office of community service staff

Dan Flynn · Sarah Cantrell

Dan Flynn
Director of Community Service
617-349-8567
dflynn@lesley.edu
23 Mellen St, Room 204

Dan Flynn's background in service began at Merrimack College where he was introduced to such programs as Alternative Spring Break and service retreats. He traveled to places such as Alabama, Louisiana, Mexico, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Cyprus. In each location, he did valuable work in the community, such as playing with children in an orphanage or by building a home for a low-income family.

Dan earned his Bachelor's degree in political science from Merrimack College. He went on to receive his Master's Degree from Boston College in Higher Education Administration with a concentration in college student development.

One of Dan's greatest accomplishments was establishing the first girl's track program at St. Joseph's Middle School in Camden, NJ. This was part of his year-long commitment to volunteering in the poverty-stricken community. His year of service, under the auspices of the Augustinian Volunteers, provided him with the insight that he would always need to involve service in his life.

Combining his love for higher education and his goal to always serve, Dan took the position in the Office of Community Service at Lesley University. In three years, Dan has worked with many undergraduate students and community organizations to create long-lasting relationships where needs can be met. These relationships include the 5th Ward Elementary School in Reserve, LA, Habitat for Humanity in Spartanburg, SC, Tutoring Plus and Bread and Jams in Cambridge, MA. Dan hopes to increase the number of "quality hours" that Lesley University students serve as well as increasing the visibility of Lesley University out in the greater community.

Sarah Cantrell
MACC AmeriCorps*VISTA
617-868-9600 ext. 2457
scantrel@lesley.edu
23 Mellen St, Room 203

Sarah Cantrell serves Lesley University as an AmeriCorps*VISTA sponsored by Massachusetts Campus Compact. In this role, Sarah works with Dan to offer quality service opportunities for Lesley students and local non-profit organizations in the Cambridge and Greater Boston area.  Her goal is to help Lesley students engage their communities in more meaningful ways through community service, service-learning, and community building activities.

Sarah's love for service emerged during her undergraduate career at Davidson College where she participated in service groups like Reach Out and Read and the Chicken Soupe Troupe, which performed plays at the local children's hospital. As a service trip leader for Davidson Outdoors and Overland Adventures, Sarah worked to build community through service. She has participated in or led group service trips to Immokalee, FL; Gulfport, MS; Asheville, NC; Nicaragua and Hawaii. These inspiring trips helped shape her views on service by emphasizing the importance of fostering community and meaningful relationships.

Following graduation, Sarah taught at Greensboro Day School in her hometown of Greensboro, NC. She is excited to now be in the Office of Community Service; stop by and visit her at 23 Mellen St, Room 203 and discover a great way for you to get involved and serve Lesley University and beyond!