Molly Ayers
Assistant Dean, Center for Community Engagement
Molly has nearly 20 years of experience in the field of community engagement in higher education, including, campus-community strategic partnership development, place-based engagement, community-engaged teaching, and student civic leadership development. She was the founding director of Eastern Washington University’s Office of Community Engagement and has served in the role of director/assistant dean of Gonzaga University’s Center for Community Engagement for over six years. She is an active mother of two boys who enjoys time spent outdoors with her family. She is also pursuing a doctorate in Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University. Molly can be reached at (509) 313-6396 or ayers@gonzaga.edu.
Emily Banick
Campus Kitchen Program Manager
Emily is the Program Manager for the Campus Kitchen at Gonzaga University. The Campus Kitchens Project utilizes food recovered from on-campus dining facilities to strengthen bodies, empower the minds of student volunteers, and build communities. Emily graduated from Gonzaga with a BA in General Studies and an Elementary Education Endorsement. Emily can be reached at (509) 313-6939 or at banick@gonzaga.edu.
Jesse Cardenas
Youth Programs Elementary Program Manager
Jesse is the Program Manager for Elementary School Programs. He comes to Gonzaga University with 7 years of years of experience working in non-profit ranging from rehabilitation centers, DCYF children visitations, Federal Re-entry Programs, and even Homeless shelters if can you name he probably has done it. He received his B.A. from Eastern Washington University in Race and Culture Studies with an emphasis in Africana Studies and Native American Studies and is currently finishing his Graduate Degree at Heritage University in Multicultural Literature and English with an Emphasis in English. On the days he is not in office you can find him with his partner and their two daughters, keeping up with any sports game that is playing, or just reading a new book at home. Jesse can be reached at (509) 994-0813 or cardenas@gonzaga.edu.
Andrea Davis
Zag Volunteer Program Manager
Andrea Davis is excited to join the center to support Zag Volunteer Corps, Logan house, and GUSR. Andrea started her career in non-profit work supporting individuals with disabilities. Recently she finished her 3rd service term with Americorps supporting the center's Youth programming initiatives. She is a proud dyslexic woman who graduated from Gonzaga University in 2017 with a degree in Communication Studies. She is passionate about using her experience as a disabled woman to advocate for disability justice and loves to talk about and organize around accessibility, equity, and inclusion. In her free time, you can find her listening to records, eating bagels and thrift shopping. Andrea can be reached at (509) 313-6832 or davisa@gonzaga.edu.
Dylan Jouliot
Data and Evaluation Analyst
Dylan joined the Center for Community Engagement in 2020 as the Data and Evaluation Analyst, with over a decade of experience in data and relationship-building focused roles. His work primarily supports the CCE’s place-based initiative, Opportunity Northeast, helping to measure, assess, and communicate progress and success for the initiative’s numerous programs and partnerships. Dylan is a proud Gonzaga undergraduate alum and earned his Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from UCLA. He is loving being back on campus and getting re-acquainted with Spokane alongside his wife – also a Zag! Dylan can be reached at (509) 313-5867 or jouliot@gonzaga.edu.
Avery Kain
AmeriCorps Program Specialist - Secondary
Avery is a Secondary Youth Programs AmeriCorps member serving at Garry Middle School and Rogers High School. She grew up in Chicago, IL and Phoenix, AZ, and is a recent 2023 graduate from Gonzaga University. As a student at GU, she volunteered as a student leader with CCE’s Connections, Campus Kids, and Sparks programs, and is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with these programs again as an AmeriCorps member. Outside of work, Avery enjoys reading, spending time with her friends and partner, and playing with her labradoodle Maggie the Zaggie. Avery can be reached at (509) 313-6820 or kaina@gonzaga.edu.
Julia Larsen
Office Manager
Julia's role of position of Office Manager provides administrative and logistical support across all areas and Programs of CCE as well as support to the Senior Director. Julia was born in England and became a naturalized citizen of the USA in August 2019. She studied at Hitchin Girls School in Hertfordshire, England, where she graduated at the Advanced Level in English and Sociology. Following a 2-year period of traveling and working in Europe, Julia joined the Corporate Sector in the UK where she worked for many years. The adaptation from corporate to the field of higher education has been interesting and very much motivated by the mission of Gonzaga and CCE. In her free time, she enjoys reading, gardening, (amateur) furniture restoration, baking (but is no Mary Berry!), the families 2 cats, (Seamus & Gracie), the beautiful Pacific Northwest and spending time with her husband and 3 kids (an 18 year old son and 17 year old twin daughters) Julia can be reached at (509) 313-6898 or at larsenj2@gonzaga.edu.
