UIndy Service-Learning Council

Marianna K. Foulkrod, MAAS is the Director of the Center for Service-Learning & Community Engagement at the University of Indianapolis (UIndy) in Indianapolis, IN. She received her master’s degree from UIndy in Applied Sociology. Since her migration from Cyprus to the United States, Foulkrod has had a fascinating and diverse career, starting as the Assistant Director for a not-for-profit advocacy organization that works for and with people with disabilities. Foulkrod quickly realized her passion for higher education and moved back to that environment working as the coordinator for Civic Engagement programs and later as the director. Foulkrod is a strong advocate for community engagement, civically and academically, and she is committed to providing higher education students and faculty with quality education through service, supporting her institution’s motto Education for Service.

Much of her work is showcased in the videos UIndy: Changing Lives through Service, which tell the university’s story of how students, faculty, and staff are engaged in their local, national, and international communities. Foulkrod’s most recent endeavors included publications, co-chairing the 6th and 7th International Symposiums on Service-Learning, and implementing faculty cohort designs that build the capacity of multidisciplinary service-learning courses on UIndy's campus. More recently Foulkrod was recognized by Indiana Campus Compact with the Community Service Director Award (2016) as well as the Community Partner recognition from the Burmese American Community Institute. Foulkrod is also an Adjunct Faculty at UIndy, where she teaches Sociology, Grant Writing and Community Service-Learning Courses locally and internationally.

Lisa is Assistant Professor of Gerontology at the University of Indianapolis. She has a dual appointment in the Center for Aging and Community and the College of Health Sciences where she teaches Physical Dimensions of Aging, Qualitative Research Methods, and Development & Evaluation of Health Programs, among other courses. Her primary research interests include qualitative methods, psychosocial health issues pertaining to older women, intergenerational learning, adjustment to retirement, and service-learning.

Jeff Bryant is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Indianapolis and Director of its Program in Social Work. He earned his Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Social Work from Indiana University and is a licensed clinical social worker. Bryant teaches macro practice classes along with policy, addictions, and capstone classes. His interests lie in the areas of marriage and families, youth, and national and international service-learning. He has been a presenter at three international symposia on service-learning and served on the planning committee for each. He has facilitated a number of service-learning experiences in both the United States and Nicosia, Cyprus. His article on developing a global model for service-learning was published in Service-Learning in Higher Education: National and International Connections. He has over 30 years’ experience as a social work practitioner and has served as a volunteer in a number of organizations. Currently, he is President of the Indiana Chapter of the North American Christian’s in Social Work and serves as a marriage mentor and lay counselor at College Park Church in Indianapolis. He was selected as an Indiana Campus Compact Fellow for 2009-2010 and again for 2010-2011.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

translation

BACKGROUND

A native from Spain, Campoy completed a bachelor's degree, master's degree and some doctoral courses from University of Cadiz. Taught English in Spain before moving to the United States. Recently finished a certification in translation studies from the University of Denver.

EDUCATION

• Certification, Translation Studies, University of Denver
• MA, English, University of Cadiz (Spain) BA, English, University of Cadiz (Spain)

FUN FACT

I love to travel. I have led travel courses to Spain and Peru.

FAVORITE THING ABOUT UINDY

The work environment is great and I love the students at UIndy!

Julie Gahimer is a professor in the College of Health Science at the University of Indianapolis. Her doctoral degree is in College and School Health Education. Dr. Gahimer teaches in the areas of neurorehabilitation, service learning, professional development, instructional design, online learning, and health promotion. She has received numerous awards for her role in community leadership and service-learning. She received the University of Indianapolis Teacher of the Year award in 2012. Dr. Gahimer has presented at many international, national and local professional meetings. She has authored multiple publications in the areas of patient education and community health education. She has participated in service-learning trips to Belize with students from UIndy’s Occupational and Physical Therapy programs.

Dr. Rebecca Gilliland is the advisor for Top Dog Communication, UIndy's award-winning student-run public relations firm. She is a Professor of Communication at UIndy, as well as advisor to the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter. Rebecca is a Fulbright Scholar, who has spent time in New Zealand helping Auckland University of Technology restructure a student-run public relations firm, while also educating upper administration on service-learning. Her textbook, Writing Winning Proposals: Public Relations Cases was launched in 2017. A Plank Fellow and Accredited in Public Relations, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her children, playing and watching sports, and being outdoors.

Heidi Hoepner joined the UIndy athletics department Assistant A.D. for Marketing & Promotions in June 2025. Hoepner possesses extensive marketing experience in professional sports and brings a wealth of knowledge to the growth of UIndy's external operations. 

Hoepner most recently spent more than two years with the Indianapolis Indians, the AAA affiliate of Major League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates. While with the Indians, Hoepner served as Senior Marketing Manager, where she facilitated sales and marketing strategies that included planning the 2023 promotional calendar. Hoepner also built relationships with promotional licensing companies and coordinated logistics for contracted entertainment for each home contest.

Before her promotion, Hoepner was a Marketing Project Manager with the Indians for 13 months, developing the new position to collaborate with internal departments, graphic designers, and third-party agencies. Additionally, she ensured brand consistency across all organizational media platforms, including the club's website, social media channels, and in-park presentations.

