Our Staff
Loyola's Center for Experiential Learning is staffed by a full-time Director, two full-time Coordinators (of Academic Internships and Service-Learning), a full-time Federal Work-Study Coordinator provided through the AmeriCorps*VISTA program, a Graduate Assistant who assists with the coordination of the undergraduate research program (LUROP), and two undergraduate Summer AmeriCorps*VISTAs.
For the Center's general phone and fax numbers and email, mailing, and shipping addresses, click here.
- Director
- Academic Internship Coordinator
- Service-Learning Coordinator
- Federal Work-Study Coordinator / AmeriCorps*VISTA
- Graduate Assistant (Assistant Coordinator for LUROP)
- Community Engagment Advocates
DIRECTOR - Patrick M. Green, Ed.D. 773.508.3945 | pgreen@luc.edu
Patrick M. Green, Ed.D., serves as the Director of the Center for Experiential Learning and Clinical Instructor of Experiential Learning at Loyola University Chicago since 2007. In addition to teaching experiential learning courses in leadership and service, Dr. Green’s current research focuses on the impact of experiential education programs on skill development, core competencies, and career development, funded by the National Association Colleges and Employers (NACE) Research Foundation Grant.
Dr. Green was nominated and chosen as an Engaged Scholar for National Campus Compact, a national organization that fosters civic education and the civic purpose of higher education. As one of Campus Compact’s Engaged Scholars for New Perspectives in Higher Education, Dr. Green has worked on national initiatives to progress the field of experiential education, service-learning and civic education and is working on multiple articles and book chapters.
Prior to his role at Loyola, he served as the Director of Career Services and taught in the College of Arts and Sciences at Roosevelt University in Chicago. In 2006, Dr. Green completed his dissertation entitled, Service-Reflection-Learning: An Action Research Study of the Meaning-Making Processes Occurring through Reflection in a Service-Learning Course. Dr. Green's research has focused on the meaning-making processes of reflection as key components of learning in service-learning courses and forms of experiential education. This research led to publication in the Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning (Spring 2007) and presentations at multiple conferences, including the International Research Conference on Service-Learning and Community Engagement.
He serves on the Illinois Governor's state-wide Service-Learning Advisory Board, as well as on the Executive Council of Illinois Campus Compact. Dr. Green has also served as an Engaged Scholar for Service-Learning with the Illinois Campus Compact since 2005, a role which allowed him to consult with other institutions of higher education to develop experiential learning programs and to coordinate faculty development for service-learning.
ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP COORDINATOR - Louise M. Deske, M.A.
773.508.3952 | ldeske@luc.edu
Louise M. Deske, M.A., served as the Internship Coordinator in the Niebuhr Center at Elmhurst College. She was responsible for the development, oversight and implementation of the Niebuhr Center: Callings for the Common Good Internship Program (a Theological Exploration of Vocation program funded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc.). The process of establishing an internship placement integrated the student’s academic preparation, faith motivation and career exploration in a very purposeful way. Ms. Deske successfully established and maintained relationships with students, faculty and supervisors at community service agencies and ministry-related internship sites.
Ms. Deske returns to employment at Loyola University Chicago where she received a Master of Arts in Religious Education in 1989 and previously held administrative positions in the departments of Financial Aid and the Career Center.
SERVICE-LEARNING COORDINATOR - Christopher A. Skrable, M.A.
773.508.2380 | cskrabl@luc.edu
Christopher A. Skrable, M.A., returns to Loyola after serving as the Community Service Director at Chicago’s Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. There, he worked to establish and strengthen reciprocal partnerships between not-for-profit agencies in Pilsen/La Villita and the high school community. He looks forward to continuing that work on a larger scale in his role as Service-Learning Coordinator at Loyola, facilitating the sharing of resources between the University and community partners through the development and support of service-learning classes across the undergraduate curriculum.
Mr. Skrable’s own background includes extensive experience in secondary and post-secondary education, campus ministry, and advocacy/social justice, including serving as a Disabilities Specialist in Loyola’s office of Services for Students with Disabilities. His personal volunteer commitments have included work with the Jesuits of the Maryland Provice, Annunciation House of El Paso, TX, and the parish of San Francisco de Asís in Bánica, Dominican Republic. He presently volunteers on behalf of Chicago's LGBTQ communities, as well as occasionally working towards completing a second M.A. degree at Loyola, focusing on the ethical thought of 20th Century philosopher Emmanuel Levinas.
FEDERAL WORK-STUDY COMMUNITY PARTNER COORDINATOR - Joanna Buchmeyer
AmeriCorps*VISTA
773.508.6090 | jbuchmeyer@luc.edu
Joanna Buchmeyer is a recent graduate of the University of Iowa with a B.A. in Journalism and International Studies. Joanna joined the Center for Experiential Learning in August as part of the AmeriCorps*VISTA program, a national community service program designed to fight poverty.
In her position at the Center, Joanna works with community based organizations and local not-for-profit agencies to help them create positions for Loyola students who are qualified for Federal work-study. Joanna is also in charge of writing and collecting content for the CEL’s civic engagement focused newsletter and supervising a group of eight wonderful student workers, the Community Engagement Advocates. If you have any stories you would like to share, please email her your submissions!
