This three-day virtual institute will introduce faculty and staff to an experiential learning approach for incorporating social action campaigns into either a semester-long course or co-curricular workshop series. In this transformative experiential learning model, students develop and launch a social action campaign of their choosing during the semester the course is taught. The student campaigns seek to change a rule, regulation, norm, or practice of an institution, whether on campus or in the community.
Our long-term goal is to mainstream this model for teaching active democracy. The world needs more citizens who have developed their knowledge and skills in bringing about positive change through real world experience. While not all of the student campaigns are successful, many have been and those that haven’t succeeded have still taught valuable lessons to those who led them and those who were engaged in one form or another.
Institute Preparation
During the three-day institute, participants will draft a syllabus and develop a teaching and a plan for supporting student campaigns which are launched mid-semester. The institute sessions will be led by Dr. Scott Myers-Lipton, Professor of Sociology at San Jose State University, with support from Bobby Hackett, President of the Bonner Foundation. We will use a flipped classroom model, where participants will be asked to prepare for live webinar sessions by reading textbooks CHANGE! A Student Guide to Social Action and CHANGE! A Guide to Teaching Social Action and watching a series of short video presentations on the following topics:
- An Overview of Teaching Social Action
- Organizing Your Class
- Issue Development & Choosing Campaigns
- Change Theory & Building Power
- Research & Group Dynamics
- Strategy & Tactics
- Campaign Kick-Off
- Campaign Plan & Evaluation
Participants will work with a syllabus template which includes guiding questions. We will discuss the pros and cons of revising a course to incorporate social action campaigns or develop a new course that complements an existing course, concentration, minor, major, or certificate program. We will also share the process and lessons learned from prior student campaigns. We welcome participants who want to explore developing a co-curricular social action workshop series embedded into a fellowship or co-curricular or integrated program.
Over the three days participants will meet for discussions about your goals, course models, teaching approach, and sharing examples and exercises using a Mural Board that will help you plan your social action course or workshop series.
At the conclusion of the institute, we will invite participants to join a year-long support and networking community of fellow practitioners who are teaching or learning how to teach social action using this experiential, real-world model. The Teaching Social Action Group is hosted by the Bonner Foundation on the Bonner Learning Community Platform to give faculty, staff, and students a forum for asking questions, discussing active student campaigns, sharing successes and challenges, and announcing future opportunities for training, education, and reflection.
Application
There is no cost to join the Winter ‘26 Institute on Teaching Social Action. However, we want to restrict participation in the institute to those faculty, staff or students who are committed to implementing this experiential social action course model. Please note that preparing and supporting students to launch their social action campaigns generally takes at least half of the course content and assignments. Some courses are directly on social action and change, while others address a societal issue (e.g., climate change, housing, poverty, etc.) around which students develop their campaigns. From experience, the social action campaign dimension of these courses takes up roughly half of the course work (readings, assignments, and in-class teaching and group work).
CLICK HERE to submit your application
Institute Participants (Accepted To Date)
Amy Agigian
Sociology and Criminal Justice
Suffolk University
Caroline Sharkey
School of Social Welfare
University at Albany
Erynn Beaton
John Glenn College of Public Affairs
The Ohio State University
Greer Hamilton
Social Work
University of Michigan
Janice Fine
Labor Studies and Employment Relations
Rutgers University - New Brunswick
Jennifer Magee
Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility
Swarthmore College
Jesica Fernandez
Ethnic Studies
Santa Clara University
Lara Rusch
Social Sciences
University of Michigan - Dearborn
Lauren MacKillop
Education
University of Vermont (UVM): College of Eucation and Social Services
Luke Terra
Haas Center for Public Service
Stanford University
Michael Downs
Service Learning / Sustainability
Bishop O'Dowd High School
Mindy Goldstein
Human Rights Institute
Kean University
Paul Simpson
Civic Learning / Political Science / Social Justice and Civic Engagement minor
Dominican University (River Forest, IL)
Rebecca Watts Hull
Center for Teaching & Learning; School of History & Sociology
Georgia Institute of Technology
Saugher Nojan
Sociology & Interdisciplinary Studies
SJSU
Susan Munkres
Division of Faculty Affairs
University of Vermont
Briana Doering
Anthropology
University of Wyoming
Amy Black
Economics and Business Administration
Hastings College
Anna Antoniou
Dept of Anthropology, Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledge and Science
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Adam Lewandowski
