About Us
Mission Statement and Goals
The Center for Civic Engagement & Social Impact promotes community-based learning experiences that address issues of public concern by building mutually beneficial partnerships and empowering students to be active citizens in their local, national and global communities.
To achieve this mission, the Center for Civic Engagement & Social Impact:
- Partners with a wide array of non-profit and governmental agencies, faculty, staff, and student clubs, organizations, and athletic teams
- Facilitates academic and co-curricular community service and service-learning programs that engage students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members
- Disseminates information about service-learning, resources, and professional development opportunities
- Consults with faculty to incorporate service-learning opportunities into specific courses and programs of study
- Collaborates with all parties to ensure quality learning experiences and positive impact in the community
- Manages service-learning data and facilitates assessment
Faculty and Staff
Director, Center for Civic Engagement and Social Impact
Rita joined the Center for Civic Engagement and Social Impact in February of 2023. Rita graduated from West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU) with a doctoral degree in Policy, Planning, and Administration in Higher Education in 2022. She also holds a Certificate in Higher Education and Student Affairs Policy (HEPSA) from WCU. She received her MS in Technological Systems Management and BS in Biology and Secondary Science Teaching Certification at Stony Brook University in New York. Rita joined WCU in 2016 and has served in various student support roles on campus working with undergraduate and graduate student populations, faculty, and staff, and campus partners to coordinate student success initiatives. She has been involved in K-16 education for over 30 years. She is passionate about working with students to help them find success and realize their potential to create change! As her personal commitment towards these goals, she has lent her professional and personal talents as a community volunteer.
Associate Director for Student Development, Center for Civic Engagement and Social Impact
Shay joined the Center for Civic Engagement & Social Impact in May of 2024. Shay is a two-time WCU alum, receiving their M.S. in Higher Education Policy & Student Affairs and their B.A. in English & Philosophy. Shay has held previous roles in CCESI as an Assistant Director and as a Graduate Assistant coordinating experiential learning opportunities and civic leadership programs for students. Most recently, Shay worked in similar roles with The State University of New York (SUNY) headquarters and Thomas Jefferson University. Shay is thrilled to be back at their alma mater to continue promoting positive social change and contributing to the essential functions of the Resource Pantry.
Associate Director for Service Learning, Center for Civic Engagement and Social Impact
Katie joined the Center for Civic Engagement & Social Impact in August of 2022. Recently receiving her M.S. in Higher Education Policy and Student Affairs from West Chester University, Katie spent the past two years as a graduate assistant in CCESI. In this role she coordinated community partnerships and community-based student leadership programs with the Ram Corps program. Katie was also a core part of Resource Pantry operations and customer service experiences helping to support the day-to-day Pantry needs and events through her work with the Campus Garden, the Chester County Food Bank, and the West Chester Food Cupboard.
Administrative Assistant, Center for Civic Engagement & Social Impact
Alondra joined the Center for Civic Engagement and Social Impact in November of 2021. She graduated from West Chester University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies and three minors in the Department of Languages and Cultures with concentrations in Spanish, Latin American Studies, and Chinese language. She comes from a Latinx background and is a First Generation American and college graduate. Alondra previously worked in the WCU Facilities Division before moving to the Division of Student Affairs. She is looking forward to supporting the West Chester University community with persistence and professionalism.
Christina Chiarelli-Helminiak is a Professor of Graduate Social Work and the CCESI Faculty Associate. Dr. Tina’s courses focus on social work theory and practice, as well as human rights. With past support from CCESI’s Community Engagement Scholars program, Dr. Tina has developed graduate level community-engaged courses in the Dominican Republic, Germany, and Philadelphia. Dr. Tina previously served as the interim Associate Director and Academic Advisor for the Academic Success Program, building meaningful relationships with undergraduate students as they integrated into the WCU community. The opportunity to mentor faculty and staff in community-engaged learning, in addition to modeling intentional ways to engage nontraditional and diverse students in such opportunities, attracted Dr. Tina to the Faculty Associate position.
Dr. Tina completed her doctorate at the University of Connecticut, where she was recognized as an Outstanding Woman Scholar. She received an MSW from Marywood University, where she was the first social work student awarded the Sister M. Eva Connors Peace Medal, and is a proud alumnus of Shippensburg University. In 2021, NASW-PA recognized Dr. Tina as the Social Work Educator of the Year.
Dr. Tina’s current research focuses on the intersection of social justice and human rights, especially within higher education. Dr. Tina’s publications include examples of community-engaged learning to promote such models across academia.
Selection of publications related to community-engaged learning:
- Johnson, K. L., & Chiarelli-Helminiak, C.M. (2021). Human rights in Philadelphia. Urban Social Work, 5(3), 213-226. doi: 10.1891/USW-D-20-00030
- Lane, T., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., Bohrman, C., & Lewis, T. (2017). The teachable moment: Engaging students in social justice movements. Social Work Education: An International Journal, 4, 359-372.
- Thomas, R. L., Chiarelli-Helminiak, C. M., Barrette, K., & Ferraj, B. (2015). Building relationships and facilitating immigrant community integration: An evaluation of a cultural navigator program. Evaluation and Program Planning, 55, 77-84.
Annual Report
The annual report aims to provide a summary of both the department-led efforts, as well as community engagement initiatives reported to the department by faculty, staff, and students. Center for Civic Engagement & Social Impact promotes community engaged learning experiences that address critical community needs by building mutually beneficial partnerships with non-profit organizations and governmental agencies, while empowering students to be active citizens in their local, national and global communities.
