New CELR head named

Monica Kowal has been named associate dean of the newly designated Office of Community Engaged Learning & Research in the University of New Mexico’s University College, according to a UNM press release.

According to the press release CELR, formerly the research service-learning program, will serve as an interdisciplinary “University-wide office committed to supporting community engaged scholarship and teaching.”

Kowal was a lecturer in the Professional Writing Program in the UNM Department of English, Language, and Literature, according to the statement.

“The mission of CELR will be to foster quality experiential learning opportunities for students, support faculty with their community-based teaching and scholarship and facilitate mutually beneficial campus-community partnerships,” according to the press release.

According to the press release the CELR officials will initially try to improve the quality and number of service-learning classes in different department across the campus.

“We are so thrilled to have Monica join our team in University College,” said Kate Krause, dean of University College and Honors College in the statement. ”UC strives to provide innovative, interdisciplinary curriculum by working with departments throughout campus. The CELR fits this mission perfectly and is a natural extension and expansion of the valuable work done by our Research Service-Learning Program.”

CELR will also partner with Aeron Haynie, executive director of the Center for Teaching and Learning.

The Service-Learning Fellows Program, which will put out a call for applicants later this year, will provide a theoretical framework for the pedagogy and process of integrating service-learning into new or existing courses and broader academic program, according to the press release.

"These types of partnerships and activities contribute to student learning, advance faculty research and teaching, support outreach programs across the University and positively contribute to Albuquerque and New Mexico communities," Kowal said in the press release. "To do this, however, means that policies and procedures related to community engaged teaching and research have to be developed. Things like memoranda of understanding and student and community partner orientations are just a few examples of what CELR plans to develop over the next couple of years."