Faculty and Staff
Public Leadership Program Office: 1214 Centreville Hall - UM, College Park MD 20742
Phone: 301.314.8657
Dr. David Crocker, Director
School of Public Policy
E-mail: dcrocker@umd.edu
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David A. Crocker is Senior Research Scholar at the Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy and the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, USA. Crocker specializes in sociopolitical philosophy, international development ethics, transitional justice, democracy and democratization, and the ethics of consumption. In the School's M.A. and Ph.D. International Development Program, which he directs, he offers courses on ethics, development, foreign aid, democracy, and human rights. In May 2009, he shared with Herman Daly the School’s award for “outstanding faculty member.” After three degrees from Yale University (M.Div., MA, and Ph.D.), Crocker taught philosophy for twenty-five years at Colorado State University. He was a visiting professor at the University of Munich, twice a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Costa Rica, held the UNESCO Chair in Development at the University of Valencia (Spain), and taught in the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Chile. He has been an officer of the Human Development and Capability Association and was a founder and president of the International Development Ethics Association (IDEA).
Since 2007, Dr. Crocker has been director of the undergraduate College Park Scholars Public Leadership program, living-learning-service program for 150 UMD freshman and sophomores. In January 2010, he repeated as faculty director for a study-abroad trip to Morocco, the theme of which was “Culture and Human Rights – A Public Leadership Perspective.” In March 2010, he led a graduate student spring break trip to Peru to study “Development, Democracy, and Human Rights in Peru.”
Among his publications are Praxis and Democratic Socialism; editor (with Toby Linden), Ethics of Consumption: The Good Life, Justice, and Global Stewardship; Florecimiento humano y desarrollo internacional: La nueva etica de capacidades humanas; editor (with Jesus Conill) ¿Republicanismo y educacion civica: Mas alla del liberalismo?, and Ethics of Global Development: Agency, Capability, and Deliberative Democracy (Cambridge University Press, 2008). He is working on a book whose working title is “Reckoning with Past Wrongs: Ends, Means, and Cases.”
David Crocker is the recipient of the 2010 International Landmark Award given annually by the university's Office of International Programs to faculty for outstanding long term service and accomplishment in the international relations. "It's a great recognition of his enormous contributions to international affairs here on campus," says MSPP Dean Don Kettl. The award will be presented at a special ceremony on Nov. 18th. The Landmark Award is given annually by the university's Office of International Programs to faculty members who provides contributions to the development of international institutional programs on campus and has demonstrated a distinguished international career.
Ms. Stacy J. Kosko, Associate Director
E-mail: sjkosko@umd.edu
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Stacy J, Kosko is finishing up her Ph.D. in Public Policy with a concentration in international development and a special interest in human rights and international education policy. In February, 2012, she defended her dissertation entitled "Essays in Human Rights and Education: Accommodating Vulnerable Minorities." She has been the recipient of two paper prizes in international development and currently serves on the executive board of the International Development Ethics Association and as the co-Coordinator of the HDCA Human Rights Thematic Group. Stacy is currently the Associate Director of the College Park Scholars Public Leadership program and has also recently worked with the World Bank and Ovidiu Rom, an education development organization in Bucharest, Romania. She came to the University of Maryland in 2007 from The Advocacy Project (AP), a DC-based human rights organization where she was Deputy Director. She also spent a summer working for AP at the Dzeno Association, AP's Roma partner in the Czech Republic. Before graduating from Georgetown University with an M.S. in Foreign Service in 2005 with concentration in International Conflict Management and a certificate in Refugee and Humanitarian Emergencies, she graduated from Syracuse University in 2000 with BAs in Television/Radio/Film, English and Textual Studies, and French and was recognized as a University Scholar, the highest award bestowed by the university.
Ms. Jennifer Littlefield, Assistant Director
E-mail: jnlittle@umd.edu
Jennifer Littlefield is currently a Ph.D. student in the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland focusing on public leadership and nonprofits. She currently serves as an instructor and Assistant Director in the College Park Scholars Public Leadership Program. In addition, she is a graduate assistant with the School of Public Policy’s new initiative around philanthropy and nonprofit management. Finally, Jennifer is a research assistant for the School of Public Policy’s Results Based Leadership Collaborative. In this role she assists with quality improvement and research efforts as well as funding applications and conference and journal submissions. Prior to coming to Maryland, she served as the Assistant Director of the Institute for Leadership Advancement in the University of Georgia 's Terry College of Business. In this role Jennifer assisted with all areas of the Institute including working with their two undergraduate leadership programs, planning and coordinating a study abroad program to Tanzania Africa, and working with various corporate and community partners of the ILA. Jennifer holds both a Bachelor and Master of Business Administration from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia.
