When Dhruv Rungta signed up for his first documentary photography class at Duke University, he couldn't have predicted how it would reshape his path. What started as an engaging elective blossomed into a deeper commitment to community engagement when his professor recognized his passion and invited him to take on a leadership role in the course. Now a junior pursuing a self-designed degree in Economics, Ecology and Sustainable Development, Rungta serves as an SLA (Service-Learning Assistant) for DOCST… read more about Dhruv Rungta: Building Community Through Documentary Photography »
Picture a third-grade girl designing a water filter, her mother by her side. They laugh, experiment, and problem-solve together—both discovering they're natural engineers. It's a powerful moment, especially in a field where young girls—particularly girls of color—rarely see themselves represented.Through the InventHERs Institute, Drs. Whitney McCoy and Shaundra Daily are revolutionizing how girls and women see themselves in STEM fields. By creating what they call a "counterspace"—where everyone can authentically… read more about In Their Own Words: Whitney McCoy and Shaundra Daily on Creating Inclusive STEM Spaces »
What happens when STEM meets community? Magic, it turns out. In Fall 2024, Duke Service-Learning's event series, "STEM + Community Engagement: Pedagogy and Practice," brought together faculty who are reimagining how we teach and learn STEM. From engineering students designing adaptive technology for children, to medical students transforming postpartum care, these faculty are demonstrating how community engagement makes STEM education more powerful, inclusive, and transformative.At Pratt's School of Engineering, Michael… read more about In His Own Words: Michael Rizk on Engineering Education and Community Impact »
Four faculty in the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences were recently recognized by the Arts & Sciences Council for outstanding achievements in undergraduate teaching.Each year, the Council’s Committee on Undergraduate Teaching selects outstanding faculty members for their commitment to their students, for engaging them deeply in research and scholarship, for their continued development as innovative teachers and mentors, and more.Members of the council — in collaboration with the dean's office — … read more about Four Trinity Faculty Receive 2024 Undergraduate Teaching Awards »
What does it mean to pursue common good, and in what ways do service-learning and community-engaged courses invite us to join that pursuit? In 2024-2025, Duke Service-Learning is focusing our work on Pursuit of Common Good, inviting our communities to consider ways our engagements take common good as an underlying value. As articulated in our Mission Statement,(link opens in a new window/tab) Duke Service-Learning values academic coursework that joins communities in promoting social equity and social change… read more about 2024-2025 Annual Theme: Pursuit of Common Good »
When he arrived at Duke four years ago as a first-year student in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Elaijah Lapay said he had no idea of what would happen next, but he knew he needed to do something of value. As he now prepares to graduate, Lapay leaves with a record of service that has helped address local issues of food insecurity and access to health care for migrant workers. For his leadership and selfless services to others, Lapay recently joined two others at Duke in receiving the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award… read more about The Sullivan Award: Honoring Three Who Aid Others at Duke and in the Community »
A significant body of research lends support to the notion that establishing certain “enabling conditions” makes it more likely that young people will be successful, thrive and flourish in school, work and their lives. A sense of belonging is one “enabling condition” associated with a positive undergraduate experience, academic achievement and psychological well-being. On the other hand, what some psychologists call "belonging uncertainty" is associated with student disengagement and less successful academic… read more about Belonging, Well-Being and the Undergraduate Experience: A student conversation with Dean Gary G. Bennett »
Each year, Duke Service-Learning recognizes a senior student, a SLCE faculty member, and a community partner with the Betsy Alden Outstanding Service-Learning Award. Betsy Alden was a pioneer in service-learning, beginning her work at Duke during the 1980s. Read more about the legacy of Betsy Alden. Recipients are chosen because they represent an exceptional commitment to the community-engaged ideals of service‐learning. Each winner receives an honorarium and is recognized at the University’s annual In the Spotlight… read more about 2024 Alden Award Recipients for Excellence in Service-Learning »
Ask Deja Simms, a sixth-grade English Language Arts teacher at Durham’s Neal Middle School, about her class’s Friday learning sessions with Duke students, and she’ll say: “We usually have low attendance Fridays, but now no student is missing. They’re like, ‘The Duke students are coming?’ They’re excited.” The lessons were part of education professor Kisha Daniels’ Critical Pedagogy of Hip Hop class, where her students worked with the sixth graders on exploring how social issues are connected to musical genres. The class… read more about Hip Hop in the Classroom »
(Left) Students in MUSIC 398S, Meeting the World Through Chamber Music, working with Professor Hsiao-Mei Ku and KidzNotes, a community organization working in Durham Public Schools. (Right) Students in CHINESE 333, Advanced Chinese for Bilingual Learners, working with Professor Shu-Ting Hsu and students at Glenwood Elementary in the Chapel-Hill Carrboro City Schools. Many of our Duke Service-Learning courses work with K-12 education in school settings… read more about Service-Learning in Action »
Community Partners Breakfast The annual Duke Service-Learning community partner breakfast is an opportunity to express our deep gratitude to the community partners that collaborate with our faculty and students. What better way to celebrate our community partnerships than through breakfast in the community? Duke Service-Learning faculty and their community partners joined us… read more about Service-Learning in the Community »
