For more than two decades, Professor Deborah T. Gold’s service-learning course Death & Dying taught students something most Americans spend their lives avoiding: how to be present with people who are dying. In Fall 2025, she taught the course for the final time.According to family lore, Gold’s first words were not “mama” or “dada,” but “pull the plug”—a phrase absorbed from dinner table conversations where her parents spoke plainly about their end-of-life wishes with the same casualness most… read more about Teaching Death, Teaching Life »
What do cooking dumplings and meeting a former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have in common?Both are memorable experiences first-year students had this fall, thanks to Trinity College’s Arts & Sciences Curriculum.Finding your footing in a new place can be challenging, but the Arts & Sciences Curriculum’s First-Year Experience helps students make meaningful connections from the moment they arrive on campus.All first-year students in Trinity College participate in the First-Year Experience through… read more about Building Connections Through the First-Year Experience »
For junior Sally Maroa, community engagement isn’t an extracurricular—it’s a way of life. Born in Kenya and raised across Kenya, South Africa, and the United States, Sally has witnessed how inequality and resilience often coexist. That global perspective now shapes her path at Duke, where she combines academic study with hands-on service to make lasting change.From Global Roots to National RecognitionThis fall, Sally received the Voyager Scholarship for Public Service, a national award… read more about “Service-learning gave me a way to act on my values.” »
When communities face complex challenges, it's easy to focus on what's missing. But what happens when we start by identifying what's already strong? That question guided Teaching Asset Mapping through Community-Engaged Projects, a recent workshop hosted by Duke Service-Learning and led by Andrew Nurkin, Hart Associate Professor of the Practice and Director of the Hart Leadership Program and students Jeffrey Broms (Class of 2027) and Erin Gotlieb (Class… read more about Mapping What Endures: Lessons in Resilience from Hurricane Helene »
Economics with a Human Focus: Professor Genna Miller’s New Course Connects Theory and CommunityFor Professor Genna Miller, economics is more than models and markets — it’s a way of understanding people. This spring, Miller brings that philosophy to life through her new community engaged course, Economics with Community-Based Clients (ECON 390S), where Duke students will serve as economic consultants for local organizations working toward the common good.Supported by Duke’s… read more about Economics with a Human Focus: Professor Genna Miller’s New Course Connects Theory and Community »
Duke Service-Learning congratulates Sally Maroa, one of our 2024–25 Service-Learning Assistants, on being named a recipient of the prestigious Voyager Scholarship for Public Service. Sally, a Global Health and International Comparative Studies major, brings her passion for civic engagement and global community health to her service-learning work at Duke. We’re thrilled to see her recognized for her leadership and commitment to making a difference locally and globally. read more about Sally Maroa Receives the Voyager Scholarship »
Join us for a free workshop with Prof. Andrew NurkinThursday, October 30, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.Event location: Brodhead 067[Registration link]Faculty, staff, students, and community members are welcome!When Professor Andrew Nurkin talks about asset mapping, he’s not just describing a teaching tool—he’s inviting us into a new way of seeing communities. “The mind shift,” he explains, “is moving from viewing communities as places of need or lack to places of abundance and assets—assets that may be… read more about Teaching Asset Mapping through Community-Engaged Projects »
Duke Service-Learning faculty member Germain Choffart, a Lecturing Fellow in Romance Studies, is featured in a recent article about his new DukeEngage program in Saint-Avold, France. Drawing on his hometown roots and passion for community engagement, Choffart created a program where Duke students partner with local organizations on projects ranging from restoring furniture for low-income families to revitalizing public spaces. read more about Spotlight on Prof. Germain Choffart »
As a Master’s student in Population Health Sciences, Suepriya Adhikari is bringing her talent in research, writing, and design to Duke Service-Learning — helping us with assessment, communications, and more. Her background in community-engaged research began at UMass Amherst, where service-learning courses shaped her academic path. Here at Duke, she supports our work in assessment, communications, and program administration — from analyzing data and contributing… read more about Meet Our Newest Team Member: Suepriya Adhikari »
We’re proud to celebrate three SLCE faculty who are being recognized for their outstanding contributions in teaching, research, and global engagement! Prof. Katya Wesolowski (Cultural Anthropology) – Recipient of the Howard D. Johnson Award for Undergraduate Teaching for her SLCE course Fieldwork Methods, where students conduct hands-on fieldwork and create mini-ethnographies.Prof. Ann Saterbak (Biomedical Engineering) – Named a Fulbright Global Scholar for… read more about Faculty Honors: Celebrating SLCE Excellence »
