As the Center’s graduate assistant for charter school engagement, Alexandria plays a key role in building community among charter alumni and students. She assists with the planning and implementation of student programs and charter alumni engagement initiatives. She supports student transitions from CMU-authorized charter schools and advises the CMU Charter Alumni Group, while assisting with campus visit programming, including Fire Up for Your Future and Experience Central.

Alexandria has been with the Center since 2024. Before joining the Center, Alexandria worked as a registered behavior technician, delivering one-on-one ABA therapy to individuals with autism spectrum disorder. She is a certified registered behavior technician through the BACB and earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology from Michigan State University.

Jesse serves as the associate director of programs and school outreach connecting schools throughout the state with the programming and resources they need to ensure their students will be successful in college, work, and life. He is also a key part of the Center’s programming that welcomes hundreds of middle school and high school students to CMU’s Mount Pleasant campus throughout the school year. Jesse also serves as an ambassador in Detroit, connecting CMU partner schools to partnerships in the community.

Prior to joining the Center, he had over a decade of experience in higher education, youth development, and mentorship. Jesse has held the role of assistant director of admissions, program lead, and more for various organizations. He also currently serves as the Housing and Program Manager for the Black Legacy Advancement Coalition. Co-creating youth programs, fostering post-secondary access, and creating leadership opportunities for future generations have been key achievements in his career. Jesse has a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Criminal Justice from Central Michigan University and a Master of Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University. He also is a certified school administrator through the state of Michigan.

Tim oversees initiatives that create and establish enriching connections between CMU faculty and staff and CMU-authorized charter public schools. He has worked in various leadership roles at the Center from special advisor of new initiatives to business services. Tim has worked to create, support, and guide the development and management of many of the Center’s innovative projects. Examples of his current efforts include the Charter School Educator Award, Spirit of the Future scholarship program, and Experience Central campus tour.

Prior to joining the Center in 2003, Tim worked in the legal field in the areas of intellectual property law, corporate law and education law. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Central Michigan University and a juris doctor degree from the Pierce Law Center, now a part of the University of New Hampshire. He has also been a member of the Mt. Pleasant Public School Board of Education since 2008.

Shanese serves as the director of university and community partnerships leading the vision and development of initiatives that ensure students enrolled in or graduated from CMU partner schools are successful in college, work, and life. She serves as the lead liaison between The Center for Charter Schools and Central Michigan University, leveraging the world-class resources of the university to support the charter schools that the university partners with as an authorizer. Shanese also represents the Center with external partners, including serving as the organization’s liaison in Detroit where she works to build connections between CMU partner schools and the community.

She currently serves as a part-time faculty member at Wayne State University. Prior to joining the Center, she was also an academic advisor at Wayne State University’s Mike Ilitch School of Business. She has also served as an admissions counselor at Davenport University, an enrollment and match specialist with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Detroit, and a program associate with Michigan State University Extension. Shanese has a Bachelor of Science in Community Development from Central Michigan University and a Master of Business Administration from Davenport University.