For the past decade, Duke Service-Learning affiliated faculty, Joan Munné and Melissa Simmermeyer, both Senior Lecturers in Romance Studies, have co-taught SPANISH 310, Translating Spanish-English and English-Spanish, a community-engaged course. Real-World Context To better understand in today’s terms what translation and interpretation mean, what challenges they pose in institutional settings, and why they matter… read more about SPANISH 310: Translating Spanish-English and English-Spanish »
Charged with addressing equity gaps in undergraduate educational outcomes, the Boyer 2030 Commission issued a new blueprint for advancing equity and student success, and cited Duke as an example to be followed among research universities in the United States. Duke is one of three research universities recognized in the Commission’s latest report as having successfully incorporated service-learning into undergraduate education. Duke Service-Learning is a signature program of Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. It… read more about Duke Cited as One of Three Top Universities in Community-Engaged Education »
Dr. Joan Clifford and Dr. Deb Reisinger recently presented a webinar hosted by the Center for Educational Resources in Culture, Language and Literacy (CERCLL) at The University of Arizona. Their talk, Community-Based Learning Outcomes: Positioning Language Students for Success, explores ways to use community-based language learning (CBLL) to help students make connections to their larger goals, including career and self-development, teamwork, leadership, and… read more about Service-Learning Faculty Present a Webinar to CERCLL »
Four faculty in the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences were recently recognized by the Arts & Sciences Council for outstanding achievements in undergraduate teaching. Members of the council — in collaboration with the dean's office — choose the award recipients each year by considering student evaluations, teaching statements and recommendations from colleagues as part of the selection process. Four awards are given each year, spanning the breadth of undergraduate disciplines offered in the college. “The… read more about Four Trinity Faculty Receive Undergraduate Teaching Awards »
Each year, Duke Service-Learning recognizes students, faculty and community partners with the Betsy Alden Outstanding Service-Learning Awards. Betsy Alden was a pioneer in service-learning, beginning her work at Duke during the 1980s. Read more about the legacy of Betsy Alden HERE. Recipients are chosen because they represent an exceptional commitment to the ideals of service‐learning. Each winner receives $150 to further develop his/her community-building and leadership skills. They are also recognized at the… read more about 2023 Alden Award Winners Represent Exceptional Commitment to Service-Learning »
On February 28, 2023, Duke Service-Learning sponsored a virtual discussion with Jessica Chittum, Kathryn Enke, and Ashley Finley, research scholars from the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). The session focused the 2022 report, The Effects of Community-Based and Civic Engagement in Higher Education: What we Know and Questions That Remain, and was followed by a discussion on research findings, replicable models for assessment, and action opportunities for institutions. In the opening address,… read more about A Conversation with the AAC&U Researchers about the 2022 Report »
What better way to learn about food and food systems than through the community? Manger: Food and Food Systems in the French-Speaking World, taught by Professor Laura Florand was offered for the first time in Fall 2022, and is scheduled to be regularly taught each fall. The course explored the connections between food, nourishment, friends, family, culture, community, and the local and global food systems. Exploring Foodways FRENCH 308S was offered as a Duke Service-Learning course,… read more about Service-Learning Through French Language, Food, and Food Systems »
Duke Service-Learning recently hosted a student-centered conversation with Gary G. Bennett, dean of Trinity College of Arts & Sciences and professor of Psychology & Neuroscience, Global Health, Medicine, and Nursing. A group of about 60 undergraduates gathered in an East Duke Building parlor speak with the dean and two dozen faculty and staff members about their purposes and experiences here at Duke. The conversation centered on the topic "Why Are We Here? Transcripts and Lifescripts." The dean shared insights… read more about Why Are We Here? Transcripts and Lifescripts »
Jennifer Nash, Jean Fox O'Barr Professor of Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies, minces no words summing up how care as a product is viewed in the United States. “I think care isn’t valued because it's women's work. Anything that women do is devalued.” From birth to death, everyone receives care at some point in their life. And the “care economy” is the economic activity generated by the provision of care services like childcare, elder care and health care. This includes both paid and… read more about Vital but Invisible: How Women Drive the Care Economy in the United States »
“Don’t burn the onions.” From the faculty kitchen in the John Hope Franklin Center, the sounds of determined chopping and intermittent laughter mixed with the intoxicating aromas of cardamom, coriander, fennel and cumin escape down the hallway. In the middle of the bustle stands Kusum Knapczyk, Hindi lecturer in the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES). As she checks each student’s progress, she also provides encouragement and instructions in Hindi — or in English for urgent matters. The 15… read more about Cultural Connections, One Meal at a Time »
Contexts and Connections is a signature program of Duke Service-Learning, engaging Duke faculty and staff interested in deepening their knowledge of and connections to the Durham community, as well as exploring connections with teaching, research, and service. Contexts and Connects is about getting faculty and staff off campus, introducing folks to Durham’s rich history, and facilitating introductions to community resources for service-learning and community-engaged (SLCE) courses. This… read more about Announcing the Spring 2023 Context & Connections Series »
On November 11, 2022, three local community organizers joined the Duke Service-Learning team to share their work and experiences as community organizers within the Durham community. The panel session was moderated by Dr. Joan Clifford, Program Director of Duke Service-Learning. Panelists included Kathy Thelemaque of Durham CAN (Congregations, Associations, and Neighborhoods), Maria Luisa Solis Guzman of Luma Consulting, and Tabitha Blackwell of Book Harvest Durham. Questions included: How did you… read more about Organizing for Action »