Sarah Whitley, instructor in sociology, is recipient of the 2009 Distinguished Service Learning Award in the faculty/instructor category from the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) at WSU.
Each year the CCE recognizes one student, one faculty or instructor, and one community partner who display a commitment to learning through campus-community engagement. This year, a local community partner and a partner from the statewide service learning program will be recipients of the award under the community partner category.
Nominations are reviewed by a committee of faculty, staff, students and community partners.
Whitley is recognized for her commitment to service and learning through instruction of the Sociology 102 class as well as her commitment to the community. Last fall, Whitley involved her Sociology 102 students in research and advocacy to increase WSU student awareness of hunger and homelessness issues during the CCE-sponsored National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.
Her colleague, Christine Oakley, said that Whitley’s goal is “ not just to help students understand issues academically, but to enable them to understand the social world around them.”
