About Us

Charis supports students’ active participation in civic life through voter education and civic engagement programs, including training student leaders and working with TU departments and civic leaders. Charis leads the TU Votes Coalition, organizes TU Community Conversation programs, coordinates the Civic Renewal Fellows programs and supports TU’s Andrew Goodman Puffin Democracy Fellows. Charis is working on her M.A. in Communication and Advocacy at TU. She received a B.A. in English Communication and Technology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She enjoys laughing with family and friends, impromptu adventures somewhere new and expressing her creativity through cooking, makeup and writing.  

Heather is responsible for the strategic integration of community engagement and civic engagement to prepare students in a holistic manner for active participation in their communities and society. Heather coordinates programming for the Social Change Living Learning Community. Heather also supports state and national accreditation, including the Voter Friendly Campus Designation, and organizes TU's participation in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, the Andrew Goodman Foundation, the Campus Vote Project and the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition. Heather received an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Penn State University and a B.S. in Deaf Studies and English from TU. They enjoy traveling, audio-books, cross stitching and spending time outside with their dog. 

Romy has more than 15 years of experience researching, teaching and working in civic learning and community engagement fields. She supports students, staff, and faculty in developing the dispositions, skills, and knowledge needed to create thriving communities in which members are active co-creators of a shared future. Romy is a Research Fellow with Campus Compact and a project leader of the Imagining America B-More with Imagination Collaboratory. She serves on the American Democracy Project Steering Committee, the Imagining America National Advisory Board and the Braver Angels Civic Scholars Council. Her publications focus on civic learning and democratic engagement, community-based learning and teaching, and high-impact practices. Romy is the recipient of the ADP Spirit of Democracy Award, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Jakubik Family Endowment Staff Award and the UMBC Jessica Soto Perez Memorial Award. Prior to TU, Romy worked at UMBC as Coordinator for Student Organizations and Involvement in the Office of Student Life and Associate Director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life. She received her Ph.D. in Language, Literacy and Culture, M.A. in Intercultural Communication, and B.A. in Modern Languages and Linguistics from UMBC. Romy enjoys climbing, hiking and traveling.  

Sha-Nel supports students’ active participation in civic life through community engagement programs on campus and beyond. She trains student leaders and works with TU departments, local nonprofit organizations and community leaders. Sha-Nel coordinates Connect TU, Impact TU and the Community Connectors peer-leadership program. Sha-Nel received a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre from Towson University and a B.A. in Communication Studies from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. She also served as the 2024 Spring Commencement graduate speaker for the College of Fine Arts and Communication at TU. Sha-Nel enjoys teaching, performing and curating spaces that invite meaningful conversations with delicious food.

Shannon is responsible for supporting students’ active participation in civic life through the implementation of community engagement programs and cohort experiences on campus and beyond, including training student leaders and developing and maintaining relationships with TU departments, local nonprofit organizations and community leaders. Shannon is the lead organizer of Impact TU, coordinates Lutherville Lab Mentors, and develops the Social Action Collaboratory and its fellows. Shannon received a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore and a B.S. in Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She enjoys reading, playing board games and traveling and spending time with friends and family.