Robert S. Smith, PhD

Dr. Robert S. Smith is the Director of the Center for Urban Research, Teaching & Outreach and Harry G. John Professor of History at Marquette University. His research and teaching interests include African American history, civil rights history, and exploring the intersections of race and law. Rob is the author of Black Liberation from Reconstruction to Black Lives Matter in the Debating American History Series, and Race, Labor & Civil Rights: Griggs v. Duke Power and the Struggle for Equal Employment Opportunity. Rob also serves on the Board of Curators for the Wisconsin Historical Society, is the Resident Historian for America’s Black Holocaust Museum, and is Chair of the Milwaukee County Human Rights Commission.

Angelina "Angie" Sandoval, MA

Angelina Sandoval is the Associate Director of Research and Internships at the Center for Urban Research, Teaching, and Outreach (CURTO) at Marquette University. She is a dedicated researcher with a background in advocacy, social justice, and education policy, as demonstrated through her previous roles serving with Public Allies (an AmeriCorps program). She earned her MA in Political Science from Marquette University, where she was a member of the inaugural cohort of Milwaukee Area Practicum Fellow at College Possible Milwaukee, working on Family and Community Engagement. Her academic pursuits have led her to explore crucial policy issues associated with race, class, gender, and poverty. Angelina has actively contributed to academic and professional communities, presenting on topics like Black women's leadership and critical race theory legislation. Angelina is pivotal in fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment. She oversees research initiatives, supervises interns, and collaborates with faculty and external partners to develop innovative programs aligned with CURTO's mission. Her extensive experience, interdisciplinary approach, and dedication to uplifting marginalized communities highlight her as a transformative figure within CURTO’s leadership team.

Benjamin Linzy, ABD

Benjamin Linzy is the Associate Director of Research and Operations at the Center for Urban Research, Teaching, & Outreach (CURTO). In this capacity, Ben plays a pivotal role in developing and implementing internal practices and systems to support CURTO's strategic initiatives. He collaborates closely with the CURTO Leadership Team (CLT) to shape organizational strategy and manage financial operations, ensuring efficient budgetary oversight and compliance with funding partners. Benjamin's leadership extends to representing CURTO externally and fostering collaborations with faculty and program coordinators to optimize research and grant management processes. With an academic background including an MA in Middle Eastern and North African history, an MS in criminal justice, and is nearing completion of his Ph.D. in American History from Marquette University, he brings extensive expertise in research areas such as international responses to genocide, domestic right-wing extremist movements, and transnational paramilitarism. Benjamin brings a robust blend of academic rigor and administrative acumen to his role, supporting CURTO in advancing its mission and objectives. He concurrently holds the role of Program Coordinator for Humanities Without Walls (HWW) at Marquette University, where he oversees a $1.3 million grant project in collaboration with the Humanities Research Institute at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Benjamin remains dedicated to advancing educational opportunities and promoting social justice through his scholarly pursuits and community involvement. 

Theresa W. Tobin, PhD

Dr. Theresa W. Tobin is the Director of the Education Preparedness Program (EPP) at the Center for Urban Research, Teaching & Outreach and Associate Professor of Philosophy. She is also the Associate Dean for Student Development at Marquette University. Theresa's academic research focuses on contemporary ethics with a special focus on ethical questions that arise at the intersections of gender, sexuality, religion and culture. She has written articles on themes related to gender, moral trust, and the nature and moral significance of spiritual violence for Hypatia, Metaphilosophy, Social Theory and Practice, and Human Rights Review.

