National Center for the Study of University Engagement - People - Staff

Directors

• Burton A. Bargerstock
• Co-Director, National Center for the Study of University Engagement
• Director, Communication and Information Technology
• E-Mail: bargerst@msu.edu | Vita
• Burton A. Bargerstock is co-director of the National Center for the Study of University Engagement and director of Communication and Information Technologies for University Outreach and Engagement (UOE) at Michigan State University (MSU). He directs information system development, publications, public/media relations, and event management; and serves on university-wide advisory committees. Since 1994, Bargerstock has participated in a number of institutional research efforts, including the development of the Outreach & Engagement Measurement Instrument (OEMI) which collects data on faculty outreach efforts and activities. Under the aegis of the National Center for the Study of University Engagement (NCSUE) he leads the OEMI project, heading its implementation at MSU and partnering institutions. Bargerstock also helped shape an ongoing qualitative research project that studies the impact of outreach on scholarship and scholarly lives. Recently, he was involved in the creation and development of the MSU Usability & Accessibility Center, a University laboratory that conducts research on and provides services for the evaluation of human/technology interfaces (e.g., software, Web sites, etc.). He is an institutional member of EDUCAUSE and the University Continuing Education Association, and is president of the MSU Chapter of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.
• Laurie A. Van Egeren
• Co-Director, National Center for the Study of University Engagement
• Director, Community Evaluation and Research Center
• E-Mail: vanegere@msu.edu | Vita
• Laurie Van Egeren, Ph.D., is the co-director of the National Center for the Study of University Engagement and director of the Community Evaluation and Research Center. She conducts both program evaluations and community-based research. Van Egeren has led or co-led several statewide evaluations to assess the implementation and outcomes of state-funded programs for children, youth, and families, including the evaluations of 21st Century Community Learning Centers, the All Students Achieve Program - Parent Involvement in Education, and the Child Care Expulsion Prevention Initiative. Van Egeren's research interests focus on contributions of programmatic quality, organizational structure, and community context to differences in child, youth, and family outcomes. She also conducts basic research in coparenting and family development. She holds a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Michigan State University.

Members

• Jason Almerigi
• Research Associate
• Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
• E-mail: almerigi@msu.edu | Vita
• Jason B. Almerigi, Ph.D., is a research associate in the National Center for the Study of University Engagement and an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Psychology. His research interests include character development in K-12 school-age youth, civic engagement in post-secondary students, and community engagement in college and university faculty and staff. Almerigi holds a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Michigan State University and has completed post-doctoral work at Tufts University.
• Diane M. Doberneck
• Research Specialist
• E-Mail: connordm@msu.edu | Vita
• Diane Doberneck is a research specialist at the National Center for the Study of University Engagement and an adjunct assistant professor in the Liberty Hyde Bailey Scholars Program. Doberneck's research interests include outreach and engagement in promotion and tenure processes; faculty integration of outreach and engagement across their teaching, research, and service responsibilities; faculty pathways to careers as engaged scholars; international community engagement; and effective strategies for teaching and learning community engagement. Informed by this research, Doberneck creates and supports the co-creation of professional development programs on community engagement—including Tools of Engagement (undergraduate students), the Graduate Certificate on Community Engagement (graduate students), the Emerging Engaged Scholars Workshop (graduate students and new/junior faculty), and the Engaged Scholar Speakers Series (faculty, community members). In addition, she coordinates an international collaborative with the Tochar Valley Rural Community Network (Co. Mayo, Ireland) that enhances rural community vitality through community engagement. Together, Tochar Valley community members and MSU students assist communities in developing their own deeper sense of place; individual, organizational and community capacities; and cultural and natural heritage assets. In 2008, she won MSU's 1st Annual Curricular Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Award in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources for her international engagement work. Doberneck holds a Ph.D. in organizational and community resource development from Michigan State University.
• William Edwards
• Precollege Programs Strategist
• E-Mail: edwar281@msu.edu
• William A. Edwards is the pre-college program strategist and assessment specialist with a joint appointment between University Outreach and Engagement, Student Affairs & Services, and Admissions. His responsibilities include building assessment protocol, developing benchmarks for assessment, and creating strategies and toolkits to be used by all MSU pre-college programs. Edwards works closely with pre-college program administrators and directors to coordinate their efforts. Additionally, he serves as a point of contact for external constituencies including school districts, community colleges, and other stakeholders. Edwards also provides support to the University Pre-College Programs Steering Committee.
• Crystal Lunsford
• Research Associate
• E-Mail: lunsfor5@msu.edu | Vita
• Crystal Lunsford, Ph.D., is a research associate with the National Center for the Study of University Engagement. Broadly, her research interests draw on theories of cultural sociology to interpret the beliefs and behaviors of individual actors participating in the educational field. With the Center, Lunsford is leading research that focuses on examining how the intersection between institution, discipline, and the characteristics of faculty shape faculty involvement with the public. She holds a Ph.D. in Teaching, Curriculum, and Educational Policy from Michigan State University.

Students

• Dori Marie Pynnonen-Valdez
• Graduate Research Assistant
• E-mail: pynnone1@msu.edu
• Hilda Nyougo Omae
• Graduate Research Assistant
• E-Mail: omaehild@msu.edu
• Christopher Glass
• Graduate Research Assistant
• E-Mail: glassch2@msu.edu

Administrative Support

• Kristen Arnold
• Professional Aide
• E-Mail: arnoldk7@msu.edu | Vita
• Kristen Arnold is a professional aide with the National Center for the Study of University Engagement. Her responsibilities are primarily aimed at supporting the administration of the Outreach and Engagement Measurement Instrument (OEMI) at MSU and the Center's work in institutional studies, measurement, and benchmarking. Arnold's research interests include poverty and inequality, race and ethnic relations, and the economic and social issues of urban areas. She worked as an intern for an anti-poverty organization called Just Harvest in Pittsburgh, PA and is also currently an employee of Michigan State University's Community Evaluation and Research Center where she supports the federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Center evaluation and other outreach-related activities. Arnold earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Relations and Policy from the James Madison College at Michigan State University, and also obtained an undergraduate specialization in Peace and Justice Studies. Her goals include graduate studies in public policy.
• Cindy Helms
• Secretary III
• E-Mail: chelms@msu.edu
• Cindy M. Helms is secretary III at the Office of the Associate Provost for University Outreach, Communication and Information Technology (CIT), and the National Center for the Study of University Engagement (NCSUE). Besides providing general office support for CIT and NCSUE staff, she processes student and labor payroll on eTime and maintains and reconciles bookkeeping records. Helms researches the MSU Web site for activities, programs, and workshops for the Statewide Resource Network (SRN) and Spartan Youth Programs (SYP) Web sites.