Welcome to the first edition of the CASL Connections blog. Whether you are a faculty member, community agency, student, or friend of Missouri State University’s Citizenship and Service-Learning program, we recognize the important role you play in our success. Every day, YOU are the ones “out in the trenches” making things happen. Thank you for all you do. By collaborating together, we can make such a difference locally, nationally, and globally.

In case you do not know, a new director came onboard to the CASL office in January, 2012. Her name is Katherine (Kathy) Nordyke. Backed by a wealth of service-learning experience, she has a lot of great ideas and will truly be an asset to our team. There are definitely many exciting changes and improvements ahead for us. In this month’s posting, you’ll learn about some of these.

For those of you who worked with Elizabeth Strong, our former director, she is still here on campus. Elizabeth now serves as the Director of Study Away and continues to work with us to develop additional international service-learning opportunities. Interim President Clifton Smart, Interim Provost Frank Einhellig, Associate Provost of Student Development & Public Affairs, and nearly 100 other faculty, staff, community partners, and friends were on hand May 8 at the CASL Celebration and Recognition Ceremony to congratulate and recognize Elizabeth for 10 years of outstanding service to our program. Faculty, community agencies, and students were also recognized during the event.