Alexandra Gambacorta

Alexandra Gambacorta is the Program Manager for the Education Preparedness Program (EPP) at the Center for Urban Research, Teaching & Outreach. In this role, she conducts the day-to-day logistics and operations of the program including scheduling classes, coordinating students, and working closely with program collaborators. She earned an MA in English from Marquette University with a research focus on decolonizing archives and archival accessibility. Her graduate and ongoing concentration outside of EPP work is creating ways to make archival collections more accessible to Tribal Nations, particularly the Bureau of Catholic Indian Mission archive collection (the largest collection of Catholic Native American Mission and Boarding School records in the country) held in Marquette University’s special collections. Additionally, Alex is a co-instructor for a variety of EPP courses and helps lead the Think Tanks on Reentry and Philosophy inside Racine Correctional Institution. Additionally, she is a trained facilitator for Narrative 4, an organization that uses a story exchange model to cultivate radical empathy while empowering students to improve their communities and the world. 

Darren Wheelock, PhD

Dr. Darren Wheelock is the Director for the McNeely Prison Education Consortium (MPEC) at the Center for Urban Research, Teaching & Outreach and a member of the EPP leadership team. He is also an Associate Professor of Criminology and Law Studies in the Department of Social and Cultural Sciences and the Director for the Criminal Justice Data Analytics MS program at Marquette University. Darren's research interests include examining the intersection of racial/ethnic inequality and criminal punishment, survey research methods, evaluating the effectiveness of "rehabilitative" criminal legal intervention for the reentry process, multi-level modeling, and censored and categorical dependent variables. He teaches classes on reentry; race, crime and punishment; and social statistics. 

Mandy Stephen-Balek, MSEd

Mandy Balek-Stephens is the Program Manager for the McNeely Prison Education Consortium (MPEC) at the Center for Urban Research, Teaching & Outreach.  In this role, Mandy helps build degree pathways for currently and formerly incarcerated individuals through MPEC partner institutions in the greater Milwaukee area.  After earning her MSEd in Counselor Education, Mandy worked in academic advising where she created exploring programming for undecided, pre-law and pre-health professions students, trained faculty advisors in best advising practices, and collaborated with academic departments on curriculum development.  Before coming to Marquette, Mandy spent about 5 years working with a college access program, supporting high school students (and their families) in their goals of applying and enrolling in colleges and universities across the country.

Gabriel Velez, PhD

Dr. Gabriel Velez is the Faculty Director of the Black and Latino/a Ecosystem and Support Transition (BLEST) Hub at the Center for Urban Research, Teaching & Outreach. He is also an Assistant Professor and Developmental Psychologist in the Department of Educational Policy and Leadership (EDPL) in the College of Education at Marquette University. Gabe studies identity development in adolescents, particularly in relation to citizenship, human rights, and peace, including young people’s understandings and responses to peace education and restorative justice in educational contexts. In his work at CURTO, Gabe contributes to building better understandings and synergies to support Milwaukee-area Black and Latino/a young people’s thriving and college and career success. 

Melissa Gibson, PhD

Dr. Melissa Gibson is the faculty Director for the MKE Roots Project at the Center for Urban Research, Teaching & Outreach. Currently, she is piloting a social studies course she designed called "Explore MKE" at St. Joan Antida High School. Melissa is an Associate Professor and Teacher Educator in the Department of Educational Policy & Leadership (EDPL) in the College of Education at Marquette University. She studies how diverse schools work to enact educational justice, particularly in relation to liberatory and anti-racist pedagogies and through social studies and citizenship education. Prior to joining the Marquette University faculty, Melissa was a middle and high school social studies and English teacher in the US and Mexico.

Lauren Instenes, MA

Lauren Instenes is the Project Coordinator for the MKE Roots Project. In this role, she supports the creation of an online ecosystem which will be used to bring local histories of social change movements to Milwaukee K-12 classrooms. Lauren has an MA in Oral History from Columbia University and her personal research centers on queer Midwest spaces and communities. Lauren is passionate about using digital media and art to share underrepresented stories. Past projects include:  Fifty Years of Pride at Why Not III, The Facing Project: Facing Intolerance, Antioch University’s The Seed Field Podcast, and Real Stories MKE. Lauren currently serves on the board of The Facing Project and is producing Out-fm’s upcoming podcast (2024). 