GRADUATE ASSISTANT - Ashley Kehoe
773.508.3366 | akehoe@luc.edu
Ashley Kehoe is a graduate student in the M.Ed. Higher Education program at Loyola University Chicago. She recently graduated with a B.A. in English from Roosevelt University, where she served as Project Leader of a Raise Your Voice Fellowship initiative to increase the opportunities for service and experiential learning on campus.
Upon completing her undergraduate degree, Ms. Kehoe interned with Discover Loyola, the first-year and transfer orientation program for Loyola University Chicago. She remains active in the community as a member of the Executive Committee of Illinois Campus Compact, an organization dedicated to civic engagement and fulfilling the public purpose of higher education.
Anabelle Doulas (773.508.7960 adoulas1@luc.edu) a junior, is a Psychology and Sociology major. After graduation, Anabelle plans to attend graduate school in order to attain her PhD in Psychology. Her ultimate goal is to become a therapist that caters to children and adolescents of low socioeconomic status. Anabelle is involved with Best Buddies Loyola Chapter. She is also involved in volunteering at community non-profits in Chicago as well as Loyola Honor Societies. Anabelle believes that a life of service to others is a life worthwhile. She hopes to spread this message to the students of Loyola University Chicago
Michelle E. Cruz (773.5087960 mcruz2@luc.edu ) is a junior at Loyola University double majoring in International Studies and Advertising/Public Relations. It is her second year at the Center for Experiential Learning. One of the goals for her work this year will be focused on fostering collaboration between student life, in particular student organizations, with non-profits in the community.
On campus, Michelle serves as the secretary of Latin American Student Organization (L.A.S.O) and Campus Activity Network (C.A.N). She is also a Social Justice Advocate under the Department of Student Diversity and works with fellow Loyola students in Empowerment Pipeline, a mentoring program with a social justice-based curriculum for local Chicago Public School youth. Outside of campus, she does freelance work for Remezcla, an alternative Latino/a-based online magazine.
Eberardo "Ebbie" Ruiz (773.508.7690 eruiz3@luc.edu) is a Junior at Loyola University Chicago his Majors are International Studies and Forensic Science. Eberardo has been to Spain and Turkey in trips and uses his knowledge and life experiences in work. He works with the following agencies: Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, Girls in the Game, George Armstrong School for International Studies and Good News Community Kitchen. Eberardo plays soccer and likes to read about Forensics and news articles. He enjoys riding the EL and listening to different types of Music. He is a Cristo Rey Scholar here at Loyola University. He enjoys to travel and learn more about different cultures he hopes after his time here at Loyola he can travel with that being part of his job.
Zainub Ashrafi (773.508.7690 zashrati@luc.edu)
Zainub Ashrafi lives life by the motto “Go big or go home.” She is a Pychology/ Pre-Med major with two minors in Finance and Chemistry in junior standing. When she isn’t saving lives as an EMT-B or CPR Instructor, she enjoys spending time with the oncology patients at Children’s Memorial Hospital. She also acts as one of two peer advisors for a great group of students in the Pre-Health B learning community. In the following year, Zainub hopes to go on a Global Medical Brigade service to Honduras, achieve her skydiving license, and pick up photography again.
In her position as a Community Engagement Advocate, Zainub will participate in creating new bonds between LUC and its community as well as maintaining and strengthening old bonds. She helps to coordinate internships, Federal Work Study, and volunteer opportunities for Loyola students at several community agencies such as Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Hamdard Center, Muslim Women Resource Center, National Kidney Foundation of Illinois, and Indo-American Center.
Kristen Guitzen (773.508.7690 kgietzen@luc.edu) is a junior at Loyola University Chicago, where she is working toward a major in Human Services with minors in Urban Studies and Psychology. She is currently a teacher’s assistant for four Loyola Seminar courses, in which she offers advice and provides guidance to first-year students. Kristen has a strong passion for those who are underserved and marginalized, and this passion has driven her to engage in the Chicago community as the Volunteer Engagement Manager of LIFT Chicago, a mentor for Chicago HOPES, and a co-founder of Loyola University’s Labre Ministry to the Poor. Upon her intended graduation this coming spring, she will begin her service with the Peace Corps.
Kristen’s position as a Community Engagement Advocate in the Center for Experiential Learning entails connecting the students of Loyola with volunteer, federal work study, and internship opportunities offered by partner organizations in the community, such as LIFT Chicago, Chicago HOPES, and Lakeside Community Development Corporation.
Emily Wilk (773.508.3366 | ewilk@luc.edu) is a senior Social Work student at Loyola University of Chicago, an intern at Chicago Adventure Therapy, and graduate of a NOLS semester in India. She is actively involved in strengthening relationships with the local community and Loyola University students.
Bill Masters (773.508.7690 wmasters@luc.edu) Bill Masters is a junior Pre-Health Psychology Major with a Neuroscience Minor and has been involved with community agencies such as TPAN, Chicago Youth Programs, Misericordia, the Hamdard Center, St. Francis Hospital, and Odyssey Healthcare. On his free time, he is also part of the Loyola Outdoor Adventure Club.
Juliet Gutierrez (773.508.7960 jgutierrez@luc.edu)