PNW clinical professor selected as Advanced Service-Learning Fellow
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) faculty member, Pamela Saylor, clinical assistant professor, Social Work Program in the Department of Behavioral Sciences, has been selected by Purdue University’s Office of Service-Learning as an Advanced Service-Learning Fellow for Spring 2024.
“I’m honored and grateful to have this opportunity for professional growth,” says Saylor. “This fellowship integrates what I’m currently doing with my social work students, addresses issues in the social work field, aligns with social work values and PNW’s strategic plan. I’m also looking forward to working with the other faculty members in my cohort.”
Saylor is one of four former Service-Learning Fellows chosen to participate in the Advanced Service-Learning cohort. The program fosters development of service-learning courses and promotes the collaboration between faculty, students and community organizations. The cohort will research broadband internet service accessibility, as well as explore digital literacy and equity for rural communities in Indiana.
This fellowship integrates what I’m currently doing with my social work students, addresses issues in the social work field, aligns with social work values and PNW’s strategic plan.
Pamela Saylor, clinical assistant professor
In her previous Service-Learning Fellowship in Fall 2021, Saylor focused on course development that would engage students, create a collaboration between students and community partners and provide assessments for the students. According to Saylor, with this Advanced Service-Learning Fellowship she will concentrate on teaching a macro practice – organizations and communities class, work on strengthening the collaboration between students and community partner organizations and work within the cohort on scholarly research specific to the accessibility and adoption of broadband internet access within the state.
“It will be really interesting working within this group,” says Saylor. “We’re all approaching this project from different disciplines. We will be honing our service-learning pedagogy on student engagement and presenting material with our collaborative partners.” Saylor will be working with First Things First Porter County, Just Transition Northwest Indiana and First Steps, a state program with offices throughout Indiana.
It will be the first time Saylor will be working with these community organizations and she is looking forward to developing a strong collaborative relationship with them. “I’m looking for a sustainable relationship and partnership,” says Saylor. “I’d like them to be a part of the whole process – assessing and addressing their needs, developing and evaluating programs and determining what this all looks like moving forward.”