Jonathan Becker
Vice President and Dean for Civic Engagement and International Affairs/
Director of the Center for Civic Engagementjbecker@bard.edu | 845-758-7378
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Dr. Jonathan Becker is the director of the Center for Civic Engagement and vice president for international affairs and civic engagement at Bard. He is also an associate professor of political studies specializing in Russian and eastern European politics, media and politics, and education reform. Jonathan arrived at Bard in 1997. For a decade, Jonathan has overseen the academic development of Bard’s international partnerships, including those in Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and the West Bank. He also played a central role in founding Bard’s Globalization and International Affairs Program in New York City; Bard’s debate and Model United Nations teams; and election.bard.edu, which registers students to vote, facilitates student internships with local officials, and has fought voter suppression efforts in Dutchess County.
Jonathan earned his B.A. from McGill University in 1987 and his Ph.D. from St. Antony’s College, Oxford in 1993. He is the author of Soviet and Russian Press Coverage of the United States: Press, Politics and Identity in Transition (1999; revised and expanded edition, 2002) and articles and chapters in a variety of publications, including European Journal of Communication, Journalism and Mass Communications Quarterly, and The Globalist, among others.
Prior to coming to Bard, he served as assistant vice president of the Central European University in Budapest and as the European director of the Civic Education Project.
As director of the center, Jonathan has general oversight of the center’s activities and coordinates programming among the center affiliates and the Bard network.
Erin Cannan
Dean of Student Affairs/
Associate Director of the Center for Civic Engagementcannan@bard.edu | 845-758-7453
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Erin Cannan joins the center staff after 15 years in the Division of Student Affairs at Bard. Erin arrived at Bard in 1995 as assistant dean of students/director of first-year students, responsible for orientation and student activities. She was promoted to dean of student affairs, responsible for the oversight of 12 departments within the Division of Student Affairs, and overseeing the work of the dean of campus life.
As associate director of the center, Erin’s primary focus is on the development of local volunteer and internship opportunities. She facilitates local connections to school districts, government, and business while working to develop partnerships within the center network.
Erin earned her B.A. from State University of New York at Geneseo in 1992 and a master’s degree in student personnel services from Edinboro University.
Paul Marienthal
Dean for Social Action/
Director of the Trustee Leader Scholar Programmarienth@bard.edu | 845-758-7056
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Dr. Paul Marienthal arrived at Bard in 1997. He directs the College’s Trustee Leader Scholar Program (TLS), encouraging students to act as hands-on social entrepreneurs inventing new approaches and creating sustainable solutions to initiate change. Paul provides leadership training, retreats, and grant-writing and reflection workshops. These social action programs provide tools for students interested in creating and developing self-initiated projects with a mission to bring theory to practice. With over 400 students participating annually, Paul fosters an environment wherein students realize their potential to make a difference, while promoting institutional principles linking liberal education and democracy.
Paul earned his B.A. from Stanford University in 1971, his M.A. from Antioch University in 1986, and his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in 1991. Paul teaches classes in the fundamentals of interpersonal communication at a medium-security New York State prison. Founder of Bard’s Community Garden, Paul also oversees a community garden with the Bard Prison Initiative at Woodbourne.
He is the author of a short essay in Democracy Is Not a Spectator Sport (Blaustein, A., 2011).
Joy McManigal
Development Managerjmcmanig@bard.edu | 845-758-7371
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Joy McManigal joins the Center for Civic Engagement as the development manager after years in international alumni affairs and development. She has extensive experience in Hollywood as a political consultant and fundraiser for various celebrity-driven causes. A native of Napa Valley, Joy studied at the University of Texas-Austin and UCLA before graduating from Stanford University with a B.A. in political science. She also earned her M.A. in international economics and American foreign policy from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). While a graduate student in Italy, Joy bought a pub in Ireland during spring break. She now lives in Red Hook with her four daughters.
Lisa Whalen
Assistant to Jonathan Becker
lwhalen@bard.edu | 845-758-7816
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Assistant to Jonathan Becker for over four years, Lisa previously worked in the Office of the Dean of the College. Lisa has many years of experience in programming and development in education and the arts, as well as the for-profit sector, including the Red Hook School District, the Town of Red Hook, Dutchess Community College, and the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. She has a B.F.A. from the College of New Rochelle and an M.B.A. from Iona College.
Aileen Hanel
Program Manager, Al-Quds Bard Partnership
ahanel@bard.edu | 845-758-7322
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Aileen coordinates the programs under Bard's partnership with Al-Quds University in Palestine. Before coming to Bard, she started and directed an English immersion program for migrant and immigrant families in the Hudson Valley. Aileen has worked and lived throughout the Middle East for over a decade teaching and implementing education, civil society, and governance programs. Aileen is a graduate of SUNY New Paltz and an alum of Peace Corps' inaugural program in Jordan.
Bryan Billings
Eurasian Program Manager
bbilling@bard.edu | 845-758-7303
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As Eurasian program manager, Bryan works on the administration of Bard College's partnerships in the former Soviet Union, including the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science (Smolny College) at St. Petersburg State University, and the American University of Central Asia. A New York State native, Bryan spent more than eight years living in the Russian Federation, including five and a half years working for Bard at Smolny College. An avid traveler, his past adventures have included an overland journey from Berlin to Kolkata, a solo bicycle ride from Long Island to San Francisco, and an overland jaunt around South America, which stretched from Bogota to Ushuaia and back.
Nate Zeitlin
AmeriCorps VISTA VIEW MORE >>
Nate Zeitlin '12 from Nashville, Tennessee, is a recent graduate of Bard College, where he earned a degree in Asian and religious studies. While at Bard, Nate was recognized for his dedication to leadership and work on creative means of self-education. This year, Nate serves as a VISTA at Bard's Center for Civic Engagement and looks forward to using his experience to develop exciting holistic after-school programs with the Germantown and Red Hook school districts. The initiative will encourage positive outreach by Bard students and provide cultural capital opportunities to local elementary, middle, and high school students. He enjoys photography, biking, travel, urban exploration, and engaging in any random conversation topic.
Karen Gardner
Internships and Activities Coordinator VIEW MORE >>
Karen Gardner '12 splits her time between the Center for Civic Engagement and Bard’s Environmental and Urban Studies Program. In her work for the CCE, she focuses on helping Bard students find local internships and spearheading the planning and development of environmentally focused civic engagement events. Karen goal is to help Bard students find a sense of place through increasing local engagement opportunities. She also holds weekly canoe trips in the Tivoli Bays. Karen is a recent Bard graduate with a B.A. in economics.
Jananie Ravi
Administrative Assistant
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Jananie Ravi '12 is the Center for Civic Engagement's administrative assistant, organizing and coordinating programs and events both on campus and in Bard's local community. Her work focuses on science outreach. She is the organizer for Bard's Citizen Science Engagement outreach initiatives, supervising five citizen science engagement fellows. Jananie is a recent Bard graduate with a B.A. in biology. She is originally from Colombo, Sri Lanka.