Dr. Robert T. Grimm, Professor and Director of the Philanthropy and Nonprofit Management Program
School of Public Policy
Email: rgrimm@umd.edu
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Robert T. Grimm, Jr., Professor of the Practice of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Management, heads the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy's new program in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Management for graduate and undergraduate students to develop the skills and habits of effective philanthropists and public leaders.
Before joining the University of Maryland, Grimm served as Director of Research and Policy Development at the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) from 2004-2010. As an independent federal grant-making agency with an annual budget of over a billion dollars, Grimm was originally appointed to his position by the Bush Administration and re-appointed by the Obama Administration. He was also appointed Senior Counselor to the CEO of CNCS in 2006. Grimm was highly involved in the passage and implementation of the Kennedy Serve America Act (2009), including creating the new Social Innovation Fund and growing AmeriCorps from 75,000 to 250,000 volunteers per year.
Grimm has researched and written on a variety of topics, including nonprofit management, public policy, charitable behaviors, volunteering, national service, and civic engagement. The research team he led at CNCS produced work that has been publicly characterized as a "landmark in civic renewal", and has been further published in places such as the Stanford Social Innovation Review, Journal of Policy Analysis & Management, and Nonprofit & Voluntary Sector Quarterly. Grimm holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University, where he also taught and authored a book on the philosophies and approaches of notable American philanthropists.
Ms. Nicole Thompson, Teaching Assistant and Assistant Community-Based Learning Coordinator
Email: nicole853@gmail.com
Nicole Thompson is a Master of Public Policy candidate at the University of Maryland, specializing in Social policy. Previously, Nicole spent the past two years as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer working as a rural health educator in Morocco. While in Morocco she worked on community development projects that encouraged and reinforced healthy behaviors, enhanced the capacity of health workers to deliver effective preventive health education, and increased the capacity of the community and local organizations to reinforce healthy behaviors through environmental and social change. Some of these activities included working with USAID, a local association, local health staff and community members to build latrines and conduct hygiene and sanitation education, health curriculum development, training of trainers events, and grant writing education sessions. She has also worked with the Healthwell Foundation to aid patients in getting grant funding for cancer medications. Nicole graduated from Stanford University in 2006 with a B.A. in Human Biology with a concentration in Health Care and Human Development.
Mr. Benjamin Geare, Teaching Assistant and Associate CBL Coordinator
Email: bgeare@umd.edu
Benjamin Geare is a Master of Public Policy candidate at the University of Maryland, specializing in Social and Economic policy. Previously, Benjamin spent three years as a community organizer in the Los Angeles area, working with after school programs, housing rights advocates, and local labor unions. He spent two years as the facilitator of a volunteer program that placed University of California, Berkeley undergraduate tutors inside inmate classrooms in San Quentin State Prison. Benjamin graduated with distinction from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Philosophy.
Ms. Sarah Cardona, First-Year Colloquium Instructor
Email: cardonas@umd.edu
Sarah is a Master of Public Policy student at the University of
Maryland, focusing on International Development with a special
interest in Latin America. She currently serves as an instructor in
the College Park Scholars Public Leadership Program. She is also a
graduate assistant for College Park Scholars at the University of
Maryland focusing on alumni relations. Prior to coming to UMD, Sarah
served as Director of Community Relations for De La Salle Institute, a
LaSallian school on the South side of Chicago. In this role, she
worked closely with various corporate, political and community
partners as well as the school alumni and parents to provide
educational opportunities to lower income students. Prior to that,
Sarah worked in business development for Mayer Brown LLP supporting
the Global Project Finance, Emerging Markets and Latin America
practice groups. Sarah also spent three years working for a law firm
in Madrid, Spain in cross-cultural business development. Her civic
activities have included serving as an active Rotarian in Chicago and
leading the launch of a volunteer-run, women-focused arm of World
Vision. Sarah graduated with honors from Colgate University with a
B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Spanish.
