Faculty » Community-Engaged Learning Fellows

MSU Community-Engaged Learning Fellows

The Community-Engaged Learning (CEL) Fellows program is a professional development seminar that provides an opportunity for selected faculty to integrate community-engaged learning into their teaching and research and while becoming recognized campus leaders in community-engaged learning pedagogy and community engagement. The program aims to integrate the philosophy, pedagogy, and process of community-engaged learning into the MSU academic environment. The fellowship includes a $1,000 faculty development award supported by the Center for Community-Engaged Learning and the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President. Any MSU faculty member is eligible to apply. Previous experience with or knowledge of community-engaged learning pedagogy is not required.

Applications for 2025-2026 cohort will be available in January 2024. Please email ccel@msstate.edu for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Community-Engaged Learning (CEL)?

A: Simply put – CEL is a teaching strategy that connects the classroom to the environment beyond it. This connection happens through community engagement (CE), reflection, reciprocal partnerships, and dissemination. It is critical to the success of CEL that students reflect on their experiences as well as engage in a mutually beneficial exchange with an external partner. Students and partners should share knowledge and learn from each other.

Q: What do you mean by external partner?

A: Probably one of the most common misconceptions about CEL is that you have to work with a non-profit organization in order for it to “count.” Some great projects occur in partnership with schools, businesses, or other common interest groups and individuals, though. As MSU’s definition points out, there is more to community than geographical boundaries. There are also great connections to make beyond someone’s tax-exempt status.

Q: Does CEL have to take place within Starkville?

A: No! All types of projects occur throughout the county, Golden Triangle, state, and southeast region. Local projects are more common, but it is not a requirement of CEL.

Q: I have no experience with CEL. Can I apply?

A: Absolutely. We have had CEL Fellows who haven’t tried CEL before but have a passion and/or interest in enhancing their teaching and student learning. The only requirement for an individual to apply is to be an MSU faculty or instructional staff member.

Q: I don’t think my curriculum or research aligns with CEL. Moreover, I don’t know how to align or introduce CEL. How can I find this out?

A: Let’s talk! The easiest way to learn more is to contact the Center for Community-Engaged Learning (CCEL) and have a conversation. Also, reviewing the MSU model of community engagement is informative too. The diagram outlines how CE manifests itself in teaching and learning, service, and research and scholarship. You can view it on CCEL’s website at https://www.ccel.msstate.edu/about/whatis/.

Q: Can any discipline be adapted for a CEL course?

A: Probably not, but CEL has been undertaken successfully across many disciplines – chemical engineering, education, math, agriculture, fashion, architecture, geosciences, communication, food science, philosophy, sociology, graphic design, veterinary medicine, and economics just within our fellowship!

Additional questions? Please email ccel@msstate.edu.

Community-Engaged Learning Fellows 2024-2025

Dr. Mandy Conrad Dr. Mandy Conrad
Assistant Clinical Professor

Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion
Fatima Hilali Fatima Hilali
Instructor

Department of Instructional Technology, Instructional Design and Community College Leadership
Dr. Erik Markin Dr. Erik Markin
Assistant Professor

Department of Management and Information Systems
Dr. Alisha Milam Dr. Alisha Milam
Assistant Clinical Professor

Teacher Education and Leadership – MSU Meridian
Dr. Nesma Osman Dr. Nesma Osman
Assistant Professor

School of Human Sciences
Dr. Neeraj Rai Dr. Neeraj Rai
Professor

Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering

Community-Engaged Learning Fellows 2023-2024

The 2023-2024 cohort of CEL Fellows includes ten faculty and staff members from four academic colleges and academic units.


Denise Adair Denise Adair
Technology Specialist

General Library (Mitchell Memorial)
Dr. Leslie Baker Dr. Leslie Baker
Instructor

Political Science and Public Administration
Dr. Samin Han Dr. SaMin Han
Assistant Professor

Landscape Architecture
Jasmine Harris-Speight Jasmine Harris-Speight
Extension Instructor

Food Science, Nutrition,and Health Promotion
Dr. Rahel Mathews Dr. Rahel Mathews
Assistant Professor

Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion
Carrie McCormick Carrie McCormick
Instructor

Communication
Dr. Elizabeth Miller Dr. Elizabeth Miller
Assistant Professor

English
Dr. Kelly Moser Dr. Kelly Moser
Associate Professor

Classical & Modern Languages & Literature
Kimberly O. Smith Kimberly O. Smith
Instructor

Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education
Dr. Dhanashree Thorat Dr. Dhanashree Thorat
Assistant Professor

English

Community-Engaged Learning Fellows 2022-2023

Nine faculty comprise the 2022-2023 CEL Fellows. They hail from four colleges and the MSU Meridian campus.


Dr. Zaccheus Ahonle Dr. Zaccheus Ahonle
Assistant Professor

Counseling, Ed Psychology, and Foundations
Dr. Andrea Germany Dr. Andrea Germany
Instructor

Social Work – MSU Meridian
Tonya Hays Tonya Hays
Assistant Professor

Communication
Dr. Lu He Dr. Lu He
Instructor

Marketing, Quantitative Analysis, and Business Law
Dr. Jordan Lynton Dr. Jordan Lynton
Assistant Professor

Anthropology and Middle Eastern Culture
Dr. Emily Marett Dr. Emily Marett
Instructor

Management and Information Systems
Dr. Arazais Oliveros Dr. Arazais Oliveros
Assistant Professor

Psychology
Abbey Wallace Abbey Wallace
Assistant Professor

Landscape Architecture
Dr. Shecoya White Dr. Shecoya White
Assistant Professor

Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion

Community-Engaged Learning Fellows 2021-2022

CCEL was excited to welcome the 2020-2021 CEL Fellows for a two week seminar in May 2021. The class met for two weeks to discuss concepts in community engagement, partnership, learning design and scholarship. Faculty represented four academic colleges and five departments.


