You can find us in Main N-165, Monday – Friday, 10 am – 4:30 pm
Please email ocel@vassar.edu with any questions.
Our Team:
Elizabeth Cannon | SHE/HER/hers | Director of Community-Engaged Learning, Teaching and Scholarship | Ecannon@vassar.edu
I’m Elizabeth, Director of Community-Engaged Learning at Vassar! I help students connect classroom learning with real-world community projects, focusing on racial, housing, and economic justice. I love supporting students’ passions and connecting with local organizations to create meaningful change.
Hi I’m Jean! I love Poughkeepsie and connecting students with assets, resources, and community partners. I am passionate about public art programs, voting rights, and mental health support. Meet with me to talk more about CEL! Click here to find a time to meet.
Zoë Markwalter | she/her/they | Research and Program Associate, Community-Engaged Courses | ZMarkwalter@vassar.edu
Hiya. I’m Zoë, Community Engaged Curriculum Program Associate. My touch and go college journey resulted in an Associate of Science in Photography, a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Communication, and a Master of Professional Studies in Social Justice Education. Outside of work I am a recreational crew team member, a cycler, an intermittent gardener (no, it doesn’t work very well), a slow and steady Spanish language learner, and a knitter. I’m an aspiring sewer, + so many more things. My OCEL passions include knowledge compensation equity (otherwise known as epistemic justice), incommensurability, and student-driven projects. All of the OCEL action areas motivate me. Some focus areas where I have spent much of my life are Education and Economic Justice, Environmental Justice & Food Security, Healthcare Justice (Public Health), and Housing Security & Justice. Link to my calendar here if you’d like to set up a meeting.
Brianna Evans was born and raised in the City of Poughkeepsie, New York. In her free time, she likes to paint and be creative. She loves keeping organized and bringing a positive, detail-oriented attitude to her job. She is proud of being dependable and friendly, and she is always willing to help others. She also wants to keep growing in her career and as a person, and she values chances to make a difference in a big way.
Anabel Varghese |the/Them | Exploring College Program Coordinator | avarghese@vassar.edu
Hi hi! I’m Anabel, Exploring College Program Manager. I grew up in both Kerala, India and in Michigan, US. I graduated with an Anthropology degree, with interests in Education and Prison Studies. I dream of mastering baking and crafting coffee and tea beverages. I’m surprisingly ok at pickle ball, and I love spending time with my family, both given and chosen. Action areas that are important to me include: education policy and equity, lgbtqia+ rights, mental health access and support, prison abolition, racial justice.