Community Engagement
Nazareth College
Amanda Tapler
Department of Public Health Studies
Elon University
Amy Smith
General Studies
Hilbert College
Carolyn Bonacci
Office of Community Relations & Office of Community-Based Learning
The University of Scranton
Chassidy Cooper
Equity and Inclusion
East Tennessee State Unviersity
David Harker
Center for Civic Engagement
Ithaca College
Eugene Pringle
Education Policy and Leadership (summer)
American University
Fatemeh Hosseini
Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching, and Service
Georgetown University
Jason Surian
Education
Rollins College
Julie Randolph
CIVICUS
University of Maryland, College Park
Katya Armistead
Dean of Students
University of Californa, Santa Barbara
Katya Armistead
Dean of Students
University of Californa, Santa Barbara
La-Neka Brown
School of Education and Professional Studies (ODU)/ School of Education, Leadership, Policy and Justice (VCU)
Old Dominion University (ODU) and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
Leann Moore
Community Engagement Initiative (Provost Office)
University of Delaware
Lucie Menjivar
Student Engagement and Leadership
CSU Pueblo
Madeleine DelVicario
Jandon Center for Community Engagement
Smith College
Marsita Ferguson
Center for Community Engagement (Brain)
Baldwin Wallace University
Rachel Wozniak
Student Life
Hilbert College
Ray Shiu
Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching & Service
Georgetown University
Rebecca LeFevre
Lindy Center for Civic Engagement
Drexel University
Ry Siggelkow
Center
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities
Saagar Gupta
Center for Community Engagement & Service
American University
Teresa Martinez
Center for Community Engaged Learning
Weber State University
Toria Teamer
Center for community Based Learning
Wofford college
Viviana Marsano
Dean of Students
University of California, Santa Barbara
Adrienne Schwarte
Fine Arts
Maryville College
Blaise DePaolo,
Fine and Performing Arts
Morgan State University
Dana Edell
Performing Arts
Emerson College
Fadoua Loudiy
Strategic Communication & Media
Slippery Rock University
Gene Corbin
Tisch College for Civic Life
Tufts University
Kristen Pengelly
Communication Studies
DePaul University
Kristin Kusanovich
Theare & Dance | Child Studies
Santa Clara University
Laura Napier
Stamps School of Art & Design
Stamps School of Art & Design
Lucas Hatton
Communication Studies
San Jose State
Mark O'Gorman
Social Sciences Division
Maryville College
Riva Brown
School of Communication
University of Central Arkansas
Stephanie King
English
Foothill College
Tara Smithson
Modern Languages and Cultures
Saint Mary's College
Tatyana Dumova
Communication
Point Park University, Pittsburgh
Hiba Zakai
College of Education, Curriculum and Instructions / Steans Center for Community Service Based Learning
DePaul University
Jessica Perone
Center for Civic Engagement
Washington State University
Meg du Bray
Geography, GIS, & Sustainability
University of Northern Colorado
Amber Herkey
Center for Social Concerns
University of Notre Dame
Anji Buckner-Capone
Public Health and Recreation
SJSU
Anne Whitesell
Political Science
Miami University
Marcelius Braxton
Student Affairs/Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion/Affiliated Faculty with multiple departments
Penn State University
Vyta Pivo
School of Architecture
University of Miami
Daisy Breneman
Justice Studies
James Madison University
Janelle Hinchley
Gender Studies
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University
Beth Godett
Lynch School of Education at Boston College and Department of Education at Rider University
Boston College and Rider University
Brittany Martino
Upward Bound Math-Science
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Kelisha Graves
Educational Leadership
Virginia State University
Melissa Base
Literacy and Reading Education
California State University - Fullerton
Michael McIntosh
Educational Leadership
Virginia State University
Steven Mupata
Housing
University of Denver
Albie Miles
Social Sciences Division
University of Hawaii- West Oahu
Allison Caine
Anthropology
University of Wyoming
Cintia Quesada
Sociology
California State University, Fresno
David Gosling
Counseling
University of Lynchburg-CELC
Elena Belle
Center for Art and Community Partnerships (CACP)
Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt)
Eric Usner
American Studies; Earth & Environment; Music
Franklin & Marshall College
Fiona Gladstone
Department of Social Sciences and History
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Hannah Gosnell
College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
Oregon State University
Isabel Rodriguez-Vega, Bishop
Sustainability
Bishop O'Dowd High School
Libby Megna
School of Health & Natural Sciences
Union College
Maria Arquero de Alarcon
Architecture and Urban and Regional Planning
University of Michigan
Nadine Skinner
Global Studies Program/ Department of Environmental Studies
San Jose State University
Neeraja Havalig
Environmental Sciences Graduate Program
Oregon State University
Sally Geislar
Environmental Studies
Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN
Suzanne Iwanicki
Life Sciences
Pasadena City College
Melissa Olfert
Human Nutrition and Foods
West Virginia University
Maria Alejandra Perez
Department of Geology and Geography
West Virginia University
Mary Finley-Brook
Geography, Environment, and Sustainability
University of Richmond
Abbie Flanagan, left Loyola!
