Mary Denlinger

*Executive Director*
**Email:** qjd3jt@virginia.edu
Mary brings more than 20 years of experience facilitating the progression of college students’ learning beyond the bounds of campus through student-led community engagement. Mary earned her M.Ed. in College Student Personnel Administration at James Madison University, a B.A. in International Studies from Virginia Tech, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke. She has connected thousands of students to local and global experiential learning opportunities through the Arlington Fellows Program at George Mason University, the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University, the Kernodle Center for Civic Life at Elon University, and the Center for Community Engagement at Gonzaga University. Prior to Madison House, she returned to the Community Engagement and Volunteer Center at JMU to advise and support faculty designing and implementing community-engaged learning courses. Mary is excited to draw upon these various experiences and models to advance Madison House's storied tradition of student empowerment and positive community impact.
Originally from West Virginia, Mary is happiest around mountains and resides in Crozet, VA. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking and camping, trying new recipes with her cookbook club, and reading past bedtime.

Martha Trujillo

*Assistant Director of Finance & Operations*
**Email:** mtrujillo@madisonhouse.org
Originally from Mexico City with a degree in administration, Martha has spent the last 23 years in Charlottesville volunteering and working as an interpreter and translator for different non-profit organizations.
As a former chair of Creciendo Juntos, and as a graduate of Leadership Charlottesville and the CIC’s Entrepreneur Program, Martha continues to seek new ways to connect with people and pass along what she has learned. Being bilingual, she regularly engages in continuing education that improves partner communications and interactions, and she attends online courses offered by UnADAM and UNAM.
Martha brings more than 16 years of experience in tax preparation to Madison House. Her passion for seeing people grow fuels her tireless commitment to teaching people new skills. She feels her greatest achievement is when she’s given someone the confidence and knowledge to do something independently.

Tierra Fields

*Associate Director of Student Programming*
**Email:** tierraf@virginia.edu
Tierra is a leadership educator dedicated to empowering students to reach their full potential and embrace leadership as a journey of self-discovery, community engagement, and ongoing growth. With more than 15 years of experience in leadership development, community engagement, and student success programming, she is passionate about helping students discover their unique leadership styles, engage in meaningful experiential learning, and foster a strong sense of community through their university experience and beyond.
Tierra earned her M.Ed. in College Student Personnel from Rutgers University and has worked with thousands of students as a leadership development facilitator and trainer.
As a new resident of Charlottesville, she has enjoyed visiting local coffee shops and restaurants! She is an avid traveler and recently visited her 26th state.

Avery Wagner

*Communications Manager*
**Email:** awagner@virginia.edu
Avery Wagner is Communications Manager for Madison House and Public Service Pathways, where she leads communications strategy, storytelling, and creative initiatives that connect students with opportunities to engage in public service. She brings more than seven years of higher education communications experience at the University of Virginia, translating complex ideas and programs into clear, accessible, and compelling communications.
Before joining Madison House, Avery held communications and creative roles across UVA, most recently with the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Her work has spanned multimedia design, research communications, digital campaigns, and publications, with previous roles supporting UVA Facilities Management and the Office for Sustainability. She also spent nearly a decade in advertising, working across branding, design, copywriting, web development, and creative direction.
Avery holds a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a certificate in Multicultural Studies from the University of Missouri. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring art, music, film, and local ecology.

Kaitlyn Parks

*Assistant Director of Public Service Partnerships*
**Email:** ks2nw@virginia.edu
Kaitlyn brings more than a decade of experience in community engagement, nonprofit leadership, and project management. Before joining Madison House, she worked in nonprofit and public-sector settings supporting organizations, developing partnerships, connecting individuals with resources, and leading programs designed to improve access to essential services. Her career in public service began as an AmeriCorps VISTA and has included work with the University of Virginia’s Office of Student Affairs, where she oversaw the UVA Student Food Pantry, as well as with food banks and community organizations focused on food access, benefits enrollment, housing, healthcare, and other basic needs.
Kaitlyn earned her Master of Public Policy from the University of Virginia’s Batten School and her B.A. in Sociology and Public Policy & Community Service from Emory & Henry University.
A Charlottesville native, she is thrilled to support public service in her hometown in such a meaningful way. Outside of work, Kaitlyn enjoys teaching fitness classes, dancing, spending time with friends and family, and reading whilst surrounded by many beverages.

