Our Team

CCESL Graduate Leads

Kathleen | she/her/hers

MA in International Studies

Kathleen McCracken is the Business Operations Grad Lead for CCESL.

A native of southern Illinois, McCracken attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, graduating Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in May 2021 with a bachelor's degree in international relations and religion and minors in French and Arabic. During her time at Drake, McCracken conducted research in Uganda on the representation of women in Uganda’s parliament and studied the Abrahamic faiths in Israel and Jordan.

Following undergrad, McCracken moved to San Antonio, Texas, where she served as an international relations specialist in the municipal government's Global Engagement Office. She brings to CCESL a passion for research and community service.

Fun fact: In my spare time, I enjoy wildlife photography!

Tanya Kohli | she/her/hers

MS in Health Informatics and Data Analysis

Tanya Kohli is currently pursuing her MS in Health Informatics with a concentration in Project Management and is in her second year of the program. With a passion for healthcare and a keen interest in data analysis, Tanya is especially fascinated by the potential of AI to revolutionize the healthcare industry. She enjoys exploring how technology can improve patient outcomes, streamline operations, and shape the future of healthcare.

Beyond her academic endeavors, Tanya is an extrovert who loves meeting new people and discovering new places. In her free time, she enjoys shopping and finds joy in organizing things at home. She also loves to cook and unwind by watching sci-fi, thriller movies, or sitcoms, which provide a perfect balance to her busy life. Tanya’s diverse interests and positive energy drive her to embrace both her studies and personal passions with enthusiasm.

Lauren Skulina | she/her/hers

International Disaster Psychology

Lauren Skulina is the Student Programs Graduate Lead at the Center for Community Engagement, supporting programming and students as they pursue collaborative, community-engaged work. As a second year Master’s student, Lauren is studying International Disaster Psychology with a focus in trauma and global mental health. She is passionate about the connection between physical and mental health and values a holistic approach to wellbeing. Lauren is committed to fostering sustainable, culturally sensitive, and accessible mental health care that supports individual and community needs, both locally and globally.  

Francisca Boafo | she/her/hers

Business Analytics

Francisca is the DU Grand Challenges Initiative Grad Lead and is pursuing a MS in Business Analytics. She is interested in understanding the decision processes of small and medium enterprises and leveraging on data to improve them. In her free time, she likes being outdoors and like to go on hikes.