Lorilee Sandmann, a professor in the College of Education’s department of lifelong education, administration and policy, is the 2012 recipient of the Scholarship of Engagement Award.
Presented since 2008 by the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach, the award recognizes a full-time, tenured faculty member for significant contributions in public service, outreach and community engagement.
“As a land-grant university, we have a responsibility to bridge the gap between academia and our communities,” said Jennifer Frum, vice president for public service and outreach. “I have been especially impressed with UGA faculty like Dr. Sandmann who have worked to keep our university and communities across Georgia engaged with one another.”
Recognized as a national leader in the scholarship of engagement, Sandmann has actively supported public service, outreach, engagement and service-learning since joining the UGA faculty in 2001.
“Community engagement is one of the major innovations that has occurred in higher education over the last 20 years,” Sandmann said. “At the center of developing community engagement and service-learning are faculty members, joining with community partners in mutual and reciprocal partnerships.”
Sandmann has designed and implemented numerous programs, projects and initiatives to advance the scholarship of engagement among students, faculty, higher education administrators and community leaders. In 2003, she created a program evaluation course to engage students in community-based evaluation processes in a variety of community settings. Her current research focuses on leadership and organizational change in higher education’s institutionalization of community engagement as well as faculty roles and rewards related to engaged scholarship.