Current Projects

Public Engagement

Convened a Community and Advisory Action Committee (CAAC) from 2024-2026
Cullen Tutor and Mentor Program began in 2024
Power and Justice Week November 2025
- Prosper Georgetown Event
- The Second Annual Community Partner Fair
In February of 2026, Dr. Insalaco hosted the “Unhoused in Georgetown” event on behalf of the Environmental Studies department and specifically her Parks and Recreation class.
- https://megaphone.southwestern.edu/2026/03/03/a-hand-up-not-a-hand-out-unhoused-in-georgetown/
Dr. Ponce’s research finds that community engagement was an emotional oasis for young adults partnering with a local family resource center. She draws on Black and queer theory to center a feminist intersectional lens.
- https://catalyst.pubpub.org/pub/n8d8jk8z/release/1?readingCollection=2a8dd886
A Local Partnership: Dr. Ponce + Carver Family Center Partnership (link of website)
- https://www.southwestern.edu/live/news/17482-southwestern-university-collaborates-with-the → We published a PE article about this dynamic duo!
Voter and Civic Engagement Efforts
- Led by Dr. Ross, please check out the SU Votes Website
Student researcher Ryen Browning worked with our community partner Rock Ride On Center for Kids (ROCK) on Parkinson’s Disease research. The project was supported by Kinesiology professor Dr. Mikan.
- https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss18/133/
Various Projects: Reckoning With Our Institutional Legacy
- Check out our public‑facing efforts to invite our campus to engage with Southwestern’s history and how that history is remembered—its roots, its eras, and its impacts.
- Through dialogue, research, art, student leadership, memory work, and collective care, they help us understand how our institutional story has been shaped and how we might tell it differently moving forward.
Chemistry Department Collaboration with Annie Purl
- SU Chemistry Department Makes STEM Fun for Local Fifth Graders
Assistant Professor of Theatre Gabriel Peña performed as invited guest artist in Notes from the Field , the final production of Sewanee University of the South’s theatrical season, presented at the Tennessee Williams Center in Sewanee, TN. The docu-drama, compiled from hundreds of interviews with individuals impacted by the school-to-prison pipeline, features Gab portraying three distinct characters in this powerful multimedia work. Additional information here.
Southwestern honors a “Distinguished Humanitarian” every year. It is presented to alumni who have made a global impact on the human race by their actions while exemplifying Southwestern University’s Core Values.
- Browse through the recent award winners here https://www.southwestern.edu/alumni/alumni-achievement/awards/
Dis Co & therefore Southwestern serve as a place for Community Archiving
- Behind the Artifact: The Ladder
- Special Collections & Archives: Senator John G. Tower Papers
- Check out our story about them → https://www.southwestern.edu/live/news/17483-distinct-communities-in-distinctive-collections
- Examples of Publicly Engaged Archives
Georgetown Desegregation: This highlights Georgetown’s history and the impact desegregation had on the community–where two SU community members were featured
- Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgOpyaD6iio
- Article: https://megaphone.southwestern.edu/2026/05/22/segregation-on-trial/
Digging In Con la Familia. Filmmakers: Augustus Papasan and Zoe Hein: https://youtu.be/ObDrKGW8kjg?is=9LZO5TblcYsFviIz
- Exploration of two Hispanic cemeteries in Georgetown through the experience and testimony of the Georgetown Memorial Cemetery Association, an aging group of community members seeking help for the continuation of their work.
Since 1999, Upward Bound has uplifted and worked with young students on preparation for their collegiate career.
- https://www.southwestern.edu/live/news/17518-upward-bound-and-how-it-uplifts-future-academics
Ryan Andrade ’25 and All Things Wild Support Poly
- https://www.southwestern.edu/live/image/gid/93/52857_POLLY.jpg
King Creativity Fund 2026 Winner is bringing back physical media
- This year’s winner, the Sea Shanty, hosted the launch of the revived literary journal at Lark and Owl.
- https://megaphone.southwestern.edu/2026/05/01/the-sea-shanty-sets-sail-a-look-into-the-release-party/
Featured Recent Alum: Laura Rativa ’20 Recognized as a 2019 Newman Civic Fellow • Southwestern University
Lifelong Learners GTX Partnership
- Faculty and students are invited to be guest speakers throughout their series
- Example of class here: https://www.southwestern.edu/live/news/17392-going-to-the-dogs-lifelong-learners-x-pe
A Peace Garden joins Southwestern’s grounds as the first on a college campus. Kylie Oullette, Peace Scholarship Winner built with the Georgetown Rotary and assistance of Dr. Swain.
- https://megaphone.southwestern.edu/2026/04/14/creating-space-for-peace-in-a-world-of-turmoil/
- https://placingmemory.southwestern.edu/items/show/130
SU Community Garden & Roots That Bind Us: Year-in-Review Impact Highlights
- Our Community Partner: Roots that Bind Us
- Want to see the work?
- Garden Assessment — Completed initial SU Community Garden assessment (Aug 2025) and launched revitalization efforts through a CELSA partnership with student Shea Whitney.
- Community Work Day — Hosted a large volunteer work day with Lowe’s Georgetown, Ewald Kubota, SU Garden Club, faculty, and community members (Sept 28, 2025).
- Food Accessibility Collaboration — Supported Trent Jackson’s Food Accessibility Capstone Project (Oct–Dec 2025).
- Spinach Science Partnership — Partnered with Dr. Mahi Zewali-Foote to study the science of spinach (Dec 2025).
- Winter Greens Planting — Planted winter greens with SU Garden Club and Dr. Vanessa Mikan’s students (Jan 2026).
- SAFE Grant Collaboration — Worked with senior students Raghav, Sharma, and Katelin Pilarski on the SAFE Grant: HOPE Project (Feb 2026).
- Food is Medicine Partnership — Provided twice‑weekly garden education and development support to the Food is Medicine course (March 2026).
- Partnership with the Central Texas Cherokee Township and planting of native “three sisters” crops using Cherokee Nation–donated seeds.
- Connection with SPEER’s TEA‑UP sustainability network and Texas A&M Energy Systems Laboratory, leading to a follow‑up meeting at SU on state energy resources.
- TRACS Conference & New Partnerships — Environmental Studies sponsored Roots that Bind Us and an SU intern to attend the TRACS Conference (Mar 1–3, 2026), resulting in:
- Story Tree Scion Collection — Hosted Texas A&M Forestry, Master Gardeners, and Environmental Studies faculty/students for scion collection from the fallen Story Tree for grafting trials at Joss Growers and Texas A&M Forestry Lab (Apr 7, 2026). This work will continue with Dr. Eureka Joshi’s students and WilCo Master Gardeners in Fall 2026.
- Spring Garden Work Day & Plant Sale — Hosted a spring work day, social, and plant sale with participation from SU Black Alumni Network, faculty, students, SU Garden Club, SU Facilities, GISD staff, and community members (Apr 25, 2026).