Robin Lewis
Community Engaged Learning Coordinator
As the Community Engaged Learning Coordinator, Robin supports students in CEL courses and serves as a liaison with community partners and faculty. She also coordinates the biannual Service Fair connecting students with local volunteer opportunities. Robin has worked with students, volunteers, and local community groups in multiple capacities, including as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zimbabwe and two years as an AmeriCorps member. Robin received her B.S. in Natural Resources from The Ohio State University and her M.A. in Applied Anthropology from Oregon State University. She loves traveling, hiking, camping, skiing, gardening, and spending time with her husband, twin daughters, and their menagerie of pets. Robin can be reached at (509)313-6487 or petersenlewis@gonzaga.edu.
Olivia Linke
AmeriCorps Program Specialist - Elementary
Olivia Linke grew up in Seattle, Washington and moved to Spokane to attend Gonzaga University in 2019. After volunteering with the Walking School Bus program during her senior year, she found a passion for engaging with youth in the Logan neighborhood. Olivia recently graduated as a double major with a B.A. in Sociology and Criminology, with minors in Psychology and Spanish. Since her graduation in spring 2023, she has been working as the Elementary Youth Programs Coordinator AmeriCorps in CCE. In her free time, Olivia can be found crocheting, watching football, and baking. Olivia can be reached at (509)-313-4604 or linkeo@gonzaga.edu.
Ernie Manzie
Assistant Director of Youth Programs
Ernie Manzie is originally from Upstate New York and received his undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Education from St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York. After graduation, Manzie worked as an elementary teacher in Fairport, New York before heading to Alaska where he taught in several small rural Alaskan villages. Additionally, he received his M.Ed. in Educational Administration with an emphasis on cross-cultural education along with his principal and superintendent's endorsement from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. He served in Fairbanks, Alaska as principal of an alternative high school and as Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent for Valdez City Schools. For the past 15 years he has worked with Family Centered Services of Alaska as Director of Education and Special Projects. Ernie is married to Christine and has two adult children. He is a passionate sports fan and is looking forward to a milder winter. Ernie can be reached at (509) 313-6607 or manzie@gonzaga.edu.
Lonni Marlow
Budget Assistant
Lonni Marlow is the Budget Assistant and joined Center for Community Engagement in 2024. She comes to Gonzaga with 20+ years of experience in both profit and non-profit Finance. Although Lonni was raised on the west side of Washington State, she is no stranger to the east side and Spokane. Lonni has called Spokane her home since 2018. She received her MBA and BA in Finance and from Washington State University in Pullman, WA. When she is not working, Lonni enjoys spending time with her family, outdoor activities, and travel. Lonni can be reached at (509) 313-4292 or marlowl@gonzaga.edu.
Sarah Marr
Assistant Director of Community Engaged Learning
Sarah is the Community Engaged Learning Coordinator and a proud Gonzaga alum. Her work focuses on providing leadership around CEL course formation, logistics, and partnership building, faculty and student support, Internship supervision, and Service Fair event coordination. Sarah cares deeply about getting to know local community organizations and finding where GU students can get involved to create a positive impact in both their learning and in the community. Having served with Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Sarah also works to support the post-graduate service efforts on campus, offering guidance to students who are interested in pursuing this route. Outside of her work, Sarah can be found exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest, coaching soccer, trying new foods, and spending time with her puppy! Sarah can be reached at (509) 313-6836 or marrs2@gonzaga.edu.
Phoebe Oosterhuis
Assistant Director for Operations
Phoebe joined CCE in July of 2012. Originally from Minneapolis, she moved to Spokane in 2010 when her husband accepted a professorship at Gonzaga. Although she misses her family and friends (but not the mosquitoes or humidity) in the Midwest, she has grown to love the Inland Northwest. Phoebe has a BA from the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, MN. When she is not at CCE, Phoebe enjoys hiking, cooking, crafting, yoga, performing in local theater, and spending time with her husband and children. Phoebe can be reached at (509) 313-6879 or oosterhuisp@gonzaga.edu.
