This is an unusual year, and we will be interacting in different ways, but we are excited to welcome our students to a new Fall semester. The Center for Community Research has 11 students working on different assistantships this year; 5 are returning students from last year and 6 are new to our Center. We are pleased to introduce our students and look forward to working with them over the year!
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Public Policy
Natalie Paramo
Natalie will be working with the KIDS COUNT program this year. Her areas of interest are public policy and global studies. She would also like to find a suitable focus in her career for human rights and/or education.
My summer this year, as I'm sure most everyone can say, has been vastly different from the rest. Along with some downfalls, the current climate has also given the time to explore other facets of life that I find enjoyable such as yoga, hiking, and, in terms of academics, exploring potential career opportunities after graduation. Every day I am closer to solidifying where exactly I am going to be after this pivotal segment of my academic life, and, in addition to working for KIDS COUNT, I look forward to that this upcoming year.
M.A. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy
Dakota Edwards
Dakota's primary area of interest is criminal justice policy, specifically its intersection with drug policy. This year she will continue working with the Wilmington City Council.
I worked remotely with Wilmington City Council over the summer to help realize their vision of anti-racism in all policies. In addition, I used my free time to supplement my Bachelor's in History with as many unique nonfiction works as I could get my hands on, broadening my connection to lived realities and policy in practice. This year I am looking forward to completing my thesis on treatment policies in Delaware correctional facilities.
Jalissia Haynes
Jalissia's assistantship is at the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA). Her areas of interest are public policy particularly in education and criminal justice reform.
I spent my summer mainly binge-watching Netflix and catching on up on the sleep I didn't get in undergrad. I am most looking forward to the reopening of campus and being able to join CCRS in person
Josh Solge
Josh's main area of interest is housing policy. This year he will be working on various housing projects with the Delaware Community Legal Aid Society (CLASI).
I spent most of my summer close to home with the exception of a socially distant road-trip to Minneapolis, MN so my daughter could see her grandparents. I'm looking forward to working in-house at CCRS this semester and to the prospect of some kind of return to normalcy in the spring (hopefully).
MPA
Allie Foster
Allie is interested in individual and community development through sports, specifically organizations like Special Olympics and Snider Hockey. This year Allie will be working with the CCRS Nonprofit and Community Development Team.
I spent as much of this summer as I possibly could outside! I built a garden, walked trails and learned how to golf (though I'm not very good at it). This semester I'm looking forward to working with and getting to know more people at CCRS, since it's my second semester here.
Stephanie Sullivan
Stephanie's area of interest is non-profit management and she will be working with the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA).
This summer, I spent a lot of time transitioning from the classroom teaching world, where I worked for the past 30 years. While in quarantine, I pursued personal interests like painting, fitness, and brewing kombucha. Through my work at DANA, I am excited to dive right into supporting the organization's important projects and get better acquainted with the landscape of non-profits in the area.
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Corinne Bogan
Corinne's areas of interest are health equity, community health, and access to healthcare services. Her graduate assistantship is with the Medicaid Research Program focusing on the analysis of the Delaware contraceptive access now (DelCAN) initiative.
Over the summer, I wrapped up my 11-month service term with the National Health Corps AmeriCorps program. I packed all my belongings into my 4 door Jetta and road-tripped back to Delaware from Jacksonville, Florida! To celebrate 1700 hours of service and the start of Graduate school, I spent 10 days in Colorado on a socially distant hiking trip. I visited several National Parks, including Rocky Mountain National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and the Great Sand Dunes National Park. This year I am excited to jump back into school and apply what I've learned from a year of health education and promotion. I am eager to learn how policies contribute to health outcomes, specifically those of children. Mostly, I am looking forward to joining the CCRS team and for the opportunity to contribute to meaningful research that will positively impact my community!
Urban Affairs and Public Policy PhD
Emily Loughlin
Emily is interested in health equity and utilization of health services. She will be working with the Medicaid Research Program on the multi-state opioid project.
I spent most of the summer providing childcare for a family of three kids while their parents worked and hiking with my dogs on the weekends. I am looking forward to focusing my research interests more this year.
Mimi Rayl
Mimi's areas of interest range from public leadership, cross-sector collaboration, and systems change related to housing policy and supply for those most in need. This coming year she will be working with Dr. Steve Metraux on various housing projects.
I'm looking forward to this year to, hopefully soon, getting back on campus and see everyone in person!
Alexa Timmreck
Alexa's areas of interest are Homelessness and Housing Policy. She will continue working this year with the Housing Alliance of Delaware.
I spent my summer working with Housing Alliance Delaware on Continuum of Care Projects, working on my dissertation proposal, and hiking as many trails as possible. I'm looking forward to completing and defending my dissertation proposal this upcoming year and starting the next step in my PhD journey!
