Gephardt Institute names faculty scholars in community-based teaching and learning

The Gephardt Institute for Public Service at Washington University in St. Louis has announced faculty scholars receiving Innovation Grants for Community-Based Teaching and Learning.


Community-based teaching and learning, also known as service-learning, is a pedagogy that is growing across all disciplines. These courses are distinguished by learning activities in service to an organization or community, course content and assignments connected to the service, and faculty oversight.

The grants provide faculty members with financial support for curriculum development and implementation. Faculty scholars join previous grant recipients in a cohort that meets to discuss common challenges and share successful strategies in community-based teaching and learning.

The Gephardt Institute also offers technical expertise to faculty in key areas of community-based teaching and learning such as assignments reflecting on service, evaluation methods and tools for working effectively with community partners.

Faculty recipients for 2011-12 are:

Forrest Fulton, visiting assistant professor of architecture in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. Students in “City Studio Design-Build at Patrick Henry School in Columbus Square” will work with the school and community to strengthen the design of a shared garden.

John Trelawney Hoal, PhD, associate professor of architecture and chair of the Master of Urban Design Program in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. Students will work with members of the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood to create an overarching sustainability plan through the course “Contemporary Practices of Sustainable Urbanism.”

Ignacio Infante, PhD, assistant professor of comparative literature in Arts & Sciences. Students in the “World-wide Translation: Language, Culture, Technology” course will engage with community partners by providing a variety of translation services.

Glenn Davis Stone, PhD, professor of sociocultural anthropology and of environmental studies, both in Arts & Sciences. Through the “Village India Program,” students will teach lessons at Pai Junior College in Andhra Pradesh, India, and participate in other village activities.

Karen Tokarz, JD, the Charles Nagel Professor of Public Interest Law & Public Service, director, Civil Rights and Community Justice Clinic, and director, Negotiation and Dispute Resolution Program in the School of Law; and C.J. Larkin, JD, administrative director of the Negotiation and Dispute Resolution Program and lecturer in law. The grant will support students in “Civil Rights & Community Justice Clinic” to develop informational community resources.

Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program in Arts & Sciences. A departmental grant will support a range of community-based courses taught by Jami Ake, PhD, assistant dean in the College of Arts & Sciences; Barbara Baumgartner, PhD, senior lecturer, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program; Amy Eisen Cislo, PhD, interim associate director and lecturer, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program; and Susan Stiritz, PhD, senior lecturer, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program.

For more information about community-based teaching and learning at Washington University, visit gephardtinstitute.wustl.edu/CBTL .