Outstanding Faculty Contributions to Service-Learning in Higher Education – Research
Dr. Tiffany Washington, Assistant Professor at University of Georgia School of Social Work
Dr. Tiffany Washington joined the University of Georgia (UGA) School of Social Work faculty in 2013 after completing her
Outstanding Faculty Contributions to Service-Learning in Higher Education – Instruction
Dr. Jane Grovijahn, Associate Professor of Theology and Spiritual Action at Our Lady of the Lake University
Dr. Jane Grovijahn is a classically trained Catholic theologian who delights in teaching and learning about justice in all things. She specializes in applied theology in contemporary contexts as invitations into social justice where she is known for engagement in her classroom settings. She is an associate professor of Theology and Spiritual Action at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio. In her 20 years of teaching at OLLU she has been repeatedly recognized for excellence in Service Learning, was given the Fleming Award for Faculty Excellence and was granted the Moody Professorship in 2014/2015. Most recently, Dr. Grovijahn has been elected to faculty leadership and will be the Faculty Assembly President in the 2019/2020 academic year. She has presented in both national and international forums including the European Association of Catholic Theology, European Women’s Society of Theology and Research, the Catholic Theological Society of America, American Academy of Religion and Oxford Women’s Leadership Symposium. Her current research focuses on intersectionality in trauma and grace, embodiment as vehicle of Divine becoming and queer theologies.
Outstanding Practitioner Contributions to Service-Learning in Higher Education
Kristin Harper, Director – Bunting Center for Engaged Study and Community Action at Birmingham Southern College
Kristin Harper is the Director of Service-Learning in the Bunting Center for Engaged Study and Community Action at Birmingham-Southern College. A graduate of BSC where she contracted an interdisciplinary major in Religion and Sociology, Kristin has directed a youth group of a large United Methodist Church, facilitated prejudice reduction and conflict resolution workshops, and traveled extensively with groups around the world. Since returning to be on staff at Birmingham-Southern College in 1999, she has established and strengthened community partnerships, encouraged and empowered student leaders and traveled with students to local, national and international sites to engage in service-learning projects. Under her leadership, BSC’s service-learning program has become nationally recognized for its success. Kristin is married to Reggie Holder and has two bright and talented sons, Carter and Graham.
Outstanding Community Partner Contributions to Service-Learning in Higher Education
Carlos Duarte, Texas State Director at Mi Familia Vota
Carlos Duarte is a Mexican immigrant who has worked on progressive social change for the past 25 years, both in Mexico and the United States. He has led efforts to register, educate and mobilize hundreds of thousands of voters in Arizona, Texas, and Florida, has advocated for workers rights in the public and private sectors and has participated in national efforts to advance comprehensive immigration reform and paid sick leave. Carlos is passionate about leadership development through service learning and collective action. Carlos has developed original research-based leadership programs for construction and immigrant workers, disadvantaged minority high school and college students and has partnered with multiple academic institutions to offer opportunities for students to participate in current advocacy efforts at multiple levels of government related to voting rights, immigration, education, environmental justice, and health care. He holds a BA in Philosophy, a Masters in Social Psychology and is a Ph.D candidate in Social and Cultural Anthropology.
Outstanding Student Contributions to Service-Learning in Higher Education – Undergraduate
Selena Garcia Palacios, University of Houston-Downtown
Selena Garcia Palacios is a proud daughter of immigrants and is privileged to be the first member of her family to attend college. She is a second-year student at the University of Houston- Downtown, and a student leader who actively addresses issues of at risk-students struggling to see the potential of pursuing higher education despite their status in this country. She has devoted the past few years of her life to being a Dreamer. Regardless of her uncertain future as a DACA recipient, Selena chooses to dream and to encourage those around her to dream with her. Her positivity and beliefs have dramatically changed the viewpoints of others who were fading away into the shadows. Without a single reason to look back, she moves forward without fear, steadfast in her commitment to help at-risk, Latina students see the potential they did not see in themselves before. By building connections with students in her University, being an active community volunteer in her church as a youth group leader, and a dream-maker for others, Selena bravely leads with conviction. Her strength, patience, and passion encourage others to walk with her, to be courageous and cheerful, to plan for their futures, and to build their success in spite of any legal, financial, or personal challenges.
Outstanding Service-Learning Collaboration in Higher Education
Florida International University and City of Miami Beach Partnership
At FIU’s Office of Engagement, we deepen the bond shared by the university and our region, enabling collaborative initiatives that change lives and solve problems around the globe. The Office of Engagement continues to scale and manage partnerships and collaboratives like Life Sciences South Florida, the Talent Development Network, Royal Caribbean, and the City of Miami Beach. The Office responds to both internal and external community needs by being at the frontlines in supporting the university community during times of need, continuing to leverage higher education resources to find solutions to community challenges, and supporting fellow anchor institutions like our local municipal partners, the Beacon Council, and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. The Office works closely with units across the university to connect programs and projects to community partners, “leading in assists” for the university community.
Florida International University and the City of Miami Beach have forged a dynamic partnership leveraging their unique assets – geography, history, demographics, and intellectual capital – to address both of their most pressing challenges. The partnership, facilitated by FIU’s Office of Engagement began in February 2014 with three workgroups and has flourished into a robust partnership with five workgroups focused on education, transportation, history and culture, coastal resilience and adaptation, and messaging. The partnership has created a network of service learning opportunities for FIU and City of Miami Beach students through internship programs, math and reading intervention, STEM afterschool enrichment, dual enrollment course offerings, cultural enrichment, workshops and festivals, collaborative research with the City’s transportation department, and much more.