The Engaged Scholar E-Newsletter

[[trackingImage]]

If you are unable to see the message below, please go to https://engagedscholar.msu.edu/enewsletter/current.

December 2024

Home About Contact

Message from the Vice Provost

Kwesi Brookins, Vice Provost for University Outreach and Engagement

Collaborating Across Disciplines to Transform Communities

A Q-and-A with Kwesi Brookins

Kwesi Brookins, vice provost for University Outreach and Engagement (UOE), discusses community psychology and how it influences the direction of UOE. Brookins has dedicated his career to learning about people’s interactions with their communities and is looking forward to welcoming colleagues across disciplines to the biennial conference of the Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA) in June 2025. The call for proposals opened on December 6 and will be available until January 18, 2025!

What is community psychology?

Psychology tends to focus on human behavior, studying the mind and individual differences. Community psychology extends beyond that into ways in which psychology, as a discipline, can best serve communities and the people in those communities. When we think about psychological or social problems that human beings have, we realize that most of those problems are centered around people’s experiences in the community ... read more

Featured MSU Engaged Scholars

Plant biologist David Lowry has dedicated his career to better understanding how monkeyflowers can be used to answer questions about genetics and evolution.

A Graphic Novel Plants Seeds of Scientific Curiosity in Michigan Classrooms

David Lowry, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Plant Biology
College of Natural Science

As an art form, graphic novels have a long history of employing colorful images and vibrant text to tell entertaining and compelling stories. Today MSU researchers are drawing on the strengths and appeal of this form to help students better understand complex concepts, especially related to plant biology, by incorporating a comic book into the curriculum in Michigan classrooms.

That’s what field researchers set out to do in the Mystery of the Monkeyflower. The MSU-developed graphic novel follows Maia and William as they ask questions about genetics and evolution of a vibrant yellow flower with markings resembling a monkey’s face—the monkeyflower.

While Maia and William are fictional characters, their field research is based on the scientific work of David Lowry, professor in MSU’s Department of Plant Biology. Lowry’s decades of research and substantial knowledge of monkeyflowers served as a guide for the Mystery of the Monkeyflower ... read more

MSU student researchers work with Lansing Public School students alongside coaches and trainers. From left: Emily Hayashi, a first-year doctoral student, Jon Horford, Leps Malete, and trainer Josh Horford.

Harnessing the Power of Sports to Help Young People Thrive

Leapetswe (Leps) Malete, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Coordinator of Global Initiatives, Department of Kinesiology
Director, International Research on Youth Sport, Physical Activity and Health Lab
College of Education

The squeak of sneakers on the gym floor means it’s game on at the Don Johnson Fieldhouse in Lansing.

On any given weekday, some 120 Lansing Public School students drop in to play basketball, soccer or volleyball, participate in structured training sessions, lift weights, participate in esports, and more. Kids can also take advantage of tutoring, free weekly haircuts, a meal, and art projects.

But the Lansing Youth Development Program is not just a place for young people to go after school – it’s a place for them to grow. “It’s really a habit development program,” said founder Jon Horford, who sees sports as a gateway to goal setting, teamwork, time management, and overcoming adversity. “We are working to build habits that will be ... read more

Marcia Van Ness, a member of the East Lansing Seniors Commission, and Melissa Fore braved an 89-degree day to promote Generations Connect at Sparticipation 2024. In the background are MSU students Emily Mason and Eleanor Pugh. Van Ness serves as a liaison to Generations Connect, promoting the program and offering a senior perspective.

Students, Seniors Forge Friendships Across Generations

Melissa Fore, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Director, JMC Writing Center
James Madison College

John Waller, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of History
College of Social Science

Anabelle Sanchez and Margot Kielhorn may be entering different chapters in life, but they share an uncommon bond.

A first-year student at Michigan State University adjusting to life away from home, Sanchez wanted to broaden her circle of friends beyond campus. Kielhorn, a retired editor formerly with the MSU Press, missed the energy and fresh perspectives that student workers had brought to her daily life.

The two had an “instant connection” when they met through an MSU program that pairs students with older adults, said Kielhorn, 74. Sanchez, 18, enjoys meeting Kielhorn for coffee and conversation.

Their intergenerational friendship is one of many formed as part of Generations Connect, a collaboration between the MSU Social Science Scholars Program, MSU’s AgeAlive, and Prime Time Seniors Program of East Lansing ... read more

Announcements and Events

Call for Proposals: C2UExpo: "Partners in Place"
Community-Based Research Canada
Proposal Deadline: January 3, 2025

Community-Engaged Scholarship Write-Ins (Virtual and in East Lansing, Michigan)
MSU Office for Public Engagement and Scholarship
January 10, 2025
February 7, 2025
April 4, 2025
May 2, 2025

20th Biennial Conference of the Society for Community and Action
Society for Community Research and Action
East Lansing, Michigan
June 17-21, 2025
Proposal Deadline: January 18, 2025

Making Scholarship Public: Writing Grant Proposals (Virtual)
Rutgers University
February 11, 2025

Fundamentals of Publishing Your Community-Engaged Scholarship (Virtual)
MSU Office for Public Engagement and Scholarship
February 21, 2025

Community-Engaged Scholarship Spring Writing Retreat (Virtual option also available)
MSU Office for Public Engagement and Scholarship
East Lansing, Michigan
March 3-5, 2025

Making Scholarship Public: Writing Scholarly Books (Virtual)
Rutgers University
March 19, 2025

Selecting a Journal for your Community-Engaged Scholarship (Virtual)
MSU Office for Public Engagement and Scholarship
March 21, 2025

MSU Science Festival
MSU University Outreach and Engagement
East Lansing, Michigan and Statewide
April 1-30, 2025

Call for Applications: Summer Intensive on Community-Engaged Scholarship
MSU Office for Public Engagement and Scholarship
Application Deadline: April 4, 2025

Broader Impacts Writing Retreat, Spring 2025
MSU Office for Public Engagement and Scholarship
East Lansing, Michigan
April 8, 2025

Center for Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS) 13th Annual Summit
Advancing Research Impact in Society
San Juan, Puerto Rico
April 23-25, 2025

Outreach and Engagement Resources

MSU Graduate Certification in Community Engagement
This program prepares graduate students for academic careers that integrate scholarship with community engagement. It offers students a transcript notation indicating that they have completed the program.

Community Engagement Toolkits
Designed by the Center for Community Engaged Learning to guide and support MSU faculty, students, staff, and community partners.

Transformations in Higher Education: The Scholarship of Engagement Book Series
Available from Michigan State University Press

Looking for Community Partners?

Collaboration and partnership with communities are at the core of engaged scholarship. In all of its work, University Outreach and Engagement emphasizes university-community partnerships that are collaborative, participatory, empowering, systemic, transformative, and anchored in scholarship. If you are a faculty or academic staff member wanting to establish a community partnership, University Outreach and Engagement may be able to help you. Our staff and researchers have connections across the state in areas such as education, mental health, human services, business, and government. For more information, contact Burton Bargerstock, Executive Director of the Office for Public Engagement and Scholarship, at (517) 353-8977 or bb@msu.edu.

ES 360° Feedback ...

We would like to hear from you. Contact us with comments, suggestions, announcements, or “engaged scholar” project information for future e-newsletters. Send to: cit@msu.edu.

Subscribe to The Engaged Scholar E-Newsletter