PAY IT FORWARD - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Graduate Teaching Associate for Leadership Programs
Education: BME in Music Education from The Ohio State University
As the Graduate Teaching Associate for Leadership Programs, Austin manages the LEAD Series and the Leadership Certificate Program. He also supports Leadership Awards, Leadership Week, and the annual LeaderShape Institute. Austin is passionate about education and education accessibility and is currently enrolled as a dual degree student seeking a Masters of Public Administration through the Glenn College of Public Affairs and a Master of Arts in Music Education through the College of Arts and Sciences. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his fiancé and three cats, playing the bassoon, and teaching music in the Columbus community.
Job Titles:
- Associate Dean of Students
As Associate Dean of Students, Dr. Kristen Rupert Davis provides strategic leadership to several areas including Leadership and Community Engagement, Sorority and Fraternity Life, Homecoming Court, and Anti-Hazing initiatives. Holding a Ph.D. in Student Affairs from the University of Maryland, she brings a wealth of experience from her previous roles at Ohio State, the University of Maryland, and Columbus College of Art and Design. Dr. Rupert Davis's research interests center on the leadership and involvement experiences of women and students with marginalized identities, as well as on advocacy and mentorship of young and mid-level professionals. In addition to her administrative roles, she serves on the board for two academic journals, contributing to the advancement of scholarly research in higher education. Outside of work, Dr. Rupert Davis embraces the role of being a mom to two boys, finding joy in reading, and spending quality time outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Director, Student Philanthropy
Félix José oversees and directs all student philanthropy initiatives for The Ohio State University. He also advises BuckeyeThon, Ohio's largest student-run philanthropy, which coordinates Ohio State's Dance Marathon and has raised over $13M for hematology/oncology/bone marrow transplant department at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Félix José began his career at Ohio State in 2000 as Director of Student Programs for the Alumni Association and later served as Associate Director for the Student Life Multicultural Center. As an experienced and successful higher education thought leader with more than 25
years of experience, Félix José provides a unique perspective of experiences as well as a diverse background. His expertise lies in relationship building as well as amplifying voices of those who feel they are not heard, successfully coaching, and developing students and employees, and creating and implementing strategic operational processes. His research interest focus on responsible inclusive leadership practice, diversity and inclusion, culture change and leading through uncertainty, real time change and strategic planning, workforce development and toxic behavior in the work place, student philanthropy, servant leadership, and prosocial behavior.
Job Titles:
- Engagement Specialist, Student Philanthropy
Job Titles:
- Lifelong Leadership Engagement Specialist
Julie Schnell serves as the Lifelong Leadership Engagement Specialist. In her free time, Julie can often be found spending time with her friends around Columbus and stopping to pet every dog she can!
Job Titles:
- Senior Coordinator for Community and Civic Engagement, Buck - I - SERV
Justin is the Senior Coordinator for Community and Civic Engagement for Buck-I-SERV and is driven to serve by supporting student development beyond the classroom. Prior to joining the Leadership and Community Engagement team, he worked to support the co-curricular experience in several professional positions including roles in Residence Life, Student Engagement, Multicultural Affairs, Student Conduct and Recreation Sports. In his free time, Justin enjoys playing golf and basketball, watching college football, and volunteering at the Mid-Ohio Market at HEART in Reynoldsburg where he serves on the Board of Directors.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator for Student Leadership Development
Education: BA in French from The Ohio State University
As the Coordinator for Student Leadership Development, Kala supervises the Student Leadership Advocates, supports the Mount Leadership Society Scholars program, and manages Leadership Week, Leadership Awards, and LeaderShape Institute. In addition to these responsibilities, Kala often facilitates professional and personal development workshops for students across campus. After falling in love with student involvement as a Buckeye undergrad, Kala has also returned to Ohio State to pursue a master's degree in Higher Education & Student Affairs.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director, Mount Leadership Society Scholars Program
Job Titles:
- Graduate Teaching Associate, Local Service Programs
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director for Leadership Programs
Kristen Van Gundy is the Assistant Director for Leadership Programs. In this role, she provides oversight for leadership initiatives like the LeaderShape Institute, Leadership Week, and the Non-Profit Immersion Program. As an educator and advisor, she is dedicated to fostering personal growth, leadership, and an excitement for lifelong learning and involvement in the students with whom she works. In her free time, Kristen loves to garden, hike with her two dogs, and read as many books as she can.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator
- Coordinator for Community and Civic Engagement, Local Service Programs
Madi is the Coordinator for Community and Civic Engagement for Local Service Programs, overseeing OSU Votes, Pay it Forward and Semester of Service. Madi is passionate about community and seeks to provide students with the information and opportunities they need to be civically engaged and to serve ethically in Columbus and beyond. In her free time, Madi is an avid reader, and also enjoys thrifting, crocheting, watching women's lacrosse, trying new coffee shops and spending time with family, friends, and her cat, Fern.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Community
- Assistant Director, Community and Civic Engagement
Meagen serves as the Assistant Director of Community and Civic Engagement. In her role, she provides oversight for the Buck-I-SERV, OSUVotes, Pay-It-Forward, and Semester of Service programs. She also cultivates and advances relationships with community and civic partners of various levels to build mutually beneficial opportunities for student engagement and move the university's mission forward. Meagen was raised in Appalachian Ohio and has held various higher education positions prior to joining the team. Outside of her professional life, she can be found listening to live music, exploring nature, sampling new foods, or adventuring with friends.
Job Titles:
- Student Leadership Advocate
Job Titles:
- Director, Buckeye Leadership Fellows
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director, Buckeye Leadership Fellows
Job Titles:
- Student Leadership Advocate
Job Titles:
- Student Leadership Advocate
Job Titles:
- Student Leadership Advocate