Center for Community, Service, and Justice
Loyola University Maryland
Alex Quinlan
English/Honors College
University of Tennessee—Chattanooga
Amber Smelkinson
English
Prince George's Community College
Anthony Breakspear
Writing
UC Santa Cruz
Anthony Siracusa
History
St. John Fisher University
Austin Harrington
Humanities
Graceland University
Crystal Harris
English
University of Central Arkansas
Janet Glover-Kerkvliet
Art Therapy (Graduate Program)
Notre Dame University of Maryland
Jeff Kruth
Architecture & Interior Design
Miami University
Johanna Phelps
English, Technical Writing
Washington State University Vancouver
K Adele Okol
School of Language and Literature (French Program)
University of Central Arkansas
Laurie Porter
Rhetoric and Communications
Johnson C. Smith University
Leland Harper
Philosophy
Siena Heights University
Mary Mudd
Pan African Studies/Malcolm X Debate Program/Communication; Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
University of Louisville
Rachel Woods
English Language Arts
Albuquerque High School
Rebekah Crosson
English, Rhetoric & Composition
University of Louisville
Russ Wood
Humanities and Social Sciences
Southwest Virginia Community College
Talia Weltman-Cisneros
World Languages & Literatures
Southern Methodist University
Adrian Griffin
Brain Center for Community Engagement
Baldwin Wallace University
Anupam Singh
Student engagement & Career Development
University of Arizona
Cheyenne Luzynski
Leadership Studies
West Virginia University
Cindy Ferguson
Student Development
University of Lynchburg
Eli Burke
Student Engagement and Career Development
University of Arizona
Irene Guenther
Honors College
University of Houston Honors College
Kimberly Seibles
Student Life - Office of Multicultural Student Affairs
University of South Carolina - Columbia
Manda Wittebort, wittebora@southwestern.edu
Center for Leadership & Service
University of Florida
Megan Bailey
Honors College
University of Alabama
Pedro Nava
Education/Educational Leadership
Santa Clara University
Soniy Alamdari
Brown Center for Leadership and Service
University of Florida
Surey Miranda-Alarcon
Center for Community Engaged Learning
Fordham University
Amy Finnegan
Justice & Society Studies
University of St. Thomas
Chris Morrissey
Social Sciences
Bluffton University
Lealle Ruhl
History, Latin, Political Science and Interdisciplinary Studies
Langara College
Obasesam Okoi
Justice and Peace Studies
University of St Thomas
Stephanie Sena
Peace and Justice Studies
Villanova University
Thomas Wassmer
Biology
Siena Heights University
Zulfiya Tursunova
Peace and Conflict Studies
Guilford College
Ariane Schratter
Behavioral Sciences
Maryville College
Jessica Fitzpatrick
Social Work
Buffalo State College, SUNY
Jackie Leung
Health, Human Performance, and Athletics
Linfield University
Ariel Mayse
Religious Studies
Stanford University
Colleen Wessel-McCoy
Religion
Earlham College
Sadie Hackett
Mission-Based Programs
John Carroll University
Tonya Miles
Office of Spiritual Life and Engagement
Clark Atlanta University
Sethunya Mokoko
English, Writing and Rhetoric
University of Virginia
Amanda Lee Savage
History
University of Memphis (also at Rhodes this term)
Andrew Pierce
Philosophy/Justice Studies
Saint Mary's College
Anthony Stone
Sociology
University of Memphis
Austin Harrison
Urban Studies
Rhodes College
Christine Sargent
Anthropology
University of Colorado Denver
Emily Fulmer
Political Science
University of Memphis
Erika Dawkins
Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology
Widener University
Jamie Shenton
Anthropology
Centre College
Jane Simonsen
History and Gender Studies
Augustana College
JoAnna Boudreaux
Sociology
University of Memphis
Karen McDonnell
WRTC
James Madison University
Kevin Lynch
Justice Studies
San Jose State University
Lily Luo
Political Science
University of Connecticut
Michael Illuzzi
Social Sciences
Providence College
Sam Frye
School of Integrative Studies
