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 Polonsky, M.Ed.
she/they
Assistant Director for Civic Engagement
Phone
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 Civic Transformation Living Learning Community. Heather also oversees TU’s Voter Friendly Campus Designation and serves as the institutional representative for 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. She enjoys traveling, audio-books, cross stitching and spending time outside with her dog.
Romy provides strategic direction for the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility. She is responsible for creating a thriving civic culture in which members of the TU community develop the disposition, skills and knowledge to be active co-creators of a shared future. She supports the CESR team in program development and coordination and contributes to pedagogical innovations at TU and nationally, including civic learning and democratic engagement, community-based learning and teaching, deliberative dialogues, high-impact practices and restorative practices. Romy serves as the institutional representative for AASCU’s American Democracy Project, Campus Compact, Imagining America, and Transform Mid-Atlantic. Romy also serves on the American Democracy Project Steering Committee. She received her B.A. in Modern Languages and Linguistics, M.A. in Intercultural Communication, and Ph.D. in Language, Literacy and Culture from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Romy enjoys bouldering, hiking and traveling.
Shannon Cheek, M.S.W.
she/her
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 it's 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
she/her
Graduate Assistant for Marketing and Communications
Teo Catindig
they/them
Graduate Assistant for Student Community Engagement