Marquette celebrates inaugural Community Engagement Symposium by honoring professors, organizations

November 6, 2017


MILWAUKEE — Two Marquette professors, a Milwaukee professional association, a cultural performing arts program and an independent charter school were honored Monday at the university's inaugural Community Engagement Symposium.

Dr. Beth Godbee, assistant professor of English, won the Community Engaged Teaching Award; and Dr. Kristin Haglund, associate professor of nursing, and Proyecto Bembé shared the Community Engaged Research Partnership Award.

The Milwaukee Academy of Science won the Community Partner Award and the Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee received the Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Community Organization Award.

"These awards are given to acknowledge exemplary individuals and organizations who have cultivated partnerships, developed community-based research, utilized community-based learning pedagogies, and addressed issues of diversity and inclusion within our community," said Dr. Dan Bergen, executive director of community engagement at Marquette. "The awardees are exceptional scholars and practitioners committed to the betterment of our university and our city."

Godbee partnered with the YWCA Southeast Wisconsin and Marquette's Digital Scholarship Lab to provide students with a course that practices writing for social justice with special attention to gender and racial justice. Godbee's students created short videos used by the YWCA to promote a weeklong leadership camp for kids.

Haglund and Proyecto Bembé partnered to study the effects that participating in the cultural performing arts program had on children's stress levels and cultural understanding.

The Milwaukee Academy of Science was honored for having more than 20 programming relationships with Marquette. The academy works with Marquette's College of Education, College of Health Sciences, the Service Learning Program, the Office of Community Service and the School of Dentistry.

Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee was cited for showcasing Hispanic talent while creating opportunities to help professionals be successful. The nonprofit focuses on education and access, diversity and inclusion, community initiatives and partnering with Marquette and other educational institutions.

The excellence award was presented by the Office of the Provost, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of Community Engagement with support of the Office of the President. The other three awards were sponsored by the Office of Community Engagement, the Center for Teaching and Learning - Service Learning Program, the Office of Public Affairs, and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.