Published: February 13, 2009 03:39 pm      

Central’s Cheri Doane award finalist

Cheri Doane, director of community-based learning at Central College, was one of five national finalists for the first annual Leadership Award for Campus and Community Engagement. The award, sponsored by Campus Compact, is for campus staff members who work to bring students and their communities together through service. Richard Harris, director of community service-learning at James Madison University (Va.), was the recipient of the inaugural award.

Doane has been director of community-based learning at Central for 10 years. She is in charge of the Program for Learning Awareness of Cultures in Experiential Settings (PLACES). Her work to connect students with community partners in such a way that they learn from each other helps both the community and the students.

Campus Compact is a coalition of college and university presidents who believe in the civic aspect of higher education. Among other things Campus Compact provides resources and helps train faculty who wish to add service-learning to their curriculum. The Leadership Award for Campus and Community Engagement is the first Campus Compact has had for staff members involved in community-based learning. They sponsor separate awards for students and faculty.