Who We Are at CCEL

Keisha Shay, Ph.D - Assistant Vice President for Community Engaged Learning

Dr. Keisha Shay came to Fordham from NYU, where her administrative role involved academic development, communications, and operations. Shay holds a Ph.D. in educational leadership from Caldwell University in New Jersey, and has also worked at Montclair State, where she did her undergraduate work and earned a master’s degree in counseling: student affairs in higher education. In 2017, she was awarded Outstanding Professional Achievement in Higher Education from Montclair State University and received the Sister Mary Amelia, O.P. award for Outstanding Dissertation from Caldwell University in 2020. Shay is passionate about student success, building strong partnerships, and student and faculty engagement. She loves to spend time with her family, cook, and travel.

Maria Rodriguez-Gomez - Associate Director, Engaged Student Learning

Maria received her bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where she also completed a minor in Sociology. A proud Bronx native, Maria's educational journey was shaped by a strong commitment to public service and a deep interest in understanding the social structures that impact communities like her own.

While pursuing her degree, Maria worked for ten years at a notable immigration law firm in New York City. This experience offered her extensive exposure to the fast-paced and emotionally charged world of immigration services. She developed a strong foundation in customer service, learning how to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and to provide support during often difficult and uncertain times.

More than just a job, this role became a formative part of Maria's personal and professional development. It was during these years that she discovered a profound sense of purpose—advocating for individuals and families who are often overlooked, underserved, or marginalized. The stories she encountered and the resilience she witnessed solidified her passion for equity, justice, and human dignity.

Maria is also deeply passionate about education and access. She believes in the transformative power of learning and is committed to helping create pathways for others—especially those from underserved communities—to pursue their educational goals and unlock their full potential.

Maria Rodriguez-Gomez

Kujegi Camara - Assistant Director for Community Engagement and Operations

Kujegi is passionate about creating meaningful connections across different platforms, entities, and people. In her current role as Assistant Director of Community Engagement and Operations at Fordham's Center for Community Engaged Learning, she looks forward to facilitating empowering connections between Fordham students and the surrounding neighborhoods. Kujegi brings with her to Fordham a background in non-profit program management, community organizing and advocacy for faith-based and immigrant communities, and partnership cultivation. In her personal time, she gives back to her Gambian community by mentoring young West-African Muslim women and helping to empower them on their journey to college as part of her work with the Smiling Coast Women Empowerment Network. Kujegi holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Princeton University and graduated cum laude in 2016. In 2019, she received the Leadership Award from the Senegambia Awards Gala for her trailblazing work in supporting young women from the Senegambia Diaspora. That same year, she also received a Commendation from the Office of the Comptroller for her outstanding community work building bridges and empowering immigrant young women. Kujegi gets the most excitement from when she is supporting others and working to improve the processes and systems they are in, when she is sharing her poetry with others, and when she is baking banana bread for her family and friends.

Photograph of Kugeji Camara

Adam Bermudez - Assistant Director for Communications and Project Management

Adam is a Bronx native and graduate of Regis High School and Wesleyan University. Before working at Fordham, he served as Legislative and Communications Director to members of the City Council from Manhattan and the Bronx. Adam has also worked for two local Bronx news outlets.

Photograph of Adam Bermudez

Phoebe Greene- Coordinator of Programs and Operations

Phoebe is excited to be part of the CCEL team and to rejoin the world of higher education at Fordham University. Originally from Berkeley, California, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Italian from the University of Colorado Boulder, graduating magna cum laude. During her time at CU Boulder, Phoebe worked in the College of Engineering and Applied Science and completed a thesis exploring the political ideologies of Call of Duty players. After graduating, she moved into sports media operations with a production company in Denver, combining her organizational strengths with her passion for athletics.

Phoebe has always valued community involvement and connection. She is committed to building meaningful relationships and supporting collaborations that help students grow both personally and professionally. At CCEL, Phoebe supports program operations, workflows, and logistics across multiple initiatives and courses. She enjoys creating efficient systems and solving problems through thoughtful structure and automation. Outside of work, Phoebe enjoys crafting, cooking, exploring neighborhoods around New York, and watching films. She is a devoted sports fan and keeps up with the CU Buffs, the Denver Nuggets, and the San Francisco Giants.

Phoebe Greene