Iris Soto Ruiz, MA

Iris Soto Ruiz is a Project Coordinator for the MKE Roots Project at the Center for Urban Research. Teaching & Outreach. Her work at CURTO focuses on coordinating place base, inquiry centered, teacher facing initiatives for the program. She holds a BA in English Language and Literature from the Universidad de Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and a MA in Spanish from the University of Oregon. Both degrees with a focus on decolonial theories and practices. During her time at Milwaukee, she has been involved in multiple initiatives centering Milwaukee’s Latinx communities.

Kathryn Storm

Kathryn Storm is a Graduate Research Assistant at the Center for Urban Research, Teaching, & Outreach and pursuing an MA in Modern U.S. History at Marquette University. She graduated from American University in 2020 with a degree in Political Science and Minors in Education and History. In addition, she previously interned in the House of Representatives and with Global Kids, an education focused nonprofit. Her research focuses on Civil Rights, Social Movement Theory, and how these affect public policy today. Kate's work at CURTO focuses on research regarding the use of electronic monitoring on youth in Milwaukee Juvenile Corrections.

Drake Bentley

Drake Bentley is project manager of Living for the City: The Black Middle Class in Milwaukee project, which is a joint effort between CURTO and UW-Milwaukee. A northside Milwaukee native, Drake is also a reporter with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, where he’s covered news, justice, race, politics, investigations, features, sports, and more.

Living for the City has conducted about 100 interviews with Black residents, looking to explore what it means to be in the Black middle class. Typically, the narrative surrounding Black Milwaukee is one of poverty, struggle, and crime, but many Black residents have achieved success and stability. Please visit our website for more info - https://www.marquette.edu/urban-research-teaching-outreach/living-for-the-city.php

Saúl López, MA

Grace Alvarez

Grace Alvarez is a dedicated community builder and equity advocate with a strong foundation in Peace Studies and Applied Mathematical Economics from Marquette University. Her work experience spans roles with the Urban Ecology Center, Americorps, Next-Door Foundation, and Metcalfe Park Community Bridges. Currently a Trinity Fellow Graduate student studying Education Policy and Foundations at Marquette, Grace is a Volunteer Coordinator at the Urban Ecology Center, focusing on volunteer recruitment and strategic planning to enhance community engagement. She has also contributed to the Education Preparedness Program at Marquette’s CURTO, promoting educational opportunities through community-building events. Grace's expertise includes digital marketing, communication, and leadership, and she is committed to fostering growth and connection within the Milwaukee community.

Raylee Nelson

Raylee Nelson is a Master's Graduate student at Marquette University. She is a first-generation college student studying U.S. History, and has grown to love Milwaukee history. She was born and raised in Racine, Wisconsin where she still currently live with her parents, three younger sisters, and three dogs! As an MKE Roots Graduate Assistant, she is working to educate kids on their neighborhoods and their histories while working to make connections with them on how they want their Milwaukee to be. In MKE Roots they are in the classrooms and administer surveys to see how much information they are retaining and how their viewpoints are evolving. With my role at MKE Roots, she can work in my interest field and with the children who hold our future in their hands.

Ayo Ibiyemi

Ali Shana

Cindy Bouldin

Cindy Bouldin is a senior majoring in Criminology and Law Studies, currently the undergraduate student intern for CURTO and the Educational Preparedness Program (EPP). Originally from Chase City, Virginia, Cindy has become a community member within Milwaukee through research and social exploration of the city. She is a undergraduate Research Assistant, with Angie Sandoval, researching the the history of the Community Reintegration Center (CRC) and assisting in conducting a study on Black Women in leadership within corrections. She has also handled correspondence for the EPP and helped foster a Think Tank within Racine Correctional Institution (RCI) where she took courses that focus on progressing and creating reentry programming within the facility. In years prior Cindy interned at a family law firm in Virginia during her freshman and sophomore summers. Her accumulated 90 hours of observation time in family courts focusing on juvenile delinquency had prepared her for her course on Juvenile Delinquency in the fall of her sophomore year and to later apply that knowledge through her work as a paralegal with the firm in the summer following. With an interest in Juvenile Delinquency and Reentry policy, she plans to pursue these further after attending law school in the years to come.