George Mason University
Stephanie Fratanaro
Psychology
Gwynedd Mercy University
Stephanie Fratantaro
Psychology
Gwynedd Mercy University
Walt Paquin
Social Work
Bluffton University
Alycia Barnwell
Social Work
University of Nevada, Reno
Amanda Bule
Health & Well-being Division
Temple University
Cassandra Simon
School of Social Work
University of Alabama
Elena Delavega
School of Social Work
University of Memphis
Felix Weston
Social Work
Benedict College
Katie Norwood
Social Work
University of Memphis
Lisa Smith
Grace Abbott School of Social Work
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Michael Dover
School of Social Work
Cleveland State University
Omotola Akinsola
Social Work
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Sara Thompson-Kirby
Social Work
University of Nevada, Reno
Shalay Jackson
Social Work
Florida State University
Stephen David
Social Work
Ohio State University
Travis Cronin
Social Work
CSU Fresno
Mario Avalos
Sociology
UCSC
Morgan Sanchez
Sociology & Interdisciplinary Social Sciences
San Jose State University
Sarah Mawhirter
Sociology
Boise State University
Sharon Foreman
Sociology and Human Services
University of Lynchburg
Lesli Hoey
Urban and Regional Planning Program
University of Michigan
Aaron Gold
Politics
The University of the South
Abbie Cohen
Urban Schooling
UCLA School of Education & Information Studies
Abe Cross
Health & Wellness Center
Lindsey Wilson College
Adrienne Brune
Sociology
Averett University
Adrienne Schwarte
Environmental Issues
Maryville College
Alesia Orren
Education
Maryville College
Alesia Orren
Education
Maryville College
Alex Sekwat
Public Administration
Tennessee State University
Alfredo Toro Carnevali
Political Science and Law
Montclair State University
Allan Ayella
Chemistry
Washburn University
Allison Buzard
College of Social Work
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Amanda Baugous
Business Administration
Augustana College
Amy Best
Sociology and Anthropology/ Center for Social Science Research
George Mason University
Amy Douglas
Psychology
Bates College
Amy Frederick
Art History
Centre College
Amy Gilliland
Community Engagement
Maryville College
Amy Huang
Theater
Bates College
Anamika Sen
Economics
Bates College
Andrew Gunnoe
Sociology
Maryville College
Andrew Rose
English
Christopher Newport University
Andria Timmer
Anthropology
Christopher Newport University
Andy Garcia-Romo
Programs
Sunday Friends Foundation
Anelise Shrout
Digital and Computational Studies
Bates College
Angela Vincent
Earth Science
Santa Monica College
Ann Frost
Law, Societies, and Justice; Sociology
University of Washington
Anna Engelsone
Mathematics
Maryville College
Anna Teekell
English
Christopher Newport University
Annaka Exley
Geography and Geology
West Virginia University
Anne Mckee
Community Engagement
Maryville College
Anne Rody-Wright
Sociology
Siena College
Anne Rody-Wright
Sociology
Siena College
Anne Rody-Wright
Sociology
Siena College
Anthony Levenda
Environmental Studies
The Evergreen State College
Antonio Cuyler
Entrepreneurship & Leadership
Music, Theatre & Dance
April Love-Loveless
IDS
Averett University
Ariadna Tenorio Lopez
Center for Latin American Studies
University of Florida
Ariane Schratter
Psychology
Maryville College
Ariane Schratter
Psychology
Maryville College
Ariane Schratter
Psychology
Maryville College
Ariane Schratter
Psychology
Maryville College
Ariane Schratter
Psychology
Maryville College
Arun Agrawal
Environment and Sustainability
University of Notre Dame
Ashanti Bryant Foster
Teacher Education
Prince George's Community College
Ashuwin Vaidya
Mathematics
Montclair State University
Baobao Song
Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture
Virginia Commonwealth University
Barbara Blonder
Natural Sciences
Flagler College
Barbara Scofield
Sociology
Washburn University
Barrett Bonella
Social Work and Gerontology
Weber State University
Becki Hornung
Social Work
Carthage College
