Staff

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 Assistant 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 by presenting on topics such as 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 Assistant 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 serves as Program Coordinator for Humanities Without Walls (HWW) at Marquette University, overseeing 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 Faculty 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 particular emphasis on ethical questions arising 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, MA

Alexandra Gambacorta is the Program Manager for the Education Preparedness Program (EPP) at the Center for Urban Research, Teaching & Outreach. In this role, she oversees the day-to-day logistics and operations of the program, including scheduling classes, coordinating students, and collaborating with program partners. 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 Faculty 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 of 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 interventions in the reentry process, multilevel modeling, and censored and categorical dependent variables. He teaches classes on reentry, race, crime, and punishment, and social statistics. 

Mandy Balek

Mandy Balek 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 an exploration program for undecided, pre-law, and pre-health professions students, trained faculty advisors in best-practice advising, 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 efforts to apply to and enroll in colleges and universities across the country.

Cherita Rayford

Cherita Rayford is the Peer Support and Reentry Coordinator for the Education Preparedness Program (EPP) and the McNeely Prison Education Consortium (MPEC) at the Center for Urban Research, Teaching & Outreach (CURTO). In her role, Cherita provides mentoring and emotional support to EPP students, guiding them through their academic journey. She also works closely with students impacted by the legal system, offering recruitment and retention support while helping them navigate the admissions process and access community resources.

Cherita is deeply passionate about higher education within both institutional and prison reform contexts. With a bachelor's degree in Community Engagement and Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), she is committed to creating opportunities for individuals facing barriers to education and to advocating for transformative change in higher education access and justice reform.

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 Program Manager for the MKE Roots Project. In this role, she supports the creation of an online ecosystem to bring local histories of social change movements into Milwaukee K-12 classrooms. Lauren has an MA in Oral History from Columbia University, and her personal research centers on queer spaces and communities in the Midwest. 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). 

Kaleena Stoddard, PhD

Kaleena Stoddard is the Project Specialist for the MKE Roots Project. As the Project Specialist, Kaleena will support the MKE Roots cohort of teachers in implementing curriculum into their classrooms. She will also work on collecting teacher and student data and building out our curriculum offerings. Kaleena is a Wisconsin native hailing all the way from the great Northwoods. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from UW-Milwaukee, as well as a Master’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Liverpool, England, and a Philosophy PhD from Tulane University. Her primary interests lie in teaching and educational work, with an emphasis on breaking down systemic barriers to higher education for neglected epistemic communities. Her higher-education teaching experience includes work with high school students at Bard Early College New Orleans, incarcerated students at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women, and nontraditional students/adult learners. In her free time, Kaleena enjoys going to concerts, exploring Wisconsin’s nature spaces, laughing, and eating cheese.

Kathryn Storm, MA

Kathryn Storm earned her MA in History from Marquette University in May 2023. Throughout her time as a graduate student, Kathryn became the research director of the electronic monitoring project housed in the Center for Urban Research, Teaching & Outreach (CURTO). Ms. Storm added focus and vision to the project through interviewing dozens of system stakeholders and community members, and was particularly insightful in her engagement with public defenders representing youth on EM. Kathryn presented the research team's earliest findings in a variety of forums, including, but not limited to, public defender research luncheons, the American Society of Criminology’s 2022 Annual Conference, and interdisciplinary research teams at Marquette University. Kathryn earned a BA in Political Science from American University and brings a strong background of archival and policy analysis from her experience as a researcher and congressional intern. Her research focuses on Civil Rights, Social Movement Theory, and their effects on public policy today. 

As a cultural anthropologist in the Department of African and African Diaspora Studies, Ermitte Saint Jacques’ research has centered on the intersection of migration, citizenship, race, and gender. She has conducted research in the Caribbean, examining the implications of Bahamian notions of citizenship for the integration of Haitian immigrants, and Southern Europe, analyzing the relationship between the social integration of West African immigrants in Spain and their involvement in activities that tie them to their countries of origin. In recent years, her research has broadened to explore the implications of race, gender, and class in shaping identity formation among middle-class African Americans in the Milwaukee metropolitan area. Her research on the Black middle class in Milwaukee is a collaborative effort with Robert S. Smith, director of the Center for Urban Research, Teaching, and Outreach and associate professor in the Department of History at Marquette University, and Kitonga Alexander, Ph.D. candidate in History at UWM.

The oral history interviews for the Living for the City: The Black Middle Class in Milwaukee project are housed at the UWM Libraries. 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

Marilena Gohmann - Graduated from Marquette University with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and International Affairs, along with a minor in Sociology. During her time at Marquette, she served as the Team Leader Ambassador for the Andrew Goodman Foundation's Marquette chapter, where she helped promote civic engagement and voter participation. Following graduation, Marilena plans to continue her education at Marquette by pursuing a master's degree in International Affairs. She has received a full scholarship and will also serve as a Research Assistant.

Raylee Nelson - Served as the graduate assistant for the MKE Roots initiative from 2024-2026 while pursuing a master's degree in History with a focus on U.S. History at Marquette University. She recently graduated and will begin serving as a Volunteer Coordinator for an AmeriCorps program in rural Colorado this August. Her favorite memory from MKE Roots was the community collaboration and exploration that took place throughout the initiative. She especially enjoyed seeing students engage with the work and develop a deeper understanding of the history of their own communities.

Kenny MacAskill - Recently graduated from Marquette University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Corporate Communication. During his time at Marquette, he was actively involved with the Andrew Goodman Foundation, where he engaged in voter advocacy and civic participation efforts. Following graduation, Kenny began working full-time with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin on its Voter Protection team, continuing the voter advocacy work.

