A student and faculty member from the Romance Studies department have both been honored this year for their work with service learning.
Assistant Professor of the Practice Deb Reisinger has received the Faculty 2016 Betsy Alden Outstanding Service-Learning Award. Reisinger was praised for her commitment to all aspects of service-learning as a service-learning instructor, a previous service-learning faculty fellow and a member of the Community Based Language Initiative. She was acknowledged for her “attention to building sustainable relationships and supporting the academic experience with the critical reflection necessary to integrate community-based learning into the curriculum.”
Also noted were Reisinger’s “genuine passion for both working to improve the lives of refugees and helping students realize the ways the service can benefit them and their communities. Her commitment to the Durham refugee community inspires the development of sustainable and cooperative relationships between students and community partners that positively impact everyone involved.”
The Alden Awards also recognize graduating seniors for their work and outstanding commitment to the ideals of service-learning. This year, one of the recipients is Leta Hallowell, a senior French major in the Romance Studies department. Leta was recognized for the ways she “embodies the ideal leader in her humble actions, her deep reflection, and her brave choices,” and for the way she has “sustained her commitment to working with refugees through service-learning courses, service and scholarship in her thesis project.”
Congratulations to both Deb and Leta!
Department of Romance Studies