Mr. Eyob Tekalign Tolina, Teaching Assistant
Email: eyobjobt@gmail.com
Eyob Tekalign Tolina is a PhD student at the UMD’s School of
Public Policy specializing in international development. Eyob brings
in more than a decade of diverse experience in research, policy
advice, diplomacy, development finance, private sector development
work and academics. Since April 2007, Eyob headed the Economy and
Business Section of the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington D.C. In this
capacity, he advised the Ethiopian Governors of the World Bank and IMF
on economic policy issues and took part in a number of project
negotiations. He also worked on trade, tourism and investment issues.
Prior to that Eyob has worked as a policy researcher and then officer
in charge of key UN organization in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of Ethiopia. Eyob also has extensive research and teaching experience.
He has given business and economic courses in a number of colleges.
He also has published articles and presented papers at both national
and international conferences. Eyob is a national of Ethiopia and a
holder of MIPP from the Elliott School of the George Washington
University, with concentration in International Business and Economy.
He obtained his BA degree in Economics (with very great distinction)
from Mekele University in Ethiopia in 2000.
Mr. Ian Feller, Activities Coordinator
Email: ifeller@umd.edu
Ian Feller is a joint Bachelor of Art / Master of Public Policy candidate in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, and School of Public Policy. He is a senior majoring in economics and government & politics for his undergraduate degree, and a first-year public policy student specializing in social policy and management & leadership for his graduate degree. He will be joining the Public Leadership staff as the activities coordinator. Formerly a staff intern and PL student, he has worked extensively with the program for the past three years. In addition, Ian is involved on campus as the Chair of the University Student Judiciary’s Appellate Board, the Vice Chair of the Executive Board, and a math coach with the Department of Resident Life’s Math Success Program
Mr. Kevin Roshdieh, Public Leadership Intern
Email: kevrosh@umd.edu
Kevin is a Junior International Business major and Public Leadership alumnus. Kevin has a great passion for Public Leadership and hopes to help in any way he can to make Public Leadership the best program possible. He has been involved in numerous student organizations on campus in leadership positions including the Student Government Association Legislator for the College of Computer, Math, and Natural Sciences, Chairman of the campus Residential Affairs Committee, Resident Hall Association Senator of Centreville Hall, President of the Iranian Students' Foundation, Outreach Chairman for the Jewish Student Union and various levels of involvement in many other organizations. He is currently employed at the Department of Treasury Inspector General's Office and has had past employment in the Montgomery County Government and at Integrated BioTherapeutics, a private medical research firm in Germantown, Maryland. Much of this has been made possible through the channels that were opened by the Public Leadership program and he is eager share his own experiences to help other students get a head start. Kevin can't wait to get to know all the new PLers, as well as to add his own touch to the program!
Mr. Richard C. Auxier, Graduate Student Teaching Assistant
Email: rcauxier@gmail.com
Richard Auxier is currently a first-year graduate student at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy. Within the College Park Scholars Public Leadership program he serves as a teaching assistant for the second-year colloquium course. Richard received his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, majoring in both Government & Politics and Economics, where he was a member of the College Park Scholars Media, Self & Society program. After graduation, Richard joined the Pew Research Center -- a non-partisan “fact tank” -- as a communications assistant tasked with supporting media relations. He was later promoted to researcher/editorial assistant, a position which allowed him to write and assist with numerous publications, manage the organization’s website and disseminate the work of the Pew Research Center via newsletters and Twitter. Richard has also interned twice on Capitol Hill, worked for the Baltimore Orioles and served on political campaigns.
Mr. Robbie Rosenthal, Community Based Learning Project Coordinator
Email: robbierosenthal@gmail.comRobbie Rosenthal is a joint Bachelor of Art / Master of Public Policy candidate in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, and School of Public Policy. He is a senior majoring in government & politics for his undergraduate degree, and a first-year public policy student specializing in international development for his graduate degree. He will be serving as the Community Based Learning (CBL) project coordinator. Formerly a PL teaching assistant and PL student, he has worked and been a part of Public Leadership for the past four years. In addition, Robbie is involved with the University Student Judiciary (Recognition Chair and presiding officer for the Central Board), Beta Theta Pi fraternity (founding father and risk manager), Omicron Delta Kappa leadership society (Scholarship chair and executive board member)and he has been a resident assistant for South Campus Commons. Robbie recently interned for Congressman Tim Walz (MN-01) and Hassett Willis and Company.