2023 Annual Community Engagement Showcase

Caroline Smith, MBA

Associate Director, Center for Community Engagement & Service Learning

University of Houston- Downtown

https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-m-smith-73a30411/

Caroline Smith earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Master of Business Administration with a concentration on Organizational Leadership at the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD). She currenlty serves UHD as the Associate Director for the Center of Community Engagement & Service Learning and as adjunct faculty in the Marilyn Davies College of Business. 

Caroline believes that allowing students to participate in community activities and develop creative solutions to community issues benefits students’ ultimate ability to think critically about the world around them. She has a passion for diversity and inclusion dialogue and social justice. In this effort, she facilitates intensive trainings on diversity and inclusion topics.  Caroline’s passion for growing, learning, and creating is constantly being fueled by further offering her experiences and abilities to serve in countless ways.

Natasha Nowlin

Program Coordinator

University of Houston-Downtown

https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashanowlin/

Natasha Nowlin is the Program Coordinator for UHD's Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning (CCESL). She is a dedicated higher education professional with a passion for the community, who promotes student learning through recruitment, engagement, and professional service.

Natasha is a long term supporter of the CCESL’s cause and has volunteered to assist with various events prior to joining the department. In her current role, she manages the recruitment of community partners and students for our Community Engagement Work Study Internship Program.

Dr. Candace TenBrink

Associate Professor

University of Houston-Downtown

https://www.linkedin.com/in/candacetenbrink/

Candace M. TenBrink Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Management at the University of Houston – Downtown. Her research interests include the strategic aspects of turnarounds, innovation, and life cycle issues. As a Fulbright Scholar she researched corporate rejuvenation and innovation in Poland. She sits on several boards advising on strategic growth. Prior to entering academia, she was the managing partner of a film production firm and an award-winning analyst in the realm of investment banking. She received a Ph.D. from the Bauer School at the University of Houston, an MBA from the Ross School of Business, and a B.A. from Michigan State University.

Candace M. TenBrink Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Management in the Marilyn Davies College of Business at the University of Houston – Downtown. Her research interests, published in numerous journals, include the strategic aspects of turnarounds, life cycle issues, and innovation. She teaches strategy and international business courses to both undergraduates and MBA students. As a Fulbright Scholar she researched corporate rejuvenation and innovation in Poland.

She advises technology-based entrepreneurs and local firms with strategy related issues. She sits on several boards and volunteers frequently in the community. Prior to entering academia, she was the founder and managing partner of a film production firm in NY. Her background also includes supply chain management and investment banking in the semiconductor capital equipment industry.

Dr. TenBrink received a Ph.D. from the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston. She received an MBA from the Ross School of Business and a B.A. in Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University. She loves traveling and resides in both Boston and Houston.

Tremaine Kwasikpui

Director of Student Activities

University of Houston-Downtown

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tremainekwasikpui/

Tremaine Kwasikpui manages the Student Activities Department, UHD Food Market, UHD ESPORTS Lounge and Student Lounges at UHD. He is also responsible for providing oversight and leadership to the Student Activities department which is inclusive of Greek Life. He supervises and mentors department professional and student staff members, as well as provides educational leadership for the creation of the student activities program calendar of events, which encompasses 75 student organizations at UHD. Annual Programming includes Welcome Week, Bayou Bash, One Main Event Gala and Student Organizational Leadership Development Conferences. Mr. Kwasikpui also serves as Advisor to the Student Government Association. In addition, Mr. Kwasikpui creates, designs, enhances and executes a strategic plan for the department to include cultivating long-term planning for student organization growth, staff development and leadership curriculum. He implements social, service and educational program that address the needs and interests of University students.

Mr. Kwasikpui earned his Master of Entrepreneurship from Western Carolina University and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Elizabeth City State University. Mr. Kwasikpui has more than ten years of higher education experience, including work in the following areas: student activities, teaching, recruitment, first-year experience, student leadership development, mentoring, community outreach, project management, and event planning. Prior to UHD, he led major initiatives in minority male mentoring, implementation of a student café and ongoing retention and recruitment efforts.

Dr. Fei Yang

Assistant Professor

University of Houston-Downtown

ÔÇïÔÇïDr. Fei Yang holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology, Law & Society from the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Yang's research focuses on the institution and practices of American law enforcement, with a special emphasis on race relations as manifested in policing. Her scholarly work covers a wide range of topics within the field of policing, including the history of American policing, modern-day policing, crime prevention strategies and their underpinning philosophies, policing innovations and technologies, policies and reforms, police-community relations, as well as surveillance and social control. Dr. Yang has extensive experience working with police officers and her research has been very well received both within the law enforcement community and the community at large.

Dr. Yang is the DirectorÔÇï of the Houston Laboratory for CrimeÔÇï and Justice, a research lab that partners with local criminal justice organizations on data-informed decision making and evidence-based reseÔÇïarchÔÇï. Prior to joining UHD, Dr. Yang has taught at three institutions in two other states, including State University of New York at Albany, California State University at Fullerton, and the University of California, Irvine.ÔÇï