Public Engagement News

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  Fostering Explorative Learning and Connections as a Teacher-Scholar

  The world of academia works to foster the education and growth of scholars at every stage of their journey. Here at Southwestern, it is important that this sentiment encapsulates more than just our students; it extends to the exploration and growth of our faculty as well. To gain a deeper understanding of the teacher-scholar model and how faculty on our campus are actively invested in enhancing student learning, I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Maria Lazo, Director of the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship (CTLS).

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  Revealing What It Is To Be Human: The Power of Theatre and Storytelling

  The arts have been and continue to be an incredible vehicle in which people come into a shared space, carrying with them their differing lives and perspectives, and yet still experience this connection in their ability to feel collectively, to know what it is to be human. I had the privilege of speaking to Southwestern’s very own Assistant Professor of Theatre, Gabriel Peña, about his relationship to storytelling, his recent project directing of the Sarofim School of Fine Arts’ fall production of Luna, and the continued importance of the arts in sustaining a healthy society.
  

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  Southwestern Mentoring Program Aims to Make a Positive Impact on Local Georgetown Elementary School Students

  The newly-created Southwestern Mentoring Program pairs Southwestern University students with elementary students at two Georgetown ISD schools to serve as mentors, tutors, and friends.

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  PFLAG Georgetown: LGBTQ+ Visibility and Support in Williamson County

  Georgetown’s local chapter of the national organization PFLAG serves as an integral pillar of the Williamson County community, dedicated to providing safe spaces, “supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them” (PFLAG National).

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  All Things Wild Rehabilitation

  Read about our amazing community partner, All Things Wild! All Things Wild Rehabilitation is a pillar of Georgetown’s community, promoting respect and compassion for all wildlife, rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife to be released in their appropriate habitats, and providing sanctuary for all animals in need!

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  Malflora Collective: Preserving Latina/e Lesbian History, Creativity, and Culture

  To address the disparity of preserved Latina/e lesbian literature as well as affirm the existence and lived experiences of Latina/e lesbians, Founding Director, Dr. Meagan Solomon along with collaborators, created Malflora Collective. Malflora Collective is a digital platform dedicated to uplifting and preserving Latina/e lesbian history, creativity, and culture. The project takes up archival, oral history, and plática—a Chicana/Latina feminist methodology rooted in the belief that they produce knowledge about their lived experience through conversation—methods to critically situate Latina/e lesbians as stewards of culture and social change.

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  Señora Power: Writing Chicana Feminist Consciousness into Public History

  We all have the power to tell our story, to share our histories with those who are willing to listen. But, as marginalized communities, we have often been told and conditioned to believe that our voices lack value. The histories of marginalized people have been excluded from dominant narratives and public records to maintain hegemonic and dominant modes of thinking that prioritize white, patriarchal power. In collaboration with Dr. Sophia Martinez Abbud, an Assistant Professor at Utah State, and Dr. Gaby Barrios, an independent scholar in Los Angeles, Dr. Sonia Del Hierro, an Assistant Professor here at Southwestern University, developed Señora Power.

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  Upcoming On-Campus Documentary Screening a Testament to the Special Relationship Between Southwestern University and ROCK

  A renewed bond between Southwestern and the Ride On Center for Kids (ROCK) has sparked meaningful connections across the two organizations… and a documentary screening coming soon to campus.

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  Community Engaged Learning with Annie Purl Elementary School

  Follow along as local elementary school students enjoy a campus tour and conduct science experiments with the Chemistry Department. 

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  Pursuing Passion Projects

  Southwestern’s Lab for Innovative Ventures and Entrepreneurship empowers students to take an idea from concept to business plan.