One of CEI’s strategic goals is to partner, support, and enhance the work of UD’s centers and institutes, which have a central commitment to addressing social justice and other critical societal challenges in Delaware and beyond.
In support of that goal, the Council of Community Engagement is composed of representatives from a variety of University units that carry out the University’s educational, research and public service mission in a manner that directly engages the public.
The units represented on the Council are particularly attentive to identifying and understanding the needs, challenges and opportunities faced by different communities, local to global, and working with them to produce positive community and societal impacts.
The centers also provide powerful experiential learning opportunities for all involved — including faculty and staff, students, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, businesses and citizens.
The Council advises CEI on opportunities and priorities to strengthen the community engagement and public service contributions of its member units. The Council also recommends steps to enhance collaboration across centers and institutes.
Beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year, Council launched two subcommittees, which work on specific initiatives and projects concurrent with CEI’s strategic plan:
Defining and Tracking Community Engagement
- Draft a working definition of “community engagement” for the University of Delaware
- Assist in the establishment of a “community-engaged course” designation, which is currently being reviewed for approval by the Faculty Senate
- Assist in launching the partnership tracking database of the University’s internal and external partnerships
Professional Development & Engaged Scholarship
- Build a repository of community engagement resources
- Recommend topics for CEI professional development workshops
The Council is co-chaired by Alison Travers, Ed.D., assistant director of the Delaware Academy for School Leadership Department in the School Success Center in the College of Education and Human Development, and Leann Moore, associate director of the Community Engagement Initiative.
Council Membership
| Karen Asenavage | Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Professional and Continuing Studies |
| Ann Aviles | Human Development and Family Sciences | Community Engagement Initiative |
| Scott Bacon | Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship |
| Laura Baker | Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship |
| Haley Q. Burns | Institute for Public Administration, Biden School |
| Suzanne Burton | School of Music |
| Sam Clem | Delaware Environmental Institute |
| Yendelela Cuffee | Epidemiology |
| Kate Culhane-Suluai | Partnership for Healthy Communities |
| Angie Hattery | Center for the Study & Prevention of Gender-Based Violence |
| Jeff Klein | Center for Research in Education & Social Policy (CRESP) |
| Jennifer Naccarelli | Center for the Study and Prevention of Gender Based Violence | Women & Gender Studies |
| Beth Orsega-Smith | Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences |
| Adrian Pasquarella | School of Education |
| Kate Riera | Human Development and Family Sciences |
| David Satran | Associate in Arts Program |
| Alison Travers | School Success Center, College of Education & Human Development |