People

EL Connector Staff

Erin Michael Salius, Director

Erin became the inaugural director of the CAS Experiential Learning Connector on December 1, 2022. It has been her great honor to develop this resource with and for CAS undergraduates. Erin is a proud alum of BU Arts & Sciences, having earned her doctorate in English from GRS in 2015. Her scholarship focuses on contemporary African American literature and religion. Prior to joining the Connector, she served as associate dean in Metropolitan College and director of Summer Term at BU. In her free time, she enjoys running, volunteering at a cat shelter with her family, and baking vegan treats.

Grace Hymel, Assistant Director

Grace joined the EL Connector in September 2023. After spending several years dedicated to community engagement and leadership development in higher education, she is passionate about sharing the transformative power of experiential learning and supporting students in their leadership toward a more just world. Grace earned her M.S. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Miami University (in Ohio) and her B.A. in Sociology from Loyola University Maryland. Outside of work, Grace enjoys being active in nature, listening to podcasts, and road tripping to new places with friends

Electra Scarpignato, Graduate Assistant

Electra is pursuing a Masters in Biomedical Engineering. She is originally from Maryland but completed her B.S. in Biomedical Egineering at Florida Institute of Technology. During her undergraduate studies, she was involved in cardiovascular tissue engineering research and served as a resident assistant, where she developed a passion for helping students succeed. This passion has pushed Electra to pursue a future career as a professor. Electra is excited to be a part of the EL Connector and to help students engage in meaningful opportunities that will further their success. In her free time, Electra enjoys hiking, cooking, and trying new coffee shops.

Student Staff

Lucas Dantas Leite, EL Ambassador

Lucas is a senior from Ceara, Brazil majoring in Philosophy. Lucas is passionate about engaging in interdisciplinary research incorporating, among other things, linguistics and ecology into philosophy. They also love to spend time volunteering with the BU Cycle Kitchen and other community organizations around Boston as well as editing The Beat, a magazine affiliated with WTBU. Lucas is also a Simpson fellow in the Philosophy department, where they help students with department-specific writing projects. Lucas loves to spend their time cooking and exploring Boston on bike.

Holly Hessner, EL Ambassador

Holly is a senior studying Political Science with background in political campaigns, government offices, and legal expertise. Holly is from Long Island, where she got involved in politics and law at the local level. On the federal level, she has interned for three members of Congress and volunteered on national campaigns. On campus, Holly is a part of aKDPhi and Veteran Assist, with connections to many pre-law organizations. In her free time, Holly loves helping at animal shelters, seeing friends, and traveling the states.

Urvi Patel, EL Ambassador

Urvi is a senior studying Biology, with a Specialization in Behavior and Behavioral Health on the pre-health track. She is from northeastern Pennsylvania. Outside of her work at the EL Connector, Urvi is an avid gardener, reader, and thrifter. On campus, she is an undergraduate research assistant as part of the Child Health Equity Lab. Previously, she served as a Community Health Intern in a Domestic Violence Organization and as a volunteer in the Alzheimer’s Buddies club. Her favorite part of the EL Connector is being able to build deep and meaningful relationships with other students and to help them navigate different opportunities on campus.

Philipp Standring, EL Ambassador

Philipp is a rising junior majoring in Psychological and Brain Sciences with a minor in Data Science. Outside of the EL Connector, he is the lab coordinator at the Quantitative Psychopathology Lab and a research assistant at the Biobehavioral and Social-Emotional Development Lab. When he’s not working, he enjoys collecting bucket hats and exploring restaurants with friends in Boston. He hopes to support all his fellow CAS students maximize the opportunities available to them through the Connector.

Lynne Zhou, EL Ambassador

Lynne Zhou is a junior at Boston University majoring in Economics and Mathematics. Outside of her work at the EL Connector, she has interned at PMF in Miami, served as an economic analyst on BU’s Fed Challenge Team, and volunteered at stray animal shelters in both Miami and Beijing. In her free time, Lynne enjoys exploring new restaurants and traveling to experience different cultures!