Office of Service-Learning and Community Engagement : History of the Office of Service-Learning and Community Engagement

2001-2002
Office of Service-Learning and Community Engagement
The Office of Service-Learning and Community Engagement was established in fall of 2001 and was staffed only by Angela Buccalo, the first AmeriCorps*VISTA Campus and Community Collaboration Leader.  The main function of the office was to work with the students of the Service-Learning Floors.

Staff
Angela Buccalo, AmeriCorps*VISTA YOL Leader
Dr. David Hoch, VISTA Site Director

Service-Learning Floor
Angela Buccalo, AmeriCorps*VISTA
Molly J. Tyson, Academic House Hall Director  

Agencies and Peer Facilitators:

• David’s House of Compassion (Laura Abu-Absi, Peer Facilitator) — an organization dedicated to assisting those living with HIV/AIDS. 
• Darlington House (Amanda Gault, Peer Facilitator) — a nursing home providing care to the elderly.
• St. Paul’s Community Center (Joel Davidson, Peer Facilitator) — an organization that provides services to the homeless and hungry.
• Reynold's Corners Library (Lauren Teska, Peer Facilitator) — provides educational children’s programming to increase literacy.
• Gear UP (Katie Lucas, Peer Facilitator) — a tutoring program working with Toledo Public School Jr. High students.

Fall 2001 marked the first semester of the Community Service-Learning Floor in the Academic House and over sixty residents of the fourth floor were involved with this new living-learning community. The residents worked with agencies addressing issues in a wide variety of topics including: the elderly, children and education, women and education, the homeless and hungry, and individuals effected by HIV and AIDS.  Throughout the semester the groups not only performed service but also met to discuss the impact of their service and what they, as well as those they served, were learning from this experience. These discussions are called reflection sessions. As a collective group, the floor contributed over 450 hours of service to the Toledo community over three months!

Residents of the fourth floor were out in the community making a difference.  There were five groups each led by a peer facilitator and each working with a different agency. Each of the groups also works with a faculty mentor who often accompanied the groups to service sites and assisted during reflection sessions.

2002-2003
Staff
Peter Bishop, AmeriCorps*VISTA Service Leader
Dr. David Hoch, VISTA Site Director

Service-Learning Floor
Peter Bishop, AmeriCorps*VISTA
Molly J. Tyson, Academic House Hall Director  

Agencies and Peer Facilitators:

• Darlington House (, Peer Facilitator) — a nursing home providing care to the elderly.

2003-2004

Staff
Julia Vilela, AmeriCorps*VISTA Campus and Community Collaboration Leader
Meredith Kaman, AmeriCorps*VISTA Service Leader
Dr. David Hoch, VISTA Site Director

Service-Learning Floor
Julia Vilela, AmeriCorps*VISTA Campus and Community Collaboration Leader
Molly J. Tyson, Academic House Hall Director  

Agencies and Peer Facilitators:

• The Toledo Zoo (Mate Soric, Peer Facilitator) —
• Darlington House (Sarah Marquard, Peer Facilitator) — a nursing home providing care to the elderly.
• Cherry St. Mission (Jill Kleman, Peer Facilitator) — an organization that provides services to the homeless and hungry.
• Reynold's Corners Library (Elizabeth Lautzenheiser, Peer Facilitator) — provides educational children’s programming to increase literacy.
• Toledo Food Bank (Annalise Jencson, Peer Facilitator) —
• Sanger Library (Sara Warner, Peer Facilitator) — provides educational children’s programming to increase literacy.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation (Lauren Amstutz, Peer Facilitator) —
• Arts Council *new* (Tina Dell, Peer Facilitator) —
• Anne Grady Center *new* (Anu Policherla, Peer Facilitator) —
• Nathan Hale *new* (Aubrey Waddell, Peer Facilitator) —

Fall of 2003 was a great success.  A total of 156 students participated in the service learning floor.  All the students that participated completed a total of 1681 hours of service.  The residents worked with agencies addressing issues in a wide variety of topics including: the elderly, children and education, the homeless and hungry.  Throughout the semester the groups not only performed service but also met to discuss the impact of their service and what they, as well as those they served, were learning from this experience.  These discussions are called reflection sessions. 

Three new group started in spring of 2004.  Tina Dell was at the Arts council, Anu Policherla was at the Anne Grady center, and Aubrey Waddell was at Nathan Hale.  The Service-Learning Floor continued the other groups which were Mate Soric- Toledo Zoo, Sarah Marquard- Darlington Nursing home, Jill Kleman- Cherry Street mission, Annalise Jencson- Toledo Food bank, Sara Warner- Sanger Library, Lauren Amstutz- Make a Wish Foundation, Elizabeth Lautzenheiser- Reynolds corner library.  The two residence halls that participate in this program are the Academic House and the Crossings.

2004-2005
A half-time director for the Office of Service-Learning and Community Engagement was selected in spring 2005.  Sudershan Pasupuleti, Assistant Professor in Social Work, became the first Director of Service-Learning at The University of Toledo.

Staff
Sudershan Pasupuleti, Director (started Spring 2005)
Tracy Henderson, AmeriCorps*VISTA Campus and Community Collaboration Leader
Dr. David Hoch, VISTA Site Director (until Spring 2005)

Service-Learning Floor
Tracy Henderson, AmeriCorps*VISTA

Agencies and Peer Facilitators:

• Darlington House (Peer Facilitator led activity) — a nursing home providing care to the elderly.

2005-2006
The reporting structure of the Office of Service-Learning and Community Engagement changed from the Honors Department, where the office was founded, to the Provost's Office in summer 2005.  This change is structure demonstrates the University's commitment to service-learning.  The office moved physically moved out of Sullivan Hall, where the office was located since 2001, to University Hall 3770.  A secretary was added to the office staff.

Staff
Sudershan Pasupuleti, Director
Donovan Nichols, AmeriCorps*VISTA Campus and Community Collaboration Leader
Fran Molnar, Secretary

Service-Learning Community
Donovan Nichols, AmeriCorps*VISTA
Katie Knable, Graduate Assistant, Office of Residence Life

Agencies and Peer Facilitators:

• Josina Lott (Andrea Pallotta, Peer Facilitator) —
• Cherry St. Mission [Spring 2006] (Logan Sheehan, Peer Facilitator) —
• Darlington House (Laura McGoldrick, Peer Facilitator) — a nursing home providing care to the elderly.
• Reynold's Corners Library [Fall 2005] (Tina Negrelli, Peer Facilitator) — provides educational children’s programming to increase literacy.
• Sanger Library (Sara Warner, Peer Facilitator) — provides educational children’s programming to increase literacy.
• Special Projects [Spring 2006] (Tina Negrelli, Peer Facilitator) —
• The Boys and Girls Club [Fall 2005] (Logan Sheehan, Peer Facilitator) —
• The Toledo Zoo (Mate Soric, Peer Facilitator) —

2006-2007
A second AmeriCorps*VISTA member, Service Leader, was added to the OSLCE staff because of the expanding initiatives of the office.

Staff
Sudershan Pasupuleti, Director
Logan Sheehan, AmeriCorps*VISTA Campus and Community Collaboration Leader
Ashley Nickel, AmeriCorps*VISTA Service Leader
Fran Molnar, Secretary

2007-2008
Staff
Sudershan Pasupuleti, Director
Andrew Rome, AmeriCorps*VISTA Campus and Community Collaboration Leader
Brandon Donelson-Sims, AmeriCorps*VISTA Service Leader
Fran Molnar, Secretary