Our Team
Eric Buller, Wilks Leadership Institute Director bullere@muohio.edu
Eric was appointed as the Director in October 2011. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and served for 20 years as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. Prior to arrival at Miami, he taught for three years on the faculty at West Point and also in Army ROTC at East Carolina University. While at East Carolina, he served on the Chancellor’s Leadership Advisory Council, chaired the College of Health and Human Performance Leadership Development Committee and authored a Leadership Development Framework. Eric earned a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from the College of William and Mary and is nearing completion of the Doctorate of Education in Higher Education Administration from the University of Kansas. His research interests are in “Grit” (a measure of persistence), learning styles and leadership development. He is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Kappa Delta Pi. He also helps coach the Miami University Boxing Club and is the Compliance Chairperson for the National Collegiate Boxing Association.
Taran Cardone, Leadership Coordinator cardontr@muohio.edu
Taran is a returner to the Oxford area, having earned her Master’s Degree in Student Affairs and Higher Education from Miami University. During graduate school, she concentrated her studies in learning about transformative learning, holistic student development and college student cultures – areas of interest which she hopes to bring to her role as Leadership Coordinator. Also, she brings her diverse leadership experiences from Iona College in New Rochelle, New York. As a student there, she studied Spanish and Speech Communication as well as served as their Student Coordinator for Leadership Initiatives. Taran’s professional interest includes the intersection of self-authorship, leadership, social justice, and spirituality.
Neelum Amin, Wilks Community Assistant aminnk@muohio.edu
Neelum is a junior, Psychology major with a Child Studies minor. She is interested in leadership and engagement on campus. She hopes that with her time in Wilks she will be able to reach out and impact the lives of up and coming leaders on Miami’s campus. Neelum enjoys activities that are related to social justice and sustainability and has been a part of the Scholar Leader Community.
Charlotte Freeman, Wilks Community Assistant freemacc@muohio.edu
Charlotte is a junior Botany major and Environmental Science co-major. She is a former Scholar Leader and is working as a Community Assistant this year for the Wilks Institute. She is looking forward to continuing to develop and expand her own leadership skills as well as those of other students on campus. As a Community Assistant, Charlotte hopes to help plan and coordinate a number of leadership initiatives on campus and is excited to be a part of the Wilks team.
Raven Jones, Scholar Leader Resident Assistant jonesrr2@muohio.edu
Raven is a senior Health Studies major and Urban and Regional Analysis minor. She is a former Scholar Leader and is working as the Scholar Leader Resident Assistant this year. Raven is excited to work with the residents of the Scholar Leader Community on a more personal level, helping them to develop their personal philosophies on leadership. Raven has been a Connections Coach Peer Mentor for two years, working as mentor to first year students in the Office of Diversity Affairs. Raven was also a Wilks Scholar in the Shaping Sustainable Communities Cohort; this two year program focused on planning and sustainable practices in rural postindustrial Ohio.
Sarah Kipp, Wilks Community Assistant kippsj@muohio.edu
Sarah is a senior, Early Childhood Education major with a Special Education minor. Sarah acts as the Conference Coordinator for the Wilks Regional High School Leadership Conference held each spring and was a member of the Scholar Leader community for two years. Through Wilks, she is dedicated to developing her own leadership skills and helping high school students explore their leadership potential. She enjoys any activities related to education and leadership and is excited to be a part of the Wilks team.
Ryan Martini, Wilks Community Assistant martinr5@muohio.edu
Ryan Martini is a junior AYA Mathematics Education Major with an interest in teaching middle school. At this very moment, Ryan is working as a community assistant in the Wilks office, helping to work on all of the events coming up for Wilks throughout the school year. Through Wilks, Ryan is interested in becoming more engaged with the leadership community on campus by offering emerging leaders opportunities to become involved and follow their dreams. Follow your bliss but use your head!
Katie Scott, Wilks Community Assistant scottce@muohio.edu
Katie is a junior Graphic Design major with minors in Interactive Media Studies and Marketing. She wants to enter the field of branding and/or advertising and hopes that Wilks can help her get there. She is currently working on all advertising and promotional material for the office and hopes that, through her work, she can bring people to the office and open up opportunities for them to reach make an impact on the Miami community. Katie was a part of the Scholar Leader Community her sophomore year and is excited to see what Wilks can do this year. She enjoys photography, drawing and cooking in her spare time. Katie also finds writing about herself in the third person to be awkward.
Katie Stango, Advisor for Social Action Center stangokl@muohio.edu
Katie is a second-year graduate student in the Student Affairs in Higher Education program at Miami University where she holds an assistantship in the Office of Annual Giving. She graduated with a Political Science degree from Gettysburg College in 2007. Katie serves as a co-advisor to the Social Action Center along with Zach Bartush. She looks forward to merging her professional interest in higher education with her passion for homelessness awareness and women’s issues.
Caitlin Troyer, Wilks Community Assistant troyerce@muohio.edu
Caitlin is a junior Zoology major with a Molecular Biology minor, hoping to eventually to pursue a career in the field of genetic counseling. Caitlin was previously a member of the 2010-2011 Scholar Leader Community. She is interested in encouraging student engagement and involvement as a part of the Wilks team. She believes that facilitating dialogue and cooperation are crucial to the development of successful leadership. Caitlin is passionate about her roles as co-president of African School Advancement Program and president of Genetics Club and is involved with eight other organizations; she has a problem saying no, so don’t ask her to do anything ridiculous...
Justin Woodard, Wilks Graduate Assistant woodarjm@muohio.edu
Justin is in his final year of the Student Affairs in Higher Education master's program at Miami. He received his B.A. in History from Southern New Hampshire University where he worked on issues of poverty, homelessness and disaster relief. Justin will be coordinating the High School Leadership Program in Wilks this year. While working with a dedicated group of Miami students, he hopes to help empower, excite and engage local high school students to be the solutions to the problems in their own communities.