OSU professors recognized for their community engagement

Friday, November 13, 2015

Two Oklahoma State University professors were recently recognized by Oklahoma Campus Compact for their active civic engagement in higher education.

Dr. Jorge Atiles, professor and associate dean of extension and engagement, was named Community Engagement Professional of the Year. Atiles is the founder and chairperson of OSU’s University Network for Community Engagement. The program is designed to create awareness about community engagement, provide resources to the community partners, and develop programs to support community engagement. Atiles was also a crucial member of the team that received the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification for OSU.

Dr. Jennifer Jones, assistant professor of human development and family science, was awarded the Excellence in Community-Based Teaching and Scholarship Award. Jones developed OSU’s service-learning partnership with the Tulsa Advocates for the Rights of Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, which allows OSU students to participate in the Oklahoma Advocates Involved in Monitoring program. Students in Jones’ courses move beyond the classroom and gain field experience as they assess the lives of adults living with developmental disabilities. Jones has also presented her research at the American Association for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, providing a national platform to discuss more research and service-learning opportunities within the field of developmental disabilities.

Atiles and Jones will be further recognized by Oklahoma Campus Compact at the December Oklahoma State Regents meeting.