Community Service Learning Center Staff
Melissa Baker-Boosamra
Email
bakerbme@gvsu.edu
Title
Associate Director of Student Life - Civic Engagement and Assessment
About
Throughout her career, Melissa has worked to educate students to become informed and engaged citizens who are empowered to create the world they want to live in. Before joining the GVSU Office of Student Life in 2014, Melissa served as a faculty member in the GVSU Liberal Studies Department, a nonprofit professional, a community organizer and an ESL teacher for migrant farm workers. She has developed and led international and domestic community based learning courses and built multiple successful university-community partnerships. Melissa seeks to build bridges between university and community in all of her work and to utilize education as a tool for empowerment and equity. Melissa has spent time throughout Central America, exploring the relationship of US economic and military policy on the region, and on patterns of migration and is inspired by lessons learned there.
Melissa earned her Master of Arts in Public and Nonprofit Administration at Grand Valley State University. She received the Michigan Campus Compact Presidential Service Learning Scholar Award in 2010, led the team who received the GVSU AP Award for Outstanding Team Project at GVSU in 2017, was recognized by the Hispanic Chamber of Western Michigan in 2018 as a Bridge Builder and received the GVSU AP Award for Service to Community in 2019. Outside of work, Melissa loves spending time with her three children, riding her bike, swimming, reading, travelling and dancing!
Liz Collver
Email
collverl@gvsu.edu
Title
Assistant Director of Student Life - Civic Engagement
About
Liz joined the Office of Student Life and Community Service Learning Center staff in 2016. Prior to this role, she worked as an Assistant Director of Annual Giving at GVSU for over 2 years, and was also a Coordinator of New Student Programs at Florida Gulf Coast University for 3 years. Both of these roles exposed Liz to many facets of higher education, including extensive work with students, programming, and event planning. Now, Liz is excited to be working with students regarding civic engagement, community organizing, and helping them to find their passions and abilities to impact the world around them.
Liz is originally from Ohio and received her undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University (Go Bucks!). Additionally, she spent 2 years in Texas at Texas A&M University working and obtaining her masters degree in Student Affairs Administration. Outside of work, Liz enjoys spending time with her partner - Matt and their son, Cameron, as well as working out, cooking, watching college athletics, reading, and continuing to explore all the wonderful things Michigan has to offer.
Kathryn Carey
Title
Volunteer Coordinator
Major: International Relations
Emphases: African Studies
Hometown: East Lansing, MI
Year in School: Junior
Top 5 Strengths:
- Restorative
- Context
- Empathy
- Adaptability
- Connectedness
Thing you are most excited about with the CSLC:
I am so excited to dig deeper into what Grand Valley does to help shape students into active citizens.
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Tatiana Parsons
Email
parsotat@gvsu.edu
Title
Graduate Assistant for Service Learning
About
Tatiana graduated from Spring Arbor University in 2015, where she received her BA in Psychology and BSW in Social Work. She completed an international internship in Mukono, Uganda with Compassion International and has worked professionally with Bethany Christian Services and Spectrum Health Hospital Group. She joins Grand Valley as a GA for Civic and Community Engagement in the Community Service Learning Center.
During her undergrad, Tatiana was very involved in Student Development and Career Services. She served as a Peer Advisor and Teaching Assistant to incoming freshmen. She was also involved in their leadership program and co-taught Introduction to Liberal Arts, Introduction to College Majors, and Introduction to Leadership alongside faculty and staff. Outside of the Classroom, Tatiana volunteered with an ESL program and worked as a preschool assistant. After graduating, Tatiana moved from Jackson, MI to Grand Rapids to pursue Social Work. She was certified in Child Welfare by the State of Michigan and worked as a Foster Care Case Manager with Bethany Christian Services. She also did administrative work at Spectrum Health Hospital Group. Tatiana is a proud cat mom and when she isn’t at work she likes water color hammocking, travel, indoor plants, walking around Grand Rapids with her fiancé and making a good pour over coffee.
StrengthsQuest
Empathy - Connectedness - Developer - Harmony - Arranger
Stephanie Torres
Title
Volunteer Coordinator
Major: Public & Nonprofit Administration
Hometown: Holland, MI
Year in School: Junior
Top 5 Strengths:
- Restorative
- Empathy
- Adaptability
- Connectedness
- Developer
Thing you are most excited about with the CSLC:
I’m most excited to work alongside some great active citizens, continuing to help others and myself to be active citizens.