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Faculty > Representatives from Georgia Southern attend Gulf South Summit: Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Conference
Representatives from Georgia Southern attend Gulf South Summit: Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Conference
May 7, 2018
Seventeen representatives from Georgia Southern University honed their service-learning skills during the 2018 Gulf South Summit: Service-Learning and Civic Engagement through Higher Education conference in Birmingham, Alabama, held April 4-6.
The conference theme, “Changing the Narrative: Storytelling as Social Action,” summarizes the panel sessions and poster presentation presented by Georgia Southern faculty, staff and graduate students. It encompasses the passion these representatives have for their discipline of service-learning and civic engagement and how they utilize that passion for the betterment of everyone.
Simply put, service-learning is theory in action. This high impact practice involves the collaboration of faculty, students and community partners on a project that is two-fold: directly benefits the needs of the community served by the partner while implementing and reinforcing concepts learned in the classroom.
Presentations from Georgia Southern representatives were just as diverse as the disciplines they represent. Sessions ranged from “Design Thinking in Service-Learning: Tackling Wicked Social Injustices in the Classroom” to “Integrating Service-Learning Projects in STEM Courses” and more.
“As a first-time attendee the conference was very beneficial for me. I got to connect with people from various regions, think outside the specific work I do in community engagement, and get a better understanding of service-learning and the types of projects employed” said Brandi Hoffman, coordinator of Alternative Breaks and Community Partnerships at Georgia Southern.
This conference was also a great opportunity for graduate students. Of the 17 representatives, three were doctoral students and one was a master’s student. The doctoral students presented during the poster exhibit and reception alongside faculty and staff from various universities.
Additionally, one of the doctoral students presented on a panel session with his faculty mentor. This session also included a clip from the community partner as they were unable to join the panel in person. The master’s student presented during an individual panel session with her supervisor.
“The state of Georgia had the second highest representation at the conference with 59 attendees. Only Alabama had more with 60 attendees,” said Dina Walker-Devose, assistant professor in child and family development at Georgia Southern and an executive committee member for Gulf South Summit.
This group of professionals and pre-professionals included members from the Office of Leadership and Community Engagement, College of Education, Waters College of Health Professions, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health and the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing.
Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving more than 27,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.
