ISCFC Staff Profiles

Elvia

Dr. Elvia R. Krajewski-Jaime
Director, Center for Community Building and Civic Engagement

Dr. Elvia R. Krajewski-Jaime is professor of Social Work and Director of the Center for Community Building and Civic Engagement at Eastern Michigan University. The Center recently received funds from the Department of Justice to formally establish the Center within Eastern Michigan University. Dr. Krajewski-Jaime also directs the Community Outreach Partnership Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan, for which they received funds from HUD. Dr. Krajewski-Jaime's professional interests also include cultural competence in the health and human services, particularly with the older and pre-teen populations in the Latino community of Detroit. She has authored and co-authored numerous articles, chapters in books, monographs, training manuals both in English and Spanish, and has written numerous grants. She holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, a master's degree in Social Administration from Temple University, and a Doctoral degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Proff. Peggy Wiencek,
Research Director, Applied Research Center
Co-Director, Institute for the Study of Children, Families and Communities

Peggy Wiencek received a M.A. in Sociology from Eastern Michigan University in 1984. She served as a lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminolgy from 1982 to 1995. Since 1984 Ms. Wiencek has been a member of the research staff at the Institute for the Study of Children, Families and Communities where she is currently Director of the Applied Research Center. As the Center Director, she manages the Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) lab. She has managed dozens of research projects and directed numerous applied studies and evaluations. Her research includes studies of foster care quality, assessment of the safety and stability of children in foster care placements, evaluation of the system of care in juvenile justice and evaluation of community studies including the Community Outreach Partnership Center. She has presented broadly at professional conferences on methodologies for conducting applied research and evaluation studies.

John

Mr. John Benci, D.C.,
Research Associate

Dr. John Benci assists Proff.Wiencek with evaluation and provides technical support to project staff, partners and fellows. Dr.Benci received his D.C. from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1980, practicing in Michigan over twenty two years. Assisting institute staff since 1997, he has contributed to evaluation, training development and crime reporting projects via Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI), web based surveys, Database management, statistical analysis as well as videotape and sound recording. Dr.Benci also has a B.S in biochemistry from Michigan State University with extensive coursework in psycology on both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Jeff

Dr. Jeffrey Schulz
Program Director, Community Leadership Fellows Program

Dr. Schulz has been a member of the EMU faculty since the Fall of 2001. Prior to his arrival at EMU, he was employed as an Assistant Professor at Mississippi State University. While a member of the Mississippi State faculty, Dr. Schulz taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in Health Education and Health Promotion. He also served as director of a branch grant of the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi, a statewide coalition focusing on tobacco use prevention and cessation. Dr.Schulz was named the Mississippi Health Educator of the Year in 1990.

Since his arrival at EMU, Dr. Schulz has taught undergraduate courses in Health Education. He currently serves as Graduate Coordinator of Health Education and has recently headed the development a new Master’s degree in Health Education that will begin in 2005. Dr. Schulz is professionally active and has published and presented scholarly work related to a multitude of health issues ranging from tattooing and body piercing to violence prevention. His work has been displayed by the American School Health Association, the American Association for Health Education, the American College Health Association, the Society for Public Health Education, and Community- Campus Partnerships for Health. He currently serves as a member of the Washtenaw County Health Improvement Plan Coordinating Committee. Dr. Schulz possesses both experience and passion for working side-by-side with community agencies on efforts to identify and address common goals.

Kim

Ms. Kim Rankins
Senior Secretary, Administrative Assistant

Ms. Kim Rankins has an applied science degree with a major in Administrative and Medical Administrative Technology from Washtenaw Community College. She is the administrative assistant for the Center for Community Building & Civic Engagement.

Dr. John Edgren,
Co-Director and Budget Officer

Dr. Edgren is full professor in the Department of Economics and has many years of involvement in the community in the environmental area. Dr. Edgren has been involved in effecting environmental policy at the state level and has been active in local environmental organizations such as being president of the board of the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor. He has studied recycling markets, has published on environmental economics, and has served in county level committees dealing with waste disposal. Dr. Edgren has a deep knowledge of the political arena of Ypsilanti since he has been active in many political campaigns and has done work in organizations dealing with mental health issues. He has conducted research in housing markets and for many years has been involved in studying the economics of crime in different

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