Ricky Blissett (they/them & he/him)
Associate Director
Ricky Blissett ’11 is associate director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life. They develop and coordinate Center programs and initiatives, including holistic evaluation and strategic communication. They have served as a faculty member in educational leadership and policy at the University of Georgia, Seton Hall University, and Vanderbilt University; the coordinator for the Just Education Policy Institute; section chair for the Policy and Politics division of the American Educational Research Association; and principal investigator for the Democracy and Equity in Education Politics research group. Ricky has conducted and published research exploring citizen, activist, and policymaker ideologies in educational justice, democratic and equitable approaches to evaluation and methodology, and student advocacy and power. They received their Ph.D. in Leadership and Policy Studies at Vanderbilt University, and they are an alumnus of UMBC with a B.S. in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. During their time as a UMBC student, Ricky was a participant in the first STRiVE leadership for social impact retreat in 2009, coordinator for an education service organization through the Shriver Center, and active member of UMBC’s Student Government Association both as director of academic affairs and executive vice president. Outside of their work at UMBC, Ricky volunteers, manages a dog with a lot of opinions about her management, conducts independent research, and collects as many different varieties of mint plants as they can fit in their garden. Ricky can be reached by email at rblissett@umbc.edu or by phone at 410-455-3457.
Tafat Boudif (she/her)
Political Engagement Intern
Tafat Boudif ’27 is a political science and global studies double major. As a political engagement intern with the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, she hopes to facilitate civic and political processes for students on campus to allow them to demonstrate their full potential and achieve meaningful change within their communities and beyond. She also hopes to promote safe spaces in which students of all identities feel comfortable to be vulnerable in their experiences. On campus, Tafat is a member of the Humanities Scholars Program and the Honors College and has worked for the Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being and the Political Science Department’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Task Force. She is also vice president of the Ethics Bowl Team and a member of the Pre-Law Society. Outside of school, Tafat enjoys playing volleyball, doing her nails, and going on hikes.
David Hoffman (he/him)
Director
David Hoffman, Ph.D. ’13 is director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life. He develops and teaches courses about civic communication and culture as a faculty fellow in UMBC’s Honors College, and has created and facilitated dozens of programs in which students develop the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and relationships needed to help their communities thrive. He serves as a member (and past chair) of the Steering Committee for AASCU’s American Democracy Project, and previously served as a member of the National Advisory Board for Imagining America. As a member of the inaugural cohort of American Democracy Project Civic Fellows, he led the development of the Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Theory of Change, and works with Center for Democracy and Civic Life colleagues and national partners to amplify and implement it. David’s research and publications explore civic agency, civic pedagogy, democratic communication styles and techniques, and culture change within institutions. He is an alum of UCLA, where he served as student body president and University of California student regent. He earned J.D. and M.P.P. degrees at Harvard University, and his Ph.D. in Language, Literacy and Culture at UMBC. When he’s not working, David often can be found setting his fantasy baseball lineups or taking photos; his practice of taking pictures on the UMBC campus once got him labeled as “the #UMBCsky guy.” David can be reached by email at dhoffman@umbc.edu or by phone at 410-455-1565.
Tess McRae (she/her)
Assistant Director for Connective Learning
Tess McRae ’22 is assistant director for connective learning with the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, a faculty fellow in UMBC’s Honors College, a UMBC Exempt Staff Senator, and the convener of the UMBC Student Government Association (SGA)’s Appeals Board. She co-develops the Center’s programs, initiatives, courses, communications, and overall strategy with a special emphasis on practices and pedagogical approaches that support engagement, belonging, and civic contributions within the UMBC community. Tess is the lead organizer for the STRiVE leadership for public purpose program and supports the Center’s workshops, particularly those for first- and second-year undergraduate students, as a designer and facilitator. She is also UMBC’s campus liaison to the American Democracy Project (ADP). Tess is a founding staff member with the Center and worked as an undergraduate student intern for four years prior to entering a full-time role. During her time as an intern, Tess served as co-chair of the University System of Maryland (USM)’s Student Civic Leaders Committee, participated in STRiVE and Alternative Spring Break (ASB), produced and illustrated the virtual Co-Create UMBC Tour, worked as the director of communications for UMBC’s SGA and as a graphic designer with commonvision (UMBC’s Design & Print Center), and studied abroad in Brighton, England. Tess earned a self-designed B.A. in Civic Renewal and Creative Expression through UMBC’s Individualized Study (INDS) program. She is a poet, visual artist, and musician who loves to sing and play piano. Tess can be reached by email at tessmcrae@umbc.edu or by phone at 410-455-1808.