Duke students and Jordan High AVID students celebrate their semester-long collaboration in “The Critical Pedagogy of Hip Hop” with a Kendrick Lamar concert in Charlotte, NC—transforming the classroom into a space for joy, identity, and community. "Exhaustingly fun."That's how Professor Kisha Daniels describes her service-learning course, The Critical Pedagogy of Hip Hop, which partners with AVID classrooms at Jordan High School in Durham. Duke students and high schoolers analyze… read more about Rigorous Delight: How Hip-Hop Pedagogy Combines Academic Depth with Genuine Joy »
Duke Professor Emeritus of Political Science Sheridan Johns passed away on May 1, at the age of 90. Johns was widely recognized as an Africanist specializing in South African political history and liberation movements. He joined Duke as an associate professor in the political science department in 1970, five years after earning his Ph.D. from Harvard University. Throughout his career at Duke, Johns held several notable visiting appointments around the world, including at the Institute of Social Studies… read more about Political Science Professor Sheridan Johns Passes Away »
ABOVE: Students from Graphic Ethnography: Comics as Research (ICS 502S) and residents of TROSA—a Durham-based residential recovery program—gather to celebrate the comics they co-created, sharing powerful stories of resilience, healing, and connection. Graphic Ethnography: Comics as Research, a service-learning course taught by Professor Adam Rosenblatt, explores comics as both an innovative research method and a medium for authentic human connection. Through a partnership with… read more about Drawing New Connections: Comics, Community, and Recovery »
As a Durham native, Alexis Mosu arrived at Duke already carrying a deep connection to the place—but it wasn’t until she took a service-learning course that she truly found a way to give back to her community.“I’ve been in Durham since 2008,” she says, “but I’ve never been able to serve the community the way I have now that I’m at Duke.”A biology major with minors in global health and Spanish, Alexis discovered service-learning in her first year through Spanish 306: Health in the Latine Community. The course, taught… read more about Rooted in Service: Alexis Mosu Reflects on Community, Identity, and the Power of Saying Yes »
In early April, Duke Service-Learning hosted Dr. Andy Furco—one of the world’s foremost leaders in community-engaged scholarship—for a special presentation on the global trajectory of service-learning as a high-impact educational practice. Speaking to a room of educators, researchers, and community engagement professionals, Furco reflected on the growth of service-learning over the past three decades and outlined a future vision for the field.The event, part of the North American Regional Gathering of the International… read more about Service-Learning’s Enduring Impact: Andy Furco on the Global Rise of a Transformative Practice »
After decades of teaching, mentoring, and serving communities from Durham to Honduras, Dr. Dennis Clements is retiring from Duke—leaving behind a legacy deeply rooted in global health, service, and a profound love of teaching.Known for his chocolate brownies, warm presence, and sharp intellect, Clements has made his mark by helping students bridge classroom learning with real-world challenges across continents. From his early international experiences in Okinawa and Switzerland to his pioneering work in Honduras, his global… read more about A Heart for Students, A Vision for the World: Honoring Dr. Dennis Clements »
In early April, Duke Service-Learning hosted the North American Regional Gathering of the International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE)—a two-day convening to help shape a future-looking Global Research Agenda for the field.Led by facilitator Dr. Andrew Furco and supported by GivePulse, Inc., the Durham gathering brought together researchers, faculty, and practitioners from across North Carolina and the U.S. to review and refine more than 2,000… read more about Duke Service-Learning Hosts Regional Gathering for Global Service-Learning Research Agenda »
When Associate Professor of the Practice Yan Liu reached out to Durham Academy's Mandarin teacher Bonnie Wang in 2014, she was exploring new connections in the community for her new service-learning course in Chinese. Neither educator could have predicted that this initial connection would blossom into a decade-long partnership that would transform hundreds of students' lives and their own teaching practices.This year, Bonnie Wang was named the 2025 Betsy Alden Outstanding Service-Learning Community Partner Award… read more about A Decade of Connection: Learning, Language, and Community »
Each year, Duke Service-Learning recognizes a senior student, a faculty member, and a community partner with the Betsy Alden Outstanding Service-Learning Awards. Named for Betsy Alden, a pioneer in service-learning at Duke beginning in the 1980s, the award honors individuals who embody the values of meaningful community partnership, reflection, and a commitment to social change. Recipients are selected for their exceptional dedication to community-engaged learning. Each receives an honorarium, and their stories are shared… read more about 2025 Betsy Alden Award Recipients for Excellence in Service-Learning »