Jennifer Palm
Youth Programs Secondary Program Manager
Jennifer was born and raised in Michigan and moved to Spokane to be close to family. Her background is in social work, where she utilized her bachelor’s in social work and minor in women’s studies, to focus on serving families, women, and children with mental health diagnosis’s. Jennifer is the Secondary Youth Program Manager and works with the students who serve the middle and high school programs as well as programming at the Gonzaga Family Haven. Jennifer loves to read, taking care of her various houseplants and any dog or cat she comes across (tell your dog I said hi)! Jennifer can be reached at 509-313-6486 or palmj@gonzaga.edu.
Katherine Park
Gonzaga Family Haven AmeriCorps
Katherine is a new resident to Spokane, having moved here in September 2021. She is also a newly wed, celebrating her first anniversary on September 3. Katherine came to Spokane from Nampa, Idaho with the intent of finding a community that she could personally connect with and help grow. She will be helping the Gonzaga team through the AmeriCorps Youth Programs, with her focus being at Gonzaga’s Family Haven. It is through the haven that she was able to connect with this service opportunity, having completed the Summer 2023 Essential Skills program. She also has an A.A. in Liberal Arts, being a graduate of the College of Western Idaho in 2017. For fun she enjoys spending time with her dog Pearl, playing classic videogames with neighborhood children and using language learning apps to explore and connect with the cultures found in Spokane. Katherine is excited for this occasion to develop new friendships and feel part of her community.
Tiffany Picotte
Assistant Director of Campus Engagement
Tiffany grew up in a small town outside of Eugene, Oregon. She has a bachelor's degree in international studies and Mandarin Chinese from the University of Oregon and a master's degree in public administration from Eastern Washington University, where she also studied French for fun. She is passionate bout people-to-people exchange, global learning, cross-cultural understanding, community development, civic engagement, and learning new languages. After having focused her attention globally, working for 6 years in the field of international education and exchange, Tiffany is excited to be joining the Center for Community Engagement team to support community engagement efforts locally. In her free time she can be spotted on West Main Avenue frequenting the Community Building Campus and local businesses in the Saranc Commons. Tiffany can be reached at (509) 313-5543 or picotte@gonzaga.edu.
Emily Shiraishi
Campus Kitchens AmeriCorps
Emily is the Campus Kitchen Community Outreach Coordinator Americorps member! Having grown up in Southern California, she has a passion for service and advocating underserved populations. After joining Opportunity Northeast as a summer fellow in 2022, Emily discovered her love for Campus Kitchens and its efforts to bridge the food insecurity gap in Spokane. During her senior year, she served as a student leader in Campus Kitchens and enjoyed her time working with and getting to know Gonzaga students in the kitchen. Emily recently graduated from Gonzaga as a double major with a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology in May 2023. In her free time, Emily can be found hanging out with friends, cooking or baking, and reading a book! (I’m always looking for suggestions!)
Eric Vanderwall
AmeriCorps Program Specialist - Secondary
Eric earned a bachelor's degree in music from Oregon State University and worked as a freelance guitarist for the next several years, releasing two solo guitar albums and performing just about everywhere. He then matriculated at Portland State University, where he studied English literature and creative writing while writing articles for the campus magazine and newspaper. He went on to study literature and creative writing at the University of Chicago, where he worked as a teaching assistant and continued to write, edit, and publish. A year after earning his MA, he joined AmeriCorps. Eric enjoys reading, writing, listening to classical music, and learning new things.
Bailley Wootton
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Bailley joined the Center for Community Engagement (CCE) in 2011 after working for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. As Director of Strategic Partnerships, she supports CCE’s local co-curricular programs, resource development, and strategic partnerships and outreach initiatives, including the Opportunity Northeast initiative. Bailley received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University and her master's degree in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis. She is originally from Spokane and loves living in the Northwest again. Outside of work, Bailley spends her time with family and friends- chasing around her two children, finding new outdoor adventures (races), relaxing whenever she can, and drinking lots of coffee. Bailley can be reached at (509) 313-6821 or wootton@gonzaga.edu.
Lonni Marlow
Budget Assistant
Lonni Marlow is the Budget Assistant and joined Center for Community Engagement in 2024. She comes to Gonzaga with 20+ years of experience in both profit and non-profit Finance. Although Lonni was raised on the west side of Washington State, she is no stranger to the east side and Spokane. Lonni has called Spokane her home since 2018. She received her MBA and BA in Finance and from Washington State University in Pullman, WA. When she is not working, Lonni enjoys spending time with her family, outdoor activities, and travel. Lonni can be reached at (509) 313-4292 or marlowl@gonzaga.edu.
