Taught By:
Mariah Caballero
Doctoral Candidate
Community Research and Action Program
Department of Human and Organizational Development
Peabody College
Vanderbilt University
Read profile here.
Motivation to Teach Social Action:
I recently accepted a tenure-track position at Wellesley College in the Environmental Studies program and look forward to developing courses in environmental justice, community-engaged data science, and a community-based research seminar.
Course Description:
This seminar explores how action research—a cyclical approach designed to engage organizations in research through planning, acting, observing, and reflecting—can influence local environmental policy. Students will be invited to critically examine local policy through community case studies in the Northeast and guest lectures from community leaders. Throughout the semester, student teams will partner with a community organization as a critical service learning opportunity. In addition to applying qualitative and quantitative research skills in their team’s action research project, students will explore its implications for local environmental policy and reflect on their role throughout the process.