Ben Little
Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies
University of East Anglia (UK)
Benjamin Cole
Political Science & International Relations / CHANGED SCHOOLS—B.Cole1@snhu.edu
Simmons University
Bernard Kitheka
Kinesiology
Missouri State University
Beth Mercer-Taylor
Institute on the Environment (IonE) and Sustainability Studies Minor
University of Minnesota
Bethany Woodworth
School of Marine and Environmental Programs
University of New England
Brenna Candelaria
Community Studies
UC Santa Cruz
Bridgid Shannon
Center for Leadership & Service
Florida State University
Caitlin Swann
Center for Community Engagement
Stetson University
Carl Gombert
Art
Maryville College
Carly May
Student Leadership & Engagement
North Carolina State University
Caroline Nickerson
University of Florida, just received Ph.D
Florida Community Innovation (nonprofit)
Carolyn Slotten
Family Science and Social Work
Miami University in Oxford Ohio.
Caryl Waggett
Global Health Studies
Allegheny College
Chelsey Franz
Master of Science in Athletic Training
Bellarmine University
Cheris Brewer Current
School of Social Work and Sociology
Walla Walla University
Christian Matheis
Justice and Policy Studies/Community and Justice Studies
Guilford College
Christina Seymour
English
Maryville College
Christopher Matthews
Department of Anthropology
Montclair State University
Cody Nielsen
Educational Leadership, Higher Education
Virginia Commonwealth University, Lesley University
Corrie Grosse
Environmental Studies
College of St. Benedict/St. John's University
Crystal Colter
Psychology
Maryville College
Crystal Zanders
Department of English
University of Michigan
Daniel Velez Ortiz
School of Social Work
Michigan State University
Danielle Wallace
Community & Social Justice Studies
William Paterson University
Danielle Walker
Masters of Social Work
Pacific University
Dave Himmelfarb
Environmental Studies
Eckerd College
Dave McNeely
Religion and Center for Community Engagement
Carson-Newman University
David Ikpoa
Centre for Human Rights
University of Pretoria, South Africa
David Toth
Computer Science & Data Science
Centre College
Dawn Rodriguez-Ward
Office University Interdisciplinary Programs
North Carolina State University
Deanna Barath
PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM
Florida State University
Deyanira Nevarez Martinez
Urban and Regional Planning Program, School of Planning, Design and Construction
Michigan State University
Diane Phoenix-Neal
School of Music
James Madison University
Dyann Logwood
Women's and Gender Studies
Eastern Michigan University
Edurne Bague
Catedra UNESCO Desenvolupament Humà Sostenible
Universitat de Girona
Elaine Hsiao
School of Peace and Conflict Studies
Kent State University
Elizabeth Marquez Bernardino
Advocacy, Outreach, and Family Engagement
Alpha Public Schools
Elizabeth Beasley
Center for Integrative Learning
Southwestern University
Elizabeth Coggins & Dana Wolfe
Political Science
Colorado College
Elizabeth Emery
World Languages and Culture
Montclair State University
Elizabeth Miller
Civic & Community Engagement
William & Mary
Elizabeth Talbert
Anthropology and Sociology
Drake University
Ellen Reese
Society, Environment, & Health Equity
University of California, Riverside
Elsa Davidson
Anthropology
Montclair State University
Emily Berg Paup
Communication
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Emily Klein & Monica Taylor
Teaching & Learning; Educational Foundations
Montclair State University
Emily Klein & Monica Taylor
Teaching & Learning; Educational Foundations
Montclair State University
Emily Paup
Communication
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Emily Tillotson
Social Work and Sociology
Walla Walla University
Erin Gallay
SEAS
University of Michigan
Estrella Torrez
Residential College in the Arts and Humanities
Michigan State University
Evan Jewell
History
Rutgers-Camden
Fay Keys
School of Social Work
Wayne State University