McCall Center for Civic Engagement Staff
Stephanie Stokamer, Ed.D.
Dean of Applied and Experiential Learning; Associate Professor
Stephanie is the Associate Dean of Applied and Experiential Learning and an Associate Professor of Civic Engagement. She has taught in and administered community-based learning courses in both undergraduate and graduate programs since 2005.
She has a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Portland State University, and her areas of scholarship include service-learning, civic engagement, and education for democracy, particularly with respect to pedagogical practices and faculty development. Stephanie has contributed to numerous books and publications related to civic learning in higher education, presents regularly at conferences, and conducts workshops for faculty, students, and community partners.
Stephanie is an AmeriCorps*VISTA alum and was a National Service Fellow in 1997-1998 for the Corporation for National and Community Service. Learn more about Stephanie.
Morgan Knapp, MPA
Program Manager of Applied and Experiential Learning; Adjunct Professor
Morgan is the Program Manager of Applied and Experiential Learning. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Victoria and a Master of Public Administration from San Francisco State University. Morgan is passionate about community development and lifelong civic engagement & her professional background emphasizes programs and organizations that bridge the public-private divide. Morgan is the child of a Pacific alumna, grew up in Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Canada, and loves helping first-time volunteers discover how fun and rewarding service projects can be. Learn more about Morgan.
Mariana Valenzuela, MBA
Political Engagement Fellow; Assistant Professor
Mariana E. Valenzuela was born in La Serena, Chile, and has lived in the State of Oregon since 2001. She received her MBA from °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ, as well as a BA in Spanish and Latin American Studies, and an MA in Latin American Literature from New Mexico State University. Her professional career includes thirty-three years of teaching experience at institutions of higher education, including Idaho State University, Portland Community College, and °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ. She worked at Centro Cultural from August 2018 until August 2024 where she held the position of Director of Community Partnerships and Advocacy. During her time at Centro Cultural, she worked on civic engagement projects and community outreach. Currently, Ms. Valenzuela is a member of the Latino Policy Council of Oregon, and a City Councilor for the City of Forest Grove, as well as Assistant Professor of Spanish at °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ. Learn more about Mariana.
Civic Action Team
Students on the MCCE's Civic Action Team serve our community in ways that connect their academic and personal interests with future employment and lifelong civic engagement. Members of the Civic Action Team work on MCCE programs, develop their own civic engagement initiatives, and support each other’s efforts as a team. For more information, or to apply, please visit the Civic Action Team page.
Quetzali Andalon '26
Civic Action Team Specialist
Hola! My name is Quetzali Andalon and this year I am a Senior. I'm from McMinnville Oregon, and I am double majoring in Criminal Justice Law & Society and Spanish. While also double minoring in Politics & Government and Sociology. My role here at the MCCE is being a CATS (Civic Action Team Specialist), which means executing GIVE projects, along with helping with other MCCE events such as Give & Go, the our CE Summit, and much more. I’m heavily involved on campus such as being the VP of Leadership for our Undergraduate Student Senate, the President for ALAS (Association of Latinx & Ally Students), co-president of the Criminal Justice Club, and the Social Chair for the Phi Lambda Omicron sorority! My main focus while working at the MCCE is to use my voice to represent those who cannot use theirs. I love getting people involved in culture, and I strive to create change. Always feel free to say hi around campus :)
Kassandra Arzate-Castañeda '27
Community Outreach Specialist
Hi! My name is Kassandra, and I am a third-year student here at Pacific. I grew up in Georgia but spent most of my adolescence in Michoacán, México; issues within my culture are critical to me. I am a Public Health major (possibly minoring in psychology), which helps me in this position because I am constantly learning about new strategies that I hope to implement. I have done volunteer work before, including at festivals and on campus, as well as on projects such as promoting voter registration in Latinx and Hispanic communities, where I was actively engaged. I am actively involved on campus, serving as Secretary of our Association of Latinx & Ally Students (ALAS), Secretary of the Public Health club, and a peer mentor. Working with other organizations and partners has been wonderful, as it has helped me build additional skills and establish connections on campus. I look forward to continuing my position as a COS because it will allow me to keep working with this community and engage in issues that I am passionate about.
Kai Markle ‘27
Pacific Votes Student Ambassador
Hello, my name is Kai Markle. I am a Junior at Pacific this year, studying Political Science and Philosophy with the hopes of attending law school after I complete my undergraduate degree. I grew up in Portland, OR, and enjoy hiking and camping in my free time. Over the past two years at the McCall Center, I have focused on hosting events, tabling, researching, and engaging one-on-one with students about voter registration, with a particular emphasis on the importance of voting in local elections. Outside of Pacific Votes, I assist the other MCCE team members with our larger events, such as the Spirit of Civic Engagement Summit and Give & GO. Outside of the MCCE, I serve as an RA in Walter Hall, am the President of the Phi Delta Theta Oregon Zeta Chapter, and hold various executive positions within the JSU, CJLS Club, PSPS, and Philosophy Club.
Leilani Janes '26
Civic Action Team Specialist
Hi! My name is Leilani Janes and I am a junior this year originally from Medford, Oregon. I am majoring in Sociology, but hope to eventually pursue a career in environmental law and international diplomacy. In terms of my passions for civic engagement, they include sustainability, social and environmental justice, and political engagement. In the past few years, I have been focusing on activism and volunteer work focused around sustainability and participatory governance, getting involved in opportunities like political foreign exchange and beach clean up projects. During my time here at Pacific, I aim to ensure that students are able to stay informed and encourage all to get involved so we can build a better future ourselves and our community!
Jessa Gonzalez '28
Marketing and Communications Lead
Hello, My name is Jessa Gonzalez and I am in the class of 2028! I hope to major in Sports Communication with minors in SLAM (Sports Leadership and Management) and Journalism. Back home I did a lot of volunteer work through charities such as the Vanessa Behan Organization and the Spokane Humane Society. Being the Marketing and Communications Lead, I hope to bring everybody together by creating awareness of events and happenings in and around the community.
Sho Dimaya '29
Civic Action Team Specialist
Hello, my name is Sho Dimaya and I am a first-year student at °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ. I am from Honolulu Hawaii, and am majoring in Multimedia and minoring in Theater. My goal is to become a journalist and to learn about different perspectives and experiences. I grew up in an environment where giving back to the community was important to our values. As a part of MCCE, I am excited to get involved and learn more about what’s happening around our school community.
Advisory Council The MCCE Advisory Council provides guidance and support to MCCE staff related to academic civic engagement and co-curricular programs. The current consists of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners. If you are interested in serving on the MCCE Advisory Council, please review the complete and contact Stephanie Stokamer for more information.
Remembering Bevin McCarthy
We fondly remember Bevin McCarthy, Assistant Director of the Center for Civic Engagement from 2013-2018, and her years of service with us prior to her untimely death. Bevin's work lives on in our Center through the Bevin McCarthy Endowed Program Support Fund and the Bevin McCarthy Spirit of Civic Engagement Award.
The Bevin McCarthy Endowed Program Support Fund is designed to be a long-term, yet flexible way to honor Bevin’s work and will be used to directly support students in their civic engagement and/or social justice work. Learn more about the fund and they ways in which it honors her advocacy, her energy, her vulnerability, and her courage.
The Bevin McCarthy Spirit of Civic Engagement Award is presented annually to an individual, program, partnership, or organization selected by the MCCE staff for particularly noteworthy achievements over the past academic year and/or accumulated over time. Learn more about the award and consider nominating a candidate by emailing us any time.