Ella Filston

*Assistant Director of Student Programming*
**Email:** efilston@virginia.edu
Ella brings experience in program management, student leadership development, and community engagement from her roles with the University of Georgia’s Office of Sustainability and Wake Forest University’s Office of the Dean of the College. At Wake Forest, Ella coordinated a tutoring program connecting undergraduate students with local K–12 students, and at UGA, she led the development and expansion of several campus-wide Zero Waste programs. Throughout her higher education career, Ella has advised hundreds of student leaders through internships, grant projects, capstone projects, and experiential learning courses. She especially enjoys helping students connect the dots between social, economic, and environmental challenges and solutions. Before joining Madison House, Ella did community-based work with the Community Climate Collaborative (C3) and served as a volunteer with Sin Barreras and Legal Aid Justice Center, both Madison House community partners. Ella cares deeply about engaging in mutually beneficial public service with university constituents, local government, and community nonprofits in pursuit of a world where all people can thrive, both now and in the future.
She holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics & International Affairs from Wake Forest University.
Charlottesville is the third college town Ella has called home, and she loves seeing mountains every day. Outside of work, she enjoys doing outdoor activities, volunteering with Sin Barreras, reading, and getting others excited about compost

Americorps Staff

Cole Kleiman

*AmeriCorps VISTA*
**Email:** jwb2wh@virginia.edu
Joining Madison House from Boston, Massachusetts, Cole is a recent University of Virginia graduate with degrees in Economics and Political Philosophy, Policy, and Law. While at UVA, Cole participated in the Public Service Pathways Program as a member of the inaugural class of Presidential Public Service Scholars.
Before Madison House, Cole worked on issues related to incarceration and reentry, volunteering at the UVA Law Innocence Project. Cole also interned at non-profit Resilience Education, helping to expand professional opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals.
As an AmeriCorps VISTA, Cole is excited to use his previous experiences to strengthen and expand partnerships between UVA and the Charlottesville community. After his term of service, Cole will be staying in Charlottesville to attend UVA School of Law as part of the Class of 2030.

Maggie Polistina

*AmeriCorps VISTA*
**Email:** nmu4vk@virginia.edu
Maggie Polistina is a recent graduate of the University of Virginia and is excited to join the Madison House team. Maggie earned her B.A. in Political and Social Thought and was a member of UVA’s inaugural Public Service Pathways program.
On the Public Service Pathways Student Advisory Council, Maggie served as Co-Lead of the Public Arts pathway, designed new student learning experiences, and managed community impact projects that allowed UVA students to serve within Charlottesville. Working at the intersection of the arts, public service, and student engagement, Maggie’s experience focuses on helping students explore how their passions and interests can connect with a commitment to service.
In her role as an AmeriCorps VISTA, Maggie is excited to support the development of meaningful service experiences for students and community partners.

GRADUATE Staff

Olivia Biolsi

*Graduate Advisor — Education & Youth Services*
**Email:** bxm9vk@virginia.edu
Olivia has been an active volunteer with Madison House since her first year at the University of Virginia, developing a deep appreciation for the meaningful, reciprocal relationships built between UVA students and the greater Charlottesville community. As an aspiring educator, she is deeply committed to student empowerment, community engagement, and youth development—values that remain central to Madison House’s mission. Her time within the organization’s student-led model fostered her passion for leadership, inspiring her to serve as the Graduate Advisor for the Education & Youth Services Track.
Olivia holds a B.S.Ed. in Youth and Social Innovation with a second major in Spanish from UVA, and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Elementary Education. Through her new role, she is excited to support student leaders and volunteers while strengthening relationships with community partners here in Charlottesville.

Evan Hiemenz

Graduate Advisor — Human Services and Animal & Environmental Services

Email: qyh4wu@virginia.edu

Evan is a current Masters of Public Policy student with the UVA Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. With focuses in environmental protection and social welfare reform, he believes in the importance of consistent local engagement as a tool to bring about long-lasting change. Using past experiences in student organizing and leadership development, Evan aims to connect students with persons and programs that fulfill their own desires to make an impact.

A Michigan native and long-time resident of North Carolina, Evan graduated in 2025 with a B.A in Political Science from Appalachian State University. In his free time, you are likely to find him reading and debating which mountain ranges are the best.