Dr. Laura Boltz Dr. Laura Boltz
Assistant Professor

Sociology
Dr. Yan Campbell Dr. Yan Campbell
Research Associate III *

Food Science, Nutrition, Health Promotion
Dr. Lourdes Cardozo-Gaibisso Dr. Lourdes Cardozo-Gaibisso
Assistant Professor

English
Dr. Julie Jessop Dr. Julie Jessop
Professor

Chemical Engineering
Dr. Varun Paul Dr. Varun Paul
Assistant Professor

Geosciences
Dr. Brian Pugh Dr. Brian Pugh
Lecturer

Shackhouls Honors College
Dr. Leah Pylate Dr. Leah Pylate
Assistant Professor

Food Science, Nutrition, Health Promotion
Dr. Mary Nelson Robertson Dr. Mary Nelson Robertson
Extension Associate III

Food Science, Nutrition, Health Promotion

Community-Engaged Learning Fellows 2020-2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020-2021 CEL Fellows cohort met online via WebEx in May 2020. This fellowship class represents four academic colleges, eight departments, and the MSU-Meridian campus.


Dr. Chris Ayers Dr. Chris Ayers
Instructor

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture
Dr. Thu Dinh Dr. Thu Dinh
Associate Professor

Department of Animal & Dairy Science
Dr. Antonio Gardner Dr. Antonio Gardner
Assistant Professor

Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion
Dr. Austin Himes Dr. Austin Himes
Assistant Professor

Department of Forestry
Dr. Ashley White Jones Dr. Ashley White Jones
Assistant Clinical Professor

Meridian Division of Education
Dr. Sarah Lalk Dr. Sarah Lalk
Assistant Clinical Professor

Department of Geosciences
Dr. John Linhoss Dr. John Linhoss
Assistant Professor

Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering
Dr. Molly Nicodemus Dr. Molly Nicodemus
Associate Professor

Department of Animal & Dairy Science
Dr. Saeed Rokooei Dr. Saeed Rokooei
Assistant Professor

Department of Building Construction Science
Mr. Bob Swanson Mr. Bob Swanson
Instructor/Lab Coordinator

Department of Physics & Astronomy

Community-Engaged Learning Fellows 2019-2020

The 2019-2020 CEL Fellows met for 3 weeks in May 2019. The class represented 5 academic colleges and 10 departments. More information about their seminar in MSState Newsroom: MSU Community-Engaged Learning Fellows create new opportunities through collaborative program


Dr. Terri Hernandez Dr. Terri Hernandez
Assistant Professor

Communication
Dr. Caroline Kobia Dr. Caroline Kobia
Associate Professor

School of Human Sciences
Dr. David Lang Dr. David Lang
Professor

Plant and Soil Sciences
Dr. Stephanie Lemley Dr. Stephanie Lemley
Associate Professor

Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education
Dr. Tamara Dimitrijevska Markoski Dr. Tamara Dimitrijevska Markoski
Assistant Professor

Political Science and Public Administration
Dr. Milena Melo Dr. Milena Melo
Assistant Professor

Anthropology
Dr. Amanda Stone Dr. Amanda Stone
Assistant Professor

Animal & Dairy Science
Dr. Mary Love Tagert Dr. Mary Love Tagert
Assistant Extension Professor

Ag & Bio Engineering
Dr. Kathleen Thomas Dr. Kathleen Thomas
Professor

Finance and Economics
Ms. Danielle Young Ms. Danielle Young
Assistant Lecturer

Math & Statistics

Community-Engaged Learning Fellows 2018-2019

The 2018-2019 CEL Fellows program took place in May 2018. Due to high interest, the inaugural class consisted of 15 members. Funding support from the Provost was essential in expanding the class size. Members spent 3 weeks learning ways to incorporate community-engaged learning into current or new courses. As part of the fellowship, each fellow received a $1000 stipend and submitted an application to have their courses designated as CEL. Fellows will teach their redesigned courses during the 2018-2019 year.


Ms. Silvina Lopez Barrera Ms. Silvina Lopez Barrera
Assistant Professor

School of Architecture
Dr. Wen-Hsing Cheng Dr. Wen-Hsing Cheng
Associate Professor

Department of Food Science, Nutrition, Health Promotion
Dr. Renee Clary Dr. Renee Clary
Professor

Department of Geosciences
Dr. Amelia Fox Dr. Amelia Fox
Instructor

Department of Plant & Soil Sciences
Dr. Kristin Javorsky Dr. Kristin Javorsky
Assistant Professor

Department of Curriculum, Instruction & Special Education
Ms. Silvina Lopez Barrera Dr. Melanie Loehwing
Assistant Professor

Department of Communication
Ms. Christina Loftin Ms. Christina Loftin
Animal Health Technician

School of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Dong Meng Dr. Dong Meng
Assistant Professor

Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering
Dr. Thessalia Merivaki Dr. Thessalia Merivaki
Assistant Professor

Department of Political Science and Public Administration
Ms. Suzanne Powney Ms. Suzanne Powney
Associate Professor

Department of Art
Dr. Angela Savage Dr. Angela Savage
Instructor& Director

Social Work – MSU Meridian
Dr. Holli Seitz Dr. Holli Seitz
Assistant Professor

Department of Communication
Dr. Ashley Vancil-Leap Dr. Ashley Vancil-Leap
Instructor

Department of Sociology, Gender Studies Program
Ms. Kimberly Walters Ms. Kimberly Walters
Instructor

Department of Mathematics & Statistics
Dr. Joe Witt Dr. Joe Witt
Associate Professor

Department of Philosophy & Religion

Learn more about CEL Fellows 2018 class here.