About Us
Meet the staff of the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility. Reach out via email or phone, schedule a meeting using Outlook calendar, or visit in the University Union 252.
Charis supports students’ active participation in civic life through the implementation of voter education and civic engagement programs, including training student leaders and developing and maintaining relationships 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 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 oversees state and national accreditations including TU’s 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 her B.S. in Deaf Studies and English from Towson University and an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Penn State University. 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, a Civic Fellow with the American Democracy Project (ADP), and a project leader of the Imagining America B-More with Imagination Collaboratory. She serves as the institutional representative for ADP, Campus Compact, Imagining America, Place-Based Justice Network, and Transform Mid-Atlantic. 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 bouldering, hiking and traveling.
Shannon Cheek, M.S.W.
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Assistant Director for Community Impact
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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 B.S. in Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She enjoys reading, playing board games, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Megan McFarland
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Graduate Assistant for Marketing and Communications
Teo Catindig
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Graduate Assistant for Student Community Engagement