Master’s student Dhaval Potdar needed something to work on over the summer. He came across Data+, an interdisciplinary program for small teams of students to tackle challenges for clients who are often external to Duke. A project to improve operations at Durham Public Schools appealed to him because of the potential societal impact: “I got to do a project which would, if implemented correctly, have an impact on the lives of 30,000 children,” he said. “That’s pretty significant to me.”Potdar shared his experience at a… read more about Community Engagement Tips From Faculty, Students and Local Partners »
Senior Faculty at the Duke Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity and Professor of the Practice in Education at Duke UniversityDavid Malone, PhD, joined the Cook Center in 2014, when it first originated as the Duke Consortium on Social Equity. He is currently the Co-Director of the Working Group on Educational Equity & Policy at the Cook Center and a Professor of the Practice in Education. With almost 40 years of experience in leadership, teaching, and research at Duke, Dr… read more about A Q&A with Senior Faculty David M. Malone »
It has been nearly a decade since Sandra Valnes Quammen, senior lecturer with the Department of Romance Studies, began exploring ways to integrate sustainability into her language teaching — largely thanks to the Trillium Sustainability Fellows Program. Created by Charlotte Clark, associate professor of the practice of sustainability (now emeritus) at the Nicholas School of the Environment, the program encouraged faculty from outside the environmental sciences to think of ways climate sustainability could intersect with… read more about Sustainable Conversations »
When STEM education meets community wisdom, the results can be life changing. During Duke Service-Learning’s Fall 2024 event series, STEM + Community Engagement: Pedagogy and Practice.", Professor Liz DeMattia from the Duke Marine Lab shared how their program, Ready, Set, Resilience, grew out of unexpected challenges. What started as a response to hurricanes evolved into a model for helping communities build resilience in the face of climate change.The story begins with Hurricane Florence in 2018, which devastated… read more about Building Resilience Through Stories of Nature and Community »
On Friday, February 28, we gathered with incredible community partners, faculty, and staff for our annual Community Partner Breakfast—a celebration of collaboration and impact! We were honored to have partners from education, the arts, social services, and local nonprofits, alongside faculty from engineering, medicine, language departments, education, documentary studies, and more. Together, they make community-engaged learning at Duke meaningful—connecting Duke students with Durham through hands-on projects in schools… read more about Celebrating Community Partners »
Bridging Classroom Learning with Global Health InnovationAt Duke University's Global Health Institute, Dr. Dennis Clements has pioneered an approach that transforms theoretical knowledge into practical solutions. Through two innovative service-learning courses—a required capstone for Global Health majors (GLHLTH 499) and an Innovation & Entrepreneurship course (I&E 590) open to students across all levels—Clements connects students directly with healthcare organizations worldwide that need… read more about Bridging Classroom Learning with Global Health Innovation »
On Friday, February 7th, Duke Service-Learning’s Community Action Project partnered with Book Harvest to support literacy in Durham by preparing donated books for local families. As a respected Durham nonprofit, Book Harvest ensures that children have access to books from birth, fostering a lifelong love of reading and learning. This initiative was part of our Pursuit of Common Good series, which connects Duke and Durham through meaningful, hands-on… read more about Supporting Literacy in Durham: Duke Service-Learning Partners with Book Harvest »
Breaking Stereotypes, Building Confidence in MathAt a time when STEM fields continue to grapple with gender disparities, an innovative program is transforming how middle school girls see mathematicians—and themselves. Girls Exploring Math (DukeGEM) is a Bass Connections Research Team at Duke, bringing together undergraduates, graduate students, and professors to create engaging, puzzle-based math and logic workshops for students in the wider Durham community. DukeGEM tackles a persistent challenge: the… read more about Reimagining Who Can Be a Mathematician »
LEAPS founders Glenn Gutterman (right) and Dan Kessler (left) with Betsy Alden during a planning outing in the mid-1990s. Inspired by UNC's APPLES program, the two Duke sophomores partnered with Alden to create what would become Duke's own distinctive approach to community-engaged education. As Duke celebrates its Centennial, we’re reminded that one of its enduring and impactful educational initiatives began not in lecture halls or administrative offices, but around a kitchen table.In… read more about From Students to Changemakers: The Legacy of LEAPS (Learning through Experience, Action, Partnership and Service) »
We’re proud to celebrate Kathy Sikes, Associate Director of Duke Service-Learning, for earning her certification as a highly qualified community engagement practitioner through Campus Compact’s Community Engagement Professional Credentialing Program. Kathy’s achievement reflects her deep commitment to advancing community engagement at Duke and beyond. Read the full announcement here. read more about Kathy Sikes Recognized as a Certified Community Engagement Professional »