An Introduction to the CCO

Our names are Marina Bontrager and Avery Swanson and we are the 2025-2026 Managing and Executive Directors of the Center for Community Outreach (CCO).

The CCO is excited to introduce our executive team, who are responsible for guiding service and volunteer initiatives across the KU campus and Lawrence community. 

1. Executive Director - Avery Swanson serves as a liaison between the CCO, community partners, and university wide organizations to advance volunteer impact and organizational goals. 

2. Managing Director - Marina Bontrager oversees the CCO budget, program advising, and additional operational needs for efficient programming. 

3. Creative Director - Kaityn Gantenbein works to maintain the CCO brand through promotional branding material.

4. Communications Director - Khadijah Khaliq operates online social media accounts to promote the general organization.

5. Development Director - CJ Hewins supports fundraising efforts, marketing strategies, and additional growth of programs. 

6. Events Director - Ali Khan plans CCO's programmatic events such as Into the Streets Week and Trunk or Treat.

At the Center for Community Outreach, our service is grounded in the IRISE values of Integrity, Respect, Innovation, Stewardship, and Excellence. Using these core values, the CCO commits to ethical volunteerism by focusing on responsible, sustainable, and respectful service that prioritizes the needs of the general community. 

Our site, volunteer.ku.edu, connects Jayhawks with meaningful service opportunities available in Lawrence and Douglas County. Each of the CCO's thirteen programs are responsible for planning and implementing service opportunities that directly address community needs. These needs range from feeding the unhoused population to providing social connection to older residents of Lawrence.

Our hope for the future of the CCO is that volunteers like you would utilize your skills, time, and energy to directly serve your fellow students and the community that KU calls home. 

This year, we have chosen to honor the volunteers that exemplify the values the CCO is grounded in. At our Into the Streets Week reception in April, we will be awarding volunteers who have completed 20+ service hours at CCO events this semester with the Dedicated to Service award. 

We greatly value the work and dedication of our volunteers in strengthening the KU and Lawrence community!

In service,

Marina Bontrager & Avery Swanson

Directors | KU Center for Community Outreach