Why is community engagement important?
First, let me say it is important for everyone, not just students. But, it is particularly important to students because it provides context and application to what they are learning in the classroom. It connects students with real issues affecting the community, it gives them a chance to learn new skills, and try on what fits and what doesn’t. Most importantly, when community engagement is done in the best way, it puts the talents and knowledge of the public to work, and helps to actually solve pressing community issues.
How many community service programs does Lewis & Clark coordinate with to provide volunteer opportunities?
This is a hard number to nail down. I’m constantly learning of new things that students and faculty are doing outside of the work that I help coordinate. Plus, we are constantly adding new partners. My best estimate is about 35 to 40, some with a deeper connection than others.
If you were given an unrestricted budget and unlimited resources to accomplish the mission of Student Engagement and Leadership, what would it look like in five years?
We could do a lot! One thing that I’d most like to see are projects that come directly from students. I would love to have some funds that would allow students to start new projects and partnerships in the community. I think the best ideas that come to life on this campus come from our students. It would be great to see the programs in our office continue to grow and extend our reach. Dollar resources can help a great deal, but I’m also really committed to making the connections we make with community be true partnerships that provide meaningful experiences for the students and the organization, and so money is only one piece of the puzzle.
I also believe being engaged in service and leadership is important, but I recognize we need to meet students where they are. Every person you meet will have a different idea of what service means. For some people, service is voting, for others it is joining the Peace Corps; my goal is to move students along that continuum.
What is the worst part of your job?
That’s easy. I hate, hate, hate having to say good-bye to students when they graduate. I’m lucky to work with some truly amazing students—it’s such a bittersweet moment when they leave this place to go make their mark on the world. I know they are going to do wonderful things, but I hate not being able to see them everyday. Facebook helps me remedy that.
What do you like best about your job?
I get to laugh a lot. My job is really positive; students work with me because they want to make an impact. I also am fortunate to see the tremendous growth that students undergo through their experiences with the community (both on and off campus). Those moments when things “click” and they see how things fit together—and feel they are empowered to enact change—those moments are priceless.
What do you do in your spare time?
Let’s see, I’m on a Portland Dragon Boat team, I coach a middle-school track team in the spring, I am an on-again off-again kickballer, and I like to start my day off with a run. All that makes me sound like an exercise freak, but the truth of the matter is I’m hopelessly addicted to college football and basketball and probably watch way too much TV.
Do you have any favorite Portland hangouts?
I love my neighborhood. I live in NE Portland and hardly ever leave there in search of great food and fun. My favorite breakfast and dinner spots are both on Alberta. Mostly though, I am a homebody and like best hanging out in my backyard with friends, my husband, and my dog.
