The Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA program is supported by a team of dedicated staff and VISTA Leaders. They support AmeriCorps grantees with their VISTA projects, while also supporting AmeriCorps members through training, community, and support. Meet our VISTA Team!
Stephanie is originally from Omaha, Nebraska. She attended Creighton University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. After college, Stephanie worked as a bilingual family liaison for an after-school program until she returned to school to pursue her masters. Stephanie attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) for a Masters in Social Work and a Masters in Public Administration. Stephanie worked at the Service Learning Academy as a graduate assistant until the end of her masters programs. She returned to the Service Learning Academy as a Campus Compact VISTA (2019-2020), creating content on the intersection of education, poverty and service learning. Stephanie created multiple opportunities for K-12 teachers, UNO professors and community partners to come together and discuss how to create intentional service learning projects. She has also supported service learning partners by compiling resources and research to guide exceptional service learning opportunities. In her role as a VISTA leader she works with data and evaluation and supporting her Midwest VISTAs.
Stephanie can be reached at: sdiaz@compact.org
Matt is honored to serve as the Director of AmeriCorps Programs for Campus Compact. In this capacity, Matt provides direct oversight and management of Campus Compact’s multiple AmeriCorps programs in order to ensure high levels of engagement from and impact on higher education member campuses and community partners, provide meaningful public service leadership experiences for AmeriCorps members, and deepen Campus Compact’s partnership with AmeriCorps. Prior to working with Campus Compact, Matt served in multiple roles in higher education with academic affairs, student affairs, and campus ministry focused on civic learning and community engagement. He has served as the Director of the Office of Community Outreach at the University of Connecticut, Associate Director for GEAR-UP at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, and Assistant Director of the Center for Social Concern at Stonehill College. Matt has a BS in Business Administration (Finance) from Stonehill College and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Connecticut. Matt currently serves as a Commissioner of the Connecticut Commission on Community Service and a member of the Connecticut Civic Health Advisory Committee organized by the Office of the Secretary of the State of Connecticut and Everyday Democracy.
Matt can be reached at: mfarley@compact.org
As a Michigan native, Chelsey is a graduate from Michigan State University where she studied Social Work and Spanish. After graduation, Chelsey served as a Team Leader and Unit Development Assistant for AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) in the Southwest Region where she completed service projects that spanned from flood recovery to tax preparation. From there, Chelsey joined the Peace Corps as a Community Economic Development volunteer in Paraguay. Through community asset mapping, she partnered with the local municipality, school district, and youth groups to complete town beautification projects and develop courses in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership. By the end of her service, Chelsey decided to return to school to broaden her understanding of sustainable development and NGO management. She graduated from DePaul University in June 2020 with a Master’s in Public Administration and International Public Management. During the completion of her degree, Chelsey worked as a Marketing Coordinator with a legal association. She is excited to be back with the AmeriCorps community and offers a diverse background in program management and development. Outside of work, Chelsey prefers to spend time outdoors with her dog, reading a good book under a blanket with her cat, and crocheting while taking in a new film.
Chelsey can be reached at: chudson@compact.org
Breanna is originally from Michigan and attended Rochester University (not to be confused with the University of Rochester in New York) where she studied Nonprofit Management and Social Work. After graduation, she joined the Peace Corps as an English Educator volunteer in Ethiopia. During her time in Ethiopia, Breanna conducted research to identify strengths and weaknesses in the community, taught communicative English to grade 11 students, and provided teacher training on best classroom practices. After her time in Ethiopia, Breanna returned to the U.S. and began a position as an AmeriCorps VISTA where she helped develop an English Language Arts Curriculum, improved the organization’s curriculum development processes, and worked to improve access to fresh produce for low-income families.
Currently, Breanna is pursuing her Master’s of Public Policy with a concentration in Human Rights Advocacy at Adler University and plans to graduate in the Summer of 2022. She is excited to join the Campus Compact VISTA team and looks forward to what her VISTA Leader year will bring.
Breanna can be reached at: bmihalovich@compact.org
A native of Illinois, Nathan grew up in Peoria. He completed his B.A. Cum Laude with Honors at Bradley University, double majoring in Organizational Communication and French, with a minor in Spanish. While at university, Nathan studied abroad twice, in Costa Rica and France. As an undergraduate, Nathan worked with the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council, where he supported the Greater Peoria Pathways initiative, which sought to expose students to post-secondary options beyond the traditional baccalaureate model. Seeking new adventures, Nathan moved to Chicago after completing his degree, where he served with a VISTA project at Loyola University Chicago, working to bridge the resource gap between the university and nearby neighborhood public schools. Nathan is thrilled to be serving as a VISTA Leader and is excited to help others realize the tremendous benefits of the Campus Compact VISTA program. In his free time, Nathan can often be found contra dancing, running, biking, cooking, baking, or spending time outdoors.
Nathan can be reached at: nwiesehan@compact.org