Abby Lamkins

Abby Lamkins is a junior, double-majoring in Digital Media and Public Relations and double-minoring in Urban Affairs and Theology. Abby is also a part of the Accelerated Degree Program for an MA in Public Service. Main passions center around social justice and helping others, and really enjoy using skills and experience in communication and advocacy to make a positive different in the lives of those around. During the Fall 2024 semester, she is interning with the Education Preparedness Program (EPP), and happy to be continuing supporting justice-impacted people. First explored re-entry work with a past internship at the Benedict Center, a nonprofit serving women impacted by the criminal justice system and sex trade, and that made me very passionate about the field. In future work, she will strive to be an advocate for those impacted by the carceral system, and will try my best to continue educating myself and continue keeping an open mind.

Ethan Evers

Ethan Evers is senior at Marquette University studying international affairs with a Minor In sports management. This is Ethan's first semester as an intern for the Educational Preparedness Program and he is looking forward to continuing this working his second semester. Some of the jobs he has had in the past include Dick Sporting Goods retail associate Golf course maintenance as well as a Barista for Starbucks. His passion is providing resource for people to better their lives and he has a passionate for supporting people who are discarded by society's.

Vivian Favela

Vivian Favela is a freshman at Marquette University from Mundelein Illinois. She is Majoring in corporate  communications and minoring in marketing. She is the communication intern for CURTO and she creates and updates the social media and websites of CURTO. This position has let her explore communications and real job atmosphere. She has experience in leadership and marketing from her past clubs. Aside from work she enjoys working out, reading and being with family and friends and her dog. 

Jack Lynch

Leila Hernandez-Salinas

Leila Hernandez-Salinas is a senior double majoring in Political Science and Criminology and Law Studies. She is an undergraduate research assistant, working on the Electronic Monitoring in Youth in Milwaukee project. Leila is a Burke Scholar, and in Honors. They have served at various schools in the Milwaukee area, and interned at Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee. During her summer she interned at the Waukesha Probation and Parole office. She is currently also a 414 Fellow working alongside Nextdoor to promote early literacy in classrooms. Leila is interested in exploring reentry and working alongside justice impacted individuals to bring awareness and justice to their communities.

Noah Kinnison

Noah Kinnison, is working for CURTO as an ambassador for the Andrew Goodman Foundation, a national nonprofit created to organize campus voting and voter registration. Currently a senior majoring in political science and philosophy, with a minor in public policy, and plan to graduate in spring of 2025.  He has worked for CURTO since the start of 2024 and feels passionately not only about the work he is doing, but also for other aspects of CURTO, particularly the EPP program. In addition to working as an AGF ambassador, he spent this past summer working for the Near West Side Partners because he care for the city of Milwaukee and enjoy seeing it develop. Aside from my work and school life, he is apart of the Marquette Naturals, Marquette's all-male a cappella group, and the President of Marquette Model United Nations!

Kenny MacAskill

Kenny MacAskill is a sophomore at Marquette University studying Political Science. His current involvement at the Center for Urban Teaching, Research and Outreach is his role as an Andrew Goodman Foundation (AGF) Ambassador. AGF works to make young voices and votes a powerful force in democracy. His previous roles include the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office and Milwaukee Common Council Public Information Office. These positions have allowed him to share his passion for civic engagement and outreach, with the ultimate goal of motivating more students to seriously engage with issues they care about. Kenny was born and raised on the North Side of Chicago and is a lifelong lover of animals and the outdoors.

