-profit and civic organizations in order to create opportunities for student learning through community impact centered on racial, economic, and environmental justice. He directed the university’s annual Politics 101 Conference - the one-day course on political campaigning touching on issues of voter psychology with sessions on effective messaging. His sustained commitment to the Bonner Network exemplifies excellence and innovation, leaving a lasting legacy that strengthens our field and empowers the next generation of changemakers.

Associate Director of Community & Civic Engagement / Senior Lecturer

Kristine Hart exemplifies a life of service and leadership. She started as an AmeriCorps VISTA and advanced to Associate Director of Community & Civic Engagement / Senior Lecturer at Washburn University. She has been instrumental in strengthening the Bonner Program and leading a cohort of faculty and staff in developing community-engaged pathways at Washburn. Under her leadership, the team designed a structured a pathway for students to complete mentored community engagement hours and an academic project, significantly enriching the Bonner experience for students across disciplines. Her dedication to civic engagement and educational opportunity has inspired students and colleagues, strengthening both campus and community partnerships over her impactful career.

Executive Director

Marisol is a strategic, talented advocate and champion for student success, community engagement, and the field. In her work both on campuses and nationally, such as at the University of LaVerne, Campus Compact, and the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, she has diligently worked to promote the quality, impact, and authenticity of the field.

“It has been a joy to engage and collaborate with Marisol over the past decade, through the CLDE network, Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, and Project HERE. Marisol is a bold, fierce, and kind advocate, deeply committed to the people and communities engaged through service, who brings her creativity into action through her scholarship, partnerships, and projects.”

— Ariane Hoy

President Emeritus

A visionary leader, tireless advocate for equity and the arts, and steadfast champion of community engagement in higher education, Dr. Campbell's distinguished career exemplifies the highest ideals of both awards.

As the 10th President of Spelman College (2015–2022), Dr. Campbell led one of the nation’s premier liberal arts institutions for women of African descent with unwavering commitment to student development, civic leadership, and community-engaged scholarship. Under her leadership, Spelman deepened its reputation not only as a top producer of Black women in STEM but also as a center for socially engaged, culturally grounded liberal arts education. Her presidency elevated institutional support for civic learning and strategic partnerships, launching the SpelREADS Literacy Program and aligning powerfully with the Bonner mission of developing student leaders to address pressing social issues.

Dr. Campbell’s leadership in higher education builds upon a decades-long legacy of civic and cultural impact. Her groundbreaking tenure as Executive Director of the Studio Museum in Harlem transformed the institution into the nation’s first accredited fine arts museum dedicated to Black art and culture—revitalizing Harlem’s cultural corridor and expanding national dialogue around African diasporic art. Her leadership as New York City’s Commissioner of Cultural Affairs and later as Dean of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts marked a continual commitment to democratizing access to education, opportunity, and cultural capital.

As Dean of Tisch, she diversified both the faculty and student body, launched interdisciplinary and socially conscious programs (including the Department of Art and Public Policy), and cultivated artistic leaders who have since reshaped culture and public life. She infused civic purpose into elite academic spaces, advocating for the arts as instruments of democracy, equity, and education.

Nationally recognized for her public service, Dr. Campbell was appointed by President Obama as Vice Chair of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, where she led initiatives reaffirming the arts’ role in K–12 education. Her prolific contributions as a scholar, author, and speaker further reflect her belief in the power of education, the humanities, and the arts as engines of social change.

Dr. Campbell’s connection to the Bonner Network is not merely symbolic—she has served as a trusted advisor and partner, embodying the foundational Bonner values of civic agency, student empowerment, and institutional responsibility. She has been a powerful voice for shaping civic engagement at the intersection of racial justice, higher education, and cultural leadership.

“A true legacy-builder, Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell has made enduring contributions to the fields of higher education, civic engagement, and cultural advocacy. She is both a champion for our shared mission and a legacy in her own right. Her impact is profound, her influence lasting, and her leadership continues to inspire generations to lead lives of meaning, service, and justice.”

— Jilo Tisdale

Assistant Director for Faculty Development, Community Engagement, and Research at the Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center

Dr. Matt Bryant Cheney has dedicated over 15 years to advancing community engagement through education, leadership, and partnership-building. As Director of Carson-Newman’s Center for Community Engagement, he developed and managed impactful service-learning programs, and helped find creative and strategic solutions to important institutional and community problems through asset-based community development. Currently, serving as Assistant Director of Judith Anderson Herbert Writing Center at University of Tennessee-Knoxville, he continues to empower students as professionals and critically-engaged community members, leaving a lasting legacy in civic engagement and student empowerment.