Capacity Building Institute

The Capacity Building Institute provides graduate/undergraduate students the opportunity to gain valuable experience applying the knowledge and skills learned in classes while assisting small community-based nonprofit organizations. The nonprofit organizations benefit by receiving needed assistance that they may not be otherwise able to afford. Faculty, staff, and experienced volunteers serve as supervisors or mentors for the students working on each project.
Capacity Building Institute

Director:

Dr. Naim Kapucu
HPA II Suite 238M, Orlando, FL 32816-1395
Phone: 407-823-6096
E mail: nkapucu@mail.ucf.edu

Programs Coordinator:

Maria-Elena Augustin is the program coordinator of the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management at the Department of Public Administration, University of Central Florida. She is a Master of Public Administration and also holds a graduate certificate in non-profit management. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois. She is a Colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Maria-Elena is a dedicated community volunteer, serving on the boards of several youth, veterans, and arts organizations, and the Central Florida Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration. She can be reached at maugusti@mail.ucf.edu.

Research Analysts:

	Bridget Healy, M.P.A., is a graduate student in the Master of Nonprofit Management program at the University of Central Florida. She received her Master of Public Administration from the University of Central Florida in May 2008. In 2004, Ms. Healy obtained a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Florida. Her interests include: nonprofit capacity building, nonprofit resource development, and program evaluation. In addition to volunteering with the Jobs Partnership of Florida, she also serves as a Board member for Family Services of Metro Orlando. She can be reached via email at bhealy@mail.ucf.edu
	Claudine Hawthorne is a Research Analyst in Department of Public Administration’s Capacity Building Institute at the University of Central Florida. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration (finance) in 2001 and has successfully transitioned those skills into public sector finance. Her interests include grants management, performance measurement, and citizen engagement. She can be reached at chawthor@mail.ucf.educhawthor@mail.ucf.edu
	Cristina Berrios is a research analyst in the Capacity Building Institute, working closely by providing technical assistance with two non-profit organizations under the FACTSII program. An alumna of the University of Central Florida’s College of Business, Cristina made the transition from her Economics Bachelors of Arts, to candidacy in the Masters of Public Administration, due to her familial roots in public service. She can be reached at ctberrio@mail.ucf.edu.
	Beverly Tuitt is a Research Analyst for the Capacity Building Institute in the Department of Public Administration. She is a Masters of Nonprofit Management student at UCF and has received a Bachelors and Masters in Social Work from UCF as well. Her research interests include Social and Educational Policies, Program Evaluation, and Grant Writing. She can be reached at btuitt@mail.ucf.edu.
	Yazmin Walker Is a research analyst with The Center for Public and Nonprofit Management at the University of Central Florida, working on the HIV Prevention FAO7-009 grant project. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in anthropology. Personal, life and work experiences led her to pursue a Master’s degree in nonprofit management. Her research interest include: HIV/AIDS, women’s studies, race and gender issues, and grant management. She can be reached at ywalker@mail.ucf.edu.

Graduates:

Katrina Daniels is a research analyst for the Capacity Building Institute in the Department of Public Administration. She is a MPA student at UCF and she received her Bachelor's degree in History from Wake Forest University. Her research interests include Education Policy, Capacity Building and Nonprofit Organizations, and Race, Class and Public Institutions. She can be reached at ktdaniel@mail.ucf.edu.

Valynn A. Sala-DiakandaI marvel at the opportunity to improve the life of those around me. January of 2007 I was able to accept a position with the Capacity Building Institute (CBI) which allows me to gain firsthand knowledge of the grant process and grassroots nonprofit organizational needs. I am literally an ambassador of the University of Central Florida and the organizations I work for trust me to provide any technical assistance needed to further their mission.
I completed my Bachelors Degree in Legal Studies in the fall of 2004. Shortly thereafter I worked for two years in the real estate industry where I gained a lot of management experience. I came into the profession of Public Administration in 2006 because I feel that it’s not only my generations’ duty, but it is my personal mission to contribute to new social developments.
My interests are: Capacity Building, Entrepreneurship, Evaluation Methods, Grants and Contract Management, Organizational Development, Program Evaluation and Development, Performance Management and Quality Management.

Graduate Research Assistants – Graduates

FACTS
Karlene Amos MPA 2005
Maria-Elena Augustin MPA 2008
Renee Cartee MNM 2006
Naeem Coleman MPA 2004
Murielle Jean-Jacques MPA 2005
Angie Knowlton MPA 2006
Marla Krause MPA 2005
Shalimar Lane MPA 2005
Orrie Solomon MPA 2005

COMPASS
Renee Cartee MNM 2006
Katherine McKinney MPA 2006
Sommer Pattison 2006

FACTS II
Katrina Daniels MPA 2008
Cherrie Wimes MNM 2008

Community Partners:

Current Projects:

Annual reports (2007) Click for file in PDF format

Graduates: Graduate students worked in the Institute