Dyani Palmer - Worked under the general CURTO banner as a communications intern and research assistant, contributing to House of Corrections (HOC) history research. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, Magna Cum Laude, with a focus on writing. This coming school year, she will serve with City Year AmeriCorps, providing support and assistance in Milwaukee schools. Looking ahead, Dyani hopes to continue developing her writing career and eventually publish her own novel. 

Kiley Brockway - Involved with MKE Roots as an undergraduate Communication Intern. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and English with minors in Digital Media and Anthropology. Kiley is continuing her education by completing her MA in History while working as MKE Roots Graduate Student Researcher. Her favorite CURTO experience was working with Milwaukee Public Museum and Forest Home Cemetery on research projects. 

Saúl López, MA

Ayo Ibiyemi

Ayo Ibiyemi is a PhD student in English at Marquette University, where he researches Black immigrant writing in Europe and North America. During his MA program in the same department, he studied Afro-Atlantic connections in fiction and worked with the Indigeneity Lab on the legacy of Native American Boarding Schools. Prior to his graduate studies, he worked in the non-profit sector and journalism in Nigeria. As an intern with EPP, he has co-taught a summer course on African American History with Dr. Rob Smith. 

Ali Shana

Ali Shana is a first-generation Palestinian American PhD student and Graduate Assistant studying Educational Policy & Leadership at Marquette University. At the WI Department of Public Instruction, within the Office of the State Superintendent, he facilitates WEOP pre-college efforts such as the WI GEAR UP program and its partnered MPS schools. Before his start at Marquette, Ali earned his Masters in Educational Psychology and Bachelor’s in Journalism both at UW Milwaukee. Though Ali continues to report for various multimedia publications on public policy-related news, his research and writing is mostly geared towards academic pursuits. His research interests include pre-college program efficacy, dual enrollment impact, student identity in STEM, student attitudes regarding AI in education, and critical math education research. As a CURTO graduate intern, Ali frequently collaborates with Dr. Gabriel Velez and the BLEST Hub more broadly. He also works with Dr. Blake O’Neal Turner in ongoing projects regarding the investigation, rupturing, and replacing of anti-blackness in mathematics education using BlackQuantCRT as a theoretical lens.

Vivian Favela

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

Lois Ella Dahlman

Lois Ella Dahlman works for the Center for Urban Research, Teaching, and Outreach (CURTO) and is researching the Republic of South Africa during the apartheid with Dr. Rob Smith. Her majors are in History and Social Welfare & Justice, and she 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 collaboration with the community and connects Marquette with Milwaukee. She is originally from Alberta, Canada, and serves as treasurer of Marquette’s Outdoor Adventure Club and as a peer mentor for the Honors Peer Mentorship Program.

Alec Romero

Alec Romero is a first-generation student and a Freshman at Marquette University, double-majoring in Criminology & Law and Social Welfare & Justice Studies. He is a part of the Urban, Honors, and Pre-Law Scholars programs. In 2024, Alec was awarded the Milwaukee’s Finest Scholarship, Dr. Terence N. Thomas Scholarship and the Herb Kohl Student Excellence Scholarship for his involvement in the Milwaukee community and his academic achievements. His campus involvement is through the RISE program, service learning, and first-generation events. Alec previously worked as a paraprofessional at Milwaukee Public Schools, supporting a nurturing environment for students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. In CURTO, he works as an undergraduate researcher for Electronic Monitoring (EM) Milwaukee. His fields of interest are particularly in social welfare policy, education, and law, as he wants to advocate for the effects of institutional racism on minorities in the criminal justice system.

Darius Wright III

Darius Wright III is a freshman scholar-athlete at Kalamazoo College, where he plays goalie for the soccer team while pursuing a major in business. Passionate about both sports and academics, Darius is committed to excelling in the classroom and on the field. During high school, he was an active member of the robotics team and participated in the Global Scholars program. In December, he began contributing to the project To Champion the Cause Through Law: Transnational Legal Activism in the Struggle Against Apartheid, where he has been analyzing relevant literature and archival documents to explore the legal challenges in the fight against apartheid. 

Kahmara Munn

Kahmara Munn is an honors student at Ball State University, studying Media and Journalism, and is committed to academic excellence and mentorship. A recipient of the prestigious Eli Lilly Scholarship, she actively supports her peers as a REACH Peer Mentor, guiding students through their academic journeys. Kahmara has a strong background in media, having served as an executive officer for her high school’s Black Student Union, where she helped plan events such as Black History Month assemblies and educational sessions. She further honed her skills as a reporter and anchor for NewsLink Indiana, where she conducted interviews, covered events, and delivered news stories to the Delaware County community. As a production team member, she rotated through various positions, including director and teleprompter operator. Kahmara also contributed to the project To Champion the Cause Through Law: Transnational Legal Activism in the Struggle Against Apartheid, where she conducted research on archival documents from the U.S. and South Africa, highlighting legal challenges in the fight against apartheid. 

*Henderson Smith

Henderson Smith is a dedicated student currently enrolled in an AP curriculum and a member of the National Honor Society. A scholar-athlete with a passion for photography and digital arts, Henderson is deeply committed to both his academics and his community. As an ambassador and youth mentor for the Black & Latino Male Achievement (BLMA) program, he advocates for students of color and works with Leaders Igniting Transformation (L.I.T.) on policy advocacy and voter education for public school issues. In addition, Henderson has contributed to the project To Champion the Cause Through Law: Transnational Legal Activism in the Struggle Against Apartheid, where he has researched South Africa’s history and the role of civil rights lawyers in ending apartheid through archival documents and coding interviews with key stakeholders.