Current Staff Members
Maurice O.C. Anderson - Campus Outreach and Social Media
Maurice is a Senior from Jacksonville, TX. He is studying Public Relations and Advertising. When he is not making videos or tweeting for the Volunteer Center, Maurice enjoys photography, basketball, videography, graphic design, and exercising. He is involved in PRSSA, is a Hall of Fame Dance Announcer, and is interning with MPACF.
"Love Hard. Live Free"
Heather Burger - Accountant and Logistics
Heather Burger is a Senior from Lowell, Michigan. She is studying Health Administration, Finance, and Leadership. When she is not in the Volunteer Center managing office logistics and the budgets of our programs, she enjoys playing intramural sports, volunteering, and spending time with family and friends. She is the President of the Collegiate Health Administration Preparatory Society, an active Campus Ambassador, and a Research Assistant.
“All our dreams can come true—if we have the courage to pursue them.” -–Walt Disney
Taylor Galmarini - Special Events Student Coordinator
Taylor is a Junior from Yorkville, IL. She is studying Biomedical Sciences and Spanish. Aside from organizing service events and initiatives for the Brandell Volunteer Center, she enjoys creating art, reading, writing, and outdoor activities during any time of the year. Taylor is involved in Sigma Delta Pi, Engineers Without Borders, and His House Christian Fellowship.
"Rest assured that although you may not see the impact that you wish to have in the world, your influence will always be greater than you know."
Troy Heffron - Alternative Breaks Student Coordinator
Troy Heffron is a Senior from Greenville, Michigan. He is studying Marketing, Leadership, and Sport Studies. When he isn’t helping plan, organize, and send out Alternative Breaks, Troy spends time volunteering, playing sports, and relaxing with friends. He is a Resident Assistant in Saxe Hall.
“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” -–John Wooden
Nicole Infante - Special Projects Student Coordinator
Nicole is a Junior from Belleville, MI. She is studying Anthropology, Sociology, and Museum Studies. When not answering e-mails and filing documents for the Volunteer Center, Nicole spends her time reading books like Game of Thrones, World War Z and Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging out Without Me? Besides reading Nicole enjoys watching the latest CFX Sunday movie and learning new crochet projects via Youtube. Nicole is a Public Service Residential Community mentor,a Michigan Service Scholar, a Leadership Camp and David Garcia Project facilitator.
"Masquerading as a normal person day to day is exhausting."
Matthew Knieling - Adopt-A-Grandparent Student Coordinator
Matt Knieling is a Sophomore from Frankenmuth, MI. He is studying English, Social Studies, and History for Secondary Education. Aside from his work with the Adopt-A-Grandparent program, he appreciates good literature, coffee, music, and writing. Matt is a Resident Assistant in Wheeler Hall and is also involved in Hall Council.
“It’s hard to stay mad when there’s so much beauty in the world.” –-American Beauty
Emily Nuss - Michigan Service Scholar Student Coordinator
Emily Nuss is a Senior from Lansing, MI. She is studying Business Management, Event Management, and Spanish. She not only encourages and organizes volunteer events for the Michigan Service Scholars, but she also enjoys scrapbooking and crafting, movies, reading, traveling, and taking pictures. Emily is a Multicultural Advisor in Sweeney Hall, a Site Leader for the Alternative Breaks program, and the Volunteer Chair for the Organization of Women Leaders.
“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” -–Mother Teresa
Elway Pegg - Graduate Assistant
Elway is a second year graduate student from Dearborn, MI. He is studying Public Administration. When he is not overseeing the Public Relations or Technology for the Brandell Volunteer Center, Elway plays sports, finds random hobbies to start and never finish, and debates which Disney movie is the best.
"The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were." -John F. Kennedy
Stephanie Pocsi - David Garcia Project Student Coordinator
Stephanie is a Junior from Grant, MI. She is studying Early Childhood Development and Learning and Community Recreation. Aside from promoting diversity, Stephanie enjoys painting, reading Jane Austen, watching movies based off of Jane Austen novels, talking, cooking, and baking. She is a Resident Assistant for Fabiano, a Lunch Buddy, and a PSRC mentor.
Candace Quint - Lunch Buddies Student Coordinator
Candace is a Junior from Farmington Hills, MI. She is studying Therapeutic Recreation, American Sign Language, and Leadership. When she is not running around the playground or recruiting new mentors for our Lunch Buddies Program, she spends time skiing and playing volleyball and soccer. Candace is also a Resident Assistant in Beddow Hall, A Leadership Camp Facilitator, Public Service Residents Community Mentor, and a member of the Mission Impossible Committee.
