Friday, January 24, 2020
Three members of the College of Education faculty have been awarded MSU’s Community Engagement Award.
Dr. Pamela Bracey’s project, “IT Internships,” was named the winner in the Community-Engaged Teaching and Learning category, while Dr. Robert Damm’s project, “Community Drum Circles,” was named the winner in the Scholarship of Engagement category. Dr. Qianna Cutts’ project, “Home, Place and Mississippi: A Cultural Diversity Literacy Project,” won honorable mention in the Scholarship of Engagement category.
“IT Internships,” which was submitted by Dr. Bracey, an MSU associate professor in the Department of Instructional Systems and Workforce Development. Community partners include Christian World Ministries, Local Community Learning Foundation, VMsquared, and Angela Latham Designs. The project also was supported by six faculty members, four staff members and 14 current students, with more than 180 students contributing throughout the last six years. Undergraduates in Bracey’s fall Senior Seminar in Information Technology Services course participated in various nine-week service projects to assist local small businesses and nonprofit groups in meeting their technological needs, such as websites, social media, brochures and logos. Bracey said while shaping future curricular goals, this ongoing project has opened doors to multiple mentoring partnerships, including internships and career options for students.
“Community Drum Circles,” submitted by Robert Damm, MSU professor of music, encourages meaningful collaborations among MSU faculty, staff and students and those with special needs in the state through drum circle programs and other rhythm-based activities. Since 2014, 64 drum circles have helped over 3,000 people develop increased self-awareness and self-esteem; peer acknowledgement; enhanced listening skills; communication and teamwork skills. This activity also has facilitated knowledge-sharing through scholarly publications and conference presentations. Four articles have appeared in the peer-reviewed “Percussive Notes” journal; two clinics and two Rhythm Discovery Day sessions for a national conference with 6,000 attendees, and two Percussive Arts Society Day of Percussion facilitations in Mississippi have led to peer recognition resulting in election to the PAS national-level committee on interactive drumming. Damm’s work in drum circles also continues to inform his teaching and scholarship, including articles on drumming's positive effects on children with autism and the benefits of drum circles for students.
“Home, Place and Mississippi: A Cultural Diversity Literacy Project,” submitted by Qiana Cutts focuses on literacy enhancement for high school and university students of various racial identities majoring in English or English/Language Arts Secondary-Education. While reading texts written by diverse authors, students also participated in film viewing, spoken work performance, written reflections, and a reception with well-known author Kiese Laymon. Cutts partnered with Louisville High School teacher Tracei Willis to select texts, create discussion prompts, engage with participants, and plan events. In addition to an “Inclusion through Innovation” grant from MSU’s Office of Inclusive Excellence, this was supported by Hollywood Premier Cinema in Starkville, the Starkville Community Theatre, and MSU’s Poetry Club, Office of Admissions and Scholarships, and African American Studies program.
Winning projects received $3,000, and honorable mention projects were awarded $750 to further community-engagement activities. To be honored with a spring 2020 reception, recipients were selected by MSU’s Center for Community-Engaged Learning, Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President, Office of Research and Economic Development, and the Division of Student Affairs.
Established in 1903, MSU’s College of Education is now home to six academic departments, one research unit and numerous service units. For more about the college, visit //www.educ.msstate.edu/.
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