by Taylor Ware “The more I got involved with the service-learning office, the more engaged I became in my education and my community,” said Missouri State Physician's Assistant student, Regan Wilson. Regan is currently a full-time master’s student, busy with plenty of studying and attending clinicals. However, not long ago, he was a cornerstone of the Citizenship and Service-Learning program. From service-learning student to Bonner Leader to graduate assistant, Regan has followed an admirable path. In 2017, Regan learned about service-learning from a presentation given in Human Genetics. He instinctively jumped on the opportunity to participate in the program. That semester he worked in tandem with his close friend, Nick Lantz, to facilitate two after-school programs at Robberson Community School: FENLE and Club Med. Read Nick’s story. FENLE is aimed at younger children while Club Med is for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. At FENLE, Regan and Nick taught the students about healthy choices and played related games. At Club Med, they taught about career options in … [Read more...] about Missouri State grad student reflects back on professional development in service-learning
By Taylor Ware On May 7, the Citizenship and Service-Learning team gathered at Plaster Student Union for a morning of professional development, team bonding and delicious brunch foods. Service-Learning director, Dr. Kathy Nordyke, organized the workshop to educate the staff on a variety of vital tasks to the office’s operation and purpose. The brunch began with coffee, French toast and fun facts shared among tables. Team members, old and new, shared their educational backgrounds and personal interests as a means of cementing a spirit of unity among the office. Soon, the workshop transitioned to the informational component of the brunch. A massive role the CASL staff play is advising service-learning students. Advising tips made up the next portion of the morning, the importance of being accessible to students and making a meaningful connection with them are at the heart of Dr. Nordyke’s message. Our team values experiences of the student participants above all else. The advisor-advisee relationship is a pivotal factor in achieving student satisfaction. Success in this … [Read more...] about CASL combines brunch and professional development to prepare for a new academic year