Kiley Brockway

Kiley Brockway is a Junior at Marquette University, with majors in History & English and minors in Digital Media & Anthropology. Her research interests deal with how society interacts with historical memory, which she explored further this past summer (2024) while completing a summer research project funded by Marquette’s Honors College. As the MKE Roots Communications Intern, she is excited to apply her Digital Media skills into the context of her field of study, History. Focusing on spotlighting community voices, she hopes to explore the opportunity to engage with oral histories through MKE Roots social media platforms. Serving as an outlet for engagement and connection for the Milwaukee community is her goal when it comes to developing outreach initiatives. In addition to CURTO, Kiley is a peer tutor at the Ott Memorial Writing Center, Logistics Division manager for Marquette Eagle Racing, and participates in the Aquatic program in Water Polo and as a Lifeguard/Swim Instructor, and enjoys exploring all the city has to offer. 

Celia Bender

Celia Bender is an undergraduate researcher in the MKE Roots Program. In her role, she researches various locations in the Milwaukee area and creates entries for each location that highlights its importance to the Milwaukee area. In addition to writing these entries, Celia creates place-based curriculum for teachers to use when interacting with each site. Starting in the spring 2025 semester, Celia will also be teaching the MKE Roots curriculum at St. Joan Antida High School. Currently, Celia is a senior at Marquette University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and History. Her research interests focus on African-American history and, more specifically, Black history in Milwaukee. As a Milwaukee native, Celia is very passionate about Milwaukee history and improving the state of education in the Milwaukee area. Celia often feels that the MKE Roots program is the perfect internship for her, as it seamlessly blends all of Celia’s personal and professional interests. Apart from her work in CURTO, Celia is a member of the Urban Scholars Program (USP) at Marquette and a Resident Assistant (RA) for the Umoja Living Learning Community (LLC), Marquette’s residential community for Black culture.

Tyson Anthony

Tyson Anthony is a senior at Marquette University who will be graduating in May with a Bachelor of Science in middle/secondary education and history specializing in teaching social studies grades 4-12. He currently serves in Marquette University's Student Government as the Senator representing the College of Education. Tyson became an undergraduate research assistant at Marquette's Center for Urban Research and Teaching Outreach, joining the MKE Roots team after hearing about the project from Dr. Gibson. As a research assistant, Tyson examines different historical sites across Milwaukee, working to accurately and concisely to add them to the MKE Roots map. Recently he has also begun developing content that can be used in Milwaukee classrooms. Since joining the MKE Roots team, Tyson has had many opportunities to further his own understanding of Milwaukee's history by attending panels put on by organizations like the Wisconsin Historical Society, interviewing local historians, and being able to listen to dozens of local teachers reflect on their teaching experiences.

Lois Ella Dahlman

Lois Ella Dahlman works for the Center for Urban Research, Teaching and Outreach (CURTO) and is a MKE Roots’ Undergraduate Research Intern. Her majors are in History and Social Welfare & Justice and is working towards a bachelor’s degree at Marquette. She also works with Marquette’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) as a tutor to first-generation students. Her work with CURTO promotes working together with the community and connecting Marquette with Milwaukee. She is originally from Alberta, Canada, and serves as Marquette’s Outdoor Adventure Club treasurer as well as a peer mentor for the Honors Peer Mentorship Program.

Catherine Fink

Kendall Watts

Kendall Watts is a fourth year undergraduate research assistant at CURTO's BLEST Hub. Her role is to engage in community outreach with various organizations across the greater Milwaukee area to build and maintain our ecosystem of how these organizations work together. Throughout the last few years she has worked on our Support and Services Ecosystem Map, Ecosystem Timeline, Dual Enrollment work and now a new initiative through the REID (Racial Equity Impact Data) Effort. As somebody who is not from Milwaukee, it has been greatly rewarding to get involved with folks in the Milwaukee community and she look forward to using the skills she has developed here in her career.

Carmelo Knight

McKenna Farrell

Karolina Czepiel

Vilas Advani