Trentqual Rhone (he/him)
Coordinator for Political Engagement
Trentqual Rhone serves as coordinator for political engagement with the Center for Democracy and Civic Life. In this role, he works to help UMBC community members find their voice in civic and political spaces, with a focus on elections, policy engagement, and community organizing. A staunch advocate for increased community outreach and engagement, Trentqual is committed to addressing systemic barriers to justice by creating more socially conscious spaces and advocating for a more equitable world. Through his work at the Center, he strives to create spaces where individuals can explore and develop their civic agency. His focus is on empowering students and engaging communities to recognize and harness their power to organize, lead, and create meaningful change in the world around them. Trentqual’s professional background includes communications roles on Capitol Hill and with Protect Our Care, as well as grassroots advocacy with socioeconomic and racial justice organizations, including The Poor People’s Campaign and Woke Vote. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Thee Illustrious Alabama State University and a Master of Arts in Media and Strategic Communication from The George Washington University. He is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, Inc. Outside of UMBC, Trentqual enjoys road trips, especially returning home to Alabama for football games. He is a tuba player currently learning the saxophone, and his other interests include writing poetry, visiting art galleries, hiking, and watching (perhaps too much) YouTube. Trentqual can be reached at trhone1@umbc.edu.
Carly Shearer (she/her)
Special Projects Intern
Carly Shearer ’26 is a Center for Women in Technology Scholar majoring in computer science and minoring in gender, women’s, and sexuality studies. As special projects intern with the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, she hopes to coordinate initiatives that reach students in various academic disciplines to increase involvement in civic engagement efforts within the UMBC community. She participated in the STRiVE leadership for purpose program and a Change Makers Dinner in the 2023-2024 academic year. In addition to her involvement with the Center, Carly is an SI PASS leader for CHEM102, a TA for UNIV101, a member of the Musical Theater Club, and student representative on the Maryland College Learning Center Association Executive Board. Outside of school, she enjoys weightlifting, live theater, and traveling.
Ann Tropea (she/her)
Assistant Director/Media Advisor
Ann Tropea is assistant director/media advisor with the Center for Democracy and Civic Life. She brings many years of professional editorial, communications, and legal expertise to her position. She is a published author, experienced public speaker and interviewer, and podcast co-host. Most recently, Ann served as the editor-in-chief of Seapower magazine, the flagship publication of the Navy League of the United States. She is also the former communications director at Career Valet, a woman-owned professional services firm. A licensed attorney in Louisiana and the District of Columbia, Ann has represented a variety of individual and multinational clients in both federal and state court litigation. Her additional writing and publishing experiences include: managing editor and food & lifestyle writer for online news website TheLatest; editor and publisher of a community cookbook for the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem; managing editor of the Law Journal for the Loyola University Chicago School of Law; editor-in-chief of New York University’s Department of Culture and Communication magazine Medium Cool, and associate publisher and nightlife editor for New York City’s GO Magazine. Ann holds a law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and graduated magna cum laude in mass media communication studies from New York University. She is proficient in French and approaching proficiency in Italian. Ann currently lives in the Hamilton neighborhood of Baltimore City with her husband, two children, and rescue dog. She can be reached by email at atropea@umbc.edu.
Come Work With Us!
We are currently searching for the following position(s). Click the position link for more information and to apply.
Special Projects Intern
Special projects interns support the planning and implementation of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s programs and initiatives. Tasks may include finding and compiling information, preparing instructional materials, ensuring the availability of program supplies, creating and distributing promotional materials, helping with program setup and cleanup, and guiding and checking in guests at program venues. Applications are due on April 4, 2025.
Graphic Design Intern
Graphic design interns help to create and disseminate program materials, advertisements, and reports aligned with the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s visual iconography. Tasks may include developing visual identities for Center programs and initiatives, translating existing designs to various formats or platforms, suggesting and contributing to the development of marketing strategies, and suggesting design and marketing possibilities to other members of the team. Applications are due on April 4, 2025.