REGISTER HERE

Session Description

Community engagement is a common method of teaching and conducting research as university campuses implement experiential learning opportunities with a community partner to enhance learning and engage in research. However, community engagement can come with many challenges whether in teaching or conducting research. These challenges are exacerbated because of the collaborative nature of this work with a community partner which is done in a spirt of mutuality and reciprocity. This session will explore some of the challenges encountered in both local and international community engagement and strategies to navigate some of these challenges as well as how to be proactive to minimize negative impact from this work.

As a result of attending this session you will be able to:

1. Identify some of the challenges that can be expected from community engaged work
2. Explore strategies to overcome challenges encountered in community engagement
3. Identify ways to be proactive in navigating university-community partnerships

Presenter Bios:

Dr. Kelly Kinahan, Ph.D., AICP, is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Master of Urban Planning (MUP) program in the Department of Urban and Public Affairs at the University of Louisville, where she teaches planning and urban studies courses. Dr. Kinahan’s research focuses on community development, neighborhood planning, and affordable housing. She collaborates on interdisciplinary, community-engaged research for nonprofit and local government partners in Louisville, KY.

Dr. Muriel Harris, Ph.D., MPH is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health & Information Sciences, Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Harris is an author of two textbooks and has a special interest in public health program and policy planning, implementation, evaluation, and community-based participatory research. She is the Director of the MPH Program and Chair of the Commission on Racial Diversity and Equity (CODRE). Her primary interest and the focus of her research is social determinants of health and the factors that influence the health of individuals and communities globally. Dr. Harris enjoys giving back to her community and does so in multiple ways. In her master’s level classes, students undertake projects to help prepare them for the real world. She has taken students to Ghana on multiple occasions where they engage in community-based public health projects in consultation with the local community. She mentors doctoral students both in the US and internationally. 

Dr. Henry R. Cunningham, Ph.D., is Director of Community Engagement for the University. Dr. Cunningham incorporates community-based learning in his courses. His research interests include institutionalization of community engagement and community partnership development. He has several publications on community engagement, including his most recent book, Library Collaborations and Community Partnerships: Enhancing Health and Quality of Life (Hines-Martin, Cox, & Cunningham) published in 2020. He co-founded and co-directed UofL’s International Service Learning Program, which won two national awards as the best program in international education and learning. Dr. Cunningham also served at the United Nations where he worked on educational issues for sustainable development in developing countries.