This page is no longer being updated and remains online for informational and historical purposes only. The information is accurate as of the last page update.
For questions about page contents, contact the Communications Division.
Alysse Henkel ’08 (Spokane, Wash.) is a Marquis Scholar majoring in anthropology & sociology. This year she has been working with David Shulman, associate professor of anthropology & sociology, as an EXCEL Scholar. The project involves the survey and analysis of community-based research at Lafayette. The following is a first-hand account of Henkel’s experiences with the project.
I got to know Professor Shulman in my first-year seminar class and since then he has served as my mentor and advisor as well as a professor in several classes. When he asked me to participate in research for a new committee he was chairing, I knew the project would be interesting. The committee, Community-Based Learning and Research Advisory Committee, came about in response to a federal Learn & Serve Grant that Lafayette received from the Corporation for National and Community Service.
The committee’s purpose is to promote and support community-based research on campus and as a part of the grant’s stipulations, Lafayette is working with a consortium of other schools on the National Community-Based Research Networking Initiative. As a part of the initiative, Lafayette needs to compile information about previous community-based research and learning that has taken place here.
In that regard, I have been working with Professor Shulman to develop a list of faculty who have been involved with such activities in the past. I have been meeting with the identified faculty members to have them fill out a short survey about their community-based research experiences. These faculty members then connect me with students who have participated in this kind of research and learning. They also identify community members or community organizations that they have partnered with in their research and learning. By surveying the faculty, students, and community partners, we’re developing a better understanding about past projects and getting some good ideas about how to approach community-based research and learning in the future.
I am surprised by how much I enjoy surveying the various participants. Hearing about the projects and how enthusiastic the faculty, students, and community partners are about this kind of research is encouraging for the future of the program. Hands-on research experience is valuable for students to apply concepts learned in the classroom and helps Lafayette students become more aware of local issues and community needs.
Community partners have opened up to me about their research needs and expressed their appreciation for Lafayette involvement in the past. Lafayette students and faculty have resources and capabilities that are out of reach for most community organizations; by partnering with community organizations, Lafayette students and faculty can gain valuable research experience as well as make a difference in the community.
I’ve seen this in my own experience. I’m writing a thesis under the supervision of Professor Shulman that involves researching non-profits in Easton, and through my involvement in this research, I have a much better understanding of issues in the community. The knowledge and experience I have gained through this EXCEL project and my thesis research are essential as I look for a job in social policy research after graduation.