“As we let our light shine, we consciously give other people the permission to do the same.” -–Marianne Williamson
Elizabeth Powers - Safer Sex Patrol Student Coordiantor
Liz is a Senior from Muir, MI. She is studying Anthropology and Women’s Studies. When she is not kit stuffing or organizing a patrol for the Safer Sex Patrol, Liz likes to play volleyball, travel, volunteer, and do yoga. She is a peer mentor for Study Abroad Office as well.
Own only what you can carry with you; know languages, know countries, know people. Let your memory by your travel bag.” --Solzhenitsyn
Shawna Ross - Coordinator
Shawna is the Brandell Volunteer Center's Coordinator from Petoskey, MI and celebrating her 21st year at CMU. She acquired both her BAA in Business and MA in Higher Education from Central. Aside from helping students get connected and civically engaged, Shawna loves to create cuisines and learn about art history. She enjoys volunteering with her church and Community Compassion Network. She not only worked as a student for CMU, but has also worked for non-profits and other universities.
"We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope." --Martin Luther King, Jr.
Danielle Schmutz - AmeriCorps*VISTA
Danielle is a 2010 graduate of CMU with a degree in Sociology and Child Development from Rockford, MI. She serves as a Michigan Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA. When she is not advising the mentoring programs in the Volunteer Center, she crafts, cooks, reads, hikes, wishes she had a puppy, rearranges her furniture, and convinces herself to go to the gym.
“Peace is always beautiful.” –-Walt Whitman
Shannon Schmutz - Community Liaison
Shannon is a Junior from Rockford, MI. She is studying Public Health Education, Health Promotions, and Ethics, Values, and Society. When she isn’t uploading volunteer opportunities, Shannon can be found crafting, drinking coffee or tea, exploring nature, knitting, doing yoga, or laughing obnoxiously. She is also a Resident Assistant in Cobb Hall, the Vice Chair for Alternative Breaks, a member of the Honors Program and Eta Sigma Gamma.
“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re brave than you believe, and stronger than you seen, and smarter than you think .” –-Christopher Robin
Rachel Thomas - OrgSync Umbrella Student Coordinator
Rachel is a Senior from Washington Twp., MI. She is studying English, Spanish, and Leadership. Aside from all things OrgSync, she enjoys reading, board games, traveling, speaking Spanish, good puns, an intense game of basketball, and York Peppermint Patties. Rachel is also involved in Engineers Without Borders, Alpha Sigma Tau, Sigma Delta Pi, His House Christian Fellowship, and the Honors Program.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”—Margaret Mead
Thomas Trenkamp - America Counts Student Coordinator
Tom is Senior from Warren, MI. He is studying Mathematics and Integrated Science for Elementary and Middle Level Education. Other than recruiting tutors and helping Mt. Pleasant kids with the America Counts program, Tom spends time reading, learning, playing strategy games, volunteering, playing sports, and meeting new friends. He is an America Reads tutor, a Lunch Buddy Mentor, and a Michigan Service Scholar.
"It is the supreme art of the teachers to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”—Albert Einstein
Jason Vasquez - Public Service Residential Community (PSRC) Student Assistant
Jason is a Senior from Wyoming, MI. He is studying Broadcasting and Sports Management. He not only enjoys civically engaging Freshmen through the Public Service Residential Community, but he also spend time volunteering, listening to and hosting shows on the radio, singing karaoke, dishing out sarcasm, and paying attention to everything involving baseball. Jason is a Radio Show Host and Producer and a Barnes Hall Deskie.
“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” -–Albert Einstein
Allysha Walters - America Reads Student Coordinator
Allysha is a Senior from Saginaw, MI. She is studying Communication Disorders and American Sign Language. Aside from helping improve child literacy in Mt. Pleasant through the America Reads program, she spends time with friends and family, volunteers, exercises, watches movies and the TV series Friends, and enjoys eating. Allysha also works as a receptionist at the Science/Mathematics Technology Center.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” –Eleanor Roosevelt
Carolyn Wilson - Graduate Assistnat
Carolyn is a first year graduate student in the Speech-Language Pathology Masters program. She is originally from Saginaw, but now resides in Lincoln, MI. Carolyn also completed her Bachelor's degree at Central studying Communication Disorders and American Sign Language. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, crafting, and being outdoors. Carolyn has worked as a Resident Assistant in Celani Hall, a student assistant for Academic Advising, a freshman Orientation Mentor, and spent last summer working for the CMU Summer Speciality Clinic through the College of Health Professions.
"Let all that you do be done in love"
