CIVIC TEAM

Mary Kate Andris, Ed.D.

President & CEO

Prior to being named President and Chief Executive Officer of the CIVIC Leadership Institute, Dr. Andris served as a Director of Council Partnerships for the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA). There she supported more than 30 Council CEOs and their Board Chairs in annual and strategic planning for growth and sustainability.

Before joining GSUSA, Dr. Andris served as President and CEO of the YWCA South Hampton Roads where she worked to increase revenue from philanthropic sources and build awareness of the YWCA South Hampton Roads’ brand.  During her tenure, the organization received its largest private gift ever: $2 million from MacKenzie Scott, philanthropist and author.

Dr. Andris serves on the Virginia Council on Women and was an Inside Business Women in Business Honoree. She holds two degrees from Widener University: a Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration and a Master’s Degree in Higher Education along with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Management from Moravian University.

Mary Kate and her husband, Kevin, have two teenage boys and a dog named Nyx.

Destini Harrell

Assistant to Special Projects

Destini Harrell is a community artist, translator, strategic connector and what she calls a “street-level economic and cultural developer.” She is fueled by her passion to bridge and cross-over worlds- of people, resources, and concepts- and to build both micro and macro communities, turning her lifestyle into her life’s work. With a background in both business and arts & humanities, entrepreneurial ways of thinking, creativity, and the human experience are all at the core of her endeavors.

Hampton Roads born-and-bred, Destini is committed to being a part of the “long game” of making the potential of this region a reality. She was introduced to this passion through her time as a CIVIC Scholar. Destini is a graduate of Old Dominion University, with an MBA and a BA in Finance (Real Estate Concentration) and Communication Minor, and is currently helping CIVIC with special projects such as Community Impact Initiatives.

Christina Shipman

Administrative Assistant

Christina has a varied background with roles in the banking industry, assisting individuals with tax liabilities, and customer service through compliance monitoring software. Prior to coming to CIVIC Leadership Institute as the Administrative Assistant, she participated in an online platform to provide data and research for academic communities while also assuming the role of stay-at-home parent.

She graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Although a native to southwestern Virginia, she has been a resident of Hampton Roads for almost 8 years and considers it her home. She resides in Norfolk with her husband, Philip, and son, Duncan, where they enjoy family adventures that include biking, kayaking, and LEGO building.