Hoepner also has experience at the National Football League and National Basketball Association levels, serving on the marketing teams with the Chicago Bulls, Green Bay Packers, and New England Patriots. While the Marketing Coordinator with the Bulls, Hoepner led planning logistics for key youth and brand initiatives including development of timelines, creative assets, promotional execution, and on-site activations. She also implemented comprehensive marketing campaigns such as Bulls Kid Nation events, in-game promotions, broadcast support, and digital content.

Her experience at the NFL level spans nearly three years, with one season sandwiched between a pair of stints in Green Bay. While with the Packers and Patriots, Hoepner developed and executed email campaigns that drove revenue growth, aided on research and branding initiatives, and managed digital marketing calendar and member communication touch points.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Ethnography of Korea and East Asia; Psychological Anthropology; The Anthropology of Love; Femininity and Masculinity; Socioeconomic and Sociolegal Perspectives on Sex Work

BACKGROUND

Dr. Nelson received his PhD from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he conducted ethnographic research in South Korea on transformations in romantic relationships, gender relations, and conceptions of romantic love in contemporary South Korea and their implications for Korea’s declining marriage and fertility rates. He has written on the ethnology of love and his work in Korea in the journal, Cross-Cultural Research, and the International Handbook of Love. He is also engaged in interdisciplinary collaborative research projects aimed at understanding contemporary sexual commerce in the United States as forms of erotic entrepreneurship through the Erotic Entrepreneurs Project and Virtual Sexual Economies Project, investigations of the business strategies, legal barriers and social inequalities navigated by providers of escorting and webcam modeling services, respectively. Dr. Nelson offers courses in cultural anthropology on topics of crime and criminalization, romantic relationships, sexuality, and marriage, social stratification (e.g. gender, race, and class), human trafficking, and East Asia.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Dr. Nelson is currently engaged in several ongoing collaborative mixed-method research projects in collaboration with student researchers. He is currently examining the cultural construction of love and gender in Korean television dramas to explore how television programs shape expectations and experiences of romantic relationships in South Korea. Dr. Nelson also works with students and an interdisciplinary team of scholars to study the webcam modeling industry through the Virtual Sexual Economies Project, which is currently focused on understanding racial and ethnic inequalities experienced by cam models in their work on streaming platforms and social media.

EDUCATION

• PhD, Anthropology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• MA, Anthropology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• BA, Anthropology and Psychology, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

FUN FACTS

Dr. Nelson loves spicy food, science fiction, and cats.

FAVORITE THING ABOUT UINDY

UIndy’s commitment to fostering student-faculty research collaborations and service-learning opportunities.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

ethnography of North America; medical anthropology; social and political contexts of health; intersections among race, class and gender

BACKGROUND

Dr. O'Daniel's current research focuses on the survival experiences of low-income African American women living with HIV disease in urban North Carolina. This work has been funded by the National Science Foundation and the University of Indianapolis, and the results have been published in such journals as Transforming Anthropology and Human Organization.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

health care policy; economic globalization; HIV/AIDS; health disparities and health care inequality; lived experiences of inequality

EDUCATION

• PhD, Anthropology, University of Kentucky
• MA, Anthropology, University of Denver
• BA, Anthropology, Indiana University

FUN FACTS

Dr. O'Daniel is passionate about nutrition as a form of health care, and her favorite author is Margaret Atwood.

FAVORITE THING ABOUT UINDY

The students, of course!

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Second Language Acquisition

BACKGROUND

Dr. Reinhardt was a classroom teacher at the middle and high school level for Spanish. She has 10+ years in higher education serving in a variety of roles, including School & Field Liaison, Secondary Coordinator, and Director of the Clinical Partnership Academy. 

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Preparing pre-service teachers to meet the needs to English Language learners in the K-12 general education classroom; service learning and community engagement

EDUCATION

• EdD in Literacy, Culture and Language Education, Indiana University (in progress)
• Masters in Sociology, University of Indianapolis
• MA in Teaching Spanish, IUPUI
• BA in Journalism and Spanish, Butler University

FUN FACT

I love to bake pie.

FAVORITE THING ABOUT UINDY

The students, of course. They rock!

Jennifer is currently a Professor of Sport Management and Coordinator of the undergraduate Sport Management program at the University of Indianapolis. In 2004, she earned a Doctorate degree from the University of Kentucky, Master’s degree in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation from Morehead State University in 1994, and a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Health and Physical Education from Union College in Barbourville, KY in 1987. She spent 10 years coaching softball at the collegiate level and 6 years teaching physical education at the high school and middle school level before earning her doctorate and moving to Indianapolis.

Dr. VanSickle was named Indiana Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (IAHPERD) Sport Management Faculty of the Year, University of Indianapolis School of Education Teacher of the Year and received the Faculty Achievement Award for the UIndy School of Education for outstanding service to the university. She is the lead author on over 20 articles and abstracts published in national and state journals and has delivered over 25 presentations at state, national and international conferences. She has also consulted with area sport organizations including the Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers, NCAA, Indy Parks and Recreation and Special Olympics Indiana, and has served on planning committees for the NFL Super Bowl XLVI, NCAA Final Fours and NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Jennifer’s research interests include community engagement, volunteer/event management, and experiential teaching/learning.