AmeriCorps VISTA

Each year, with the help of host sites statewide, MAVA hosts VISTA members who work to build capacity for volunteerism.  Click here for host site application information.

Read more about our current VISTAs below.


Kat Southard 
AmeriCorps VISTA, Member Outreach Coordinator

Kat Southard is an AmeriCorps VISTA serving as the Member Outreach Coordinator at the MAVA State Headquarters. She recently graduated from St.  Olaf  College  with a degree in Sociology, Anthropology, and Women’s Studies. Through a variety of internships and extracurricular activities, Kat has had the opportunity to work with and manage volunteers. Through these experiences she has developed a profound passion for working with volunteers and for advocating for the field volunteerism. During her year with MAVA, Kat looks forward to learning as much as she can about volunteer administration and promoting MAVA’s great benefits throughout  Minnesota  . Outside of work with MAVA, Kat enjoys baking, crossword puzzles, hiking, and time spent with family and friends. 

Contact Kat:
ksouthard@mavanetwork.org
651-255-0056

Alyssa Surges 
AmeriCorps VISTA, Community Initiatives Coordinator

Alyssa Surges is an AmeriCorps Vista, serving as the Community Initiatives Coordinator in Rochester. She graduated from Carthage  College with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration in 2010 and avoided the job search by volunteering in  Guatemala  . Afterwards, she returned to  Minnesota  and worked at the Mall of America for fun before signing up for AmeriCorps. Alyssa hopes to use her academic interest in the nonprofit sector to assist volunteer programs in southeastern  Minnesota  . In her spare time, she is volunteers at Saint Mary’s Hospital to learn medical lingo and at Paws and Claws Humane Society to walk dogs on her lunch breaks. Also, she tries extremely hard to not get lost or run over while biking around  Rochester  .

Contact Alyssa:
alyssas@uwolmsted.org
507-535-5519

Jody Schaefer
AmeriCorps VISTA, Skills Based Developer

Jody Schaefer is an AmeriCorps VISTA, sharing her time between MAVA and RSVP, an organization that places volunteers age 55 and over in meaningful volunteer roles that fit their lifestyles.   She is working on a project to provide skill based volunteer opportunities to job-seekers age 55+.  Jody is a lawyer with a desire to learn new things.  She says in the brief time she has been with MAVA she has developed a profound respect for those involved in volunteer leadership.  Jody's favorite things to do outside of MAVA/RSVP work are sailing, hiking and biking.

Contact Jody:

jschaefer@voamn.org
952-945-4159