PNC Faculty Member Earns Fellowship

Scott Smithson, associate professor and acting chair of the Department of Communication Download photo here.

WESTVILLE – Purdue University North Central faculty member Scott Smithson, associate professor and acting chair of the Department of Communication, has been awarded an Indiana Campus Compact Faculty Fellowship for 2005 - 2006 to continue his work in the advancement of student service learning projects and community engagement between PNC students and the surrounding communities.

Smithson is part of the 10th class of fellows who are proving that service-learning and community engagement can effectively be integrated with faculty teaching, research, and professional service. The Faculty Fellows program provides an award of $5,000 from the Strengthening the Purposes of Higher Education Phase II grant provided by the Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Service learning projects allow students to work with area not-for-profit agencies so that they can help the agencies successfully complete their initiatives, projects and goals. This is usually done as part of class activities, giving students the opportunity to gain valuable experience while expanding their classroom learning.

Smithson has a strong commitment to enhancing the service learning experiences that have become a part of the Communication Department curriculum. Each semester teams of students work with a variety of community organizations to help them meet their communication needs. This provides a valuable hands-on learning experience for students; while offering high-quality expertise for not-for-profit agencies.  

The fellowship was awarded by Indiana Campus Compact, part of a national coalition of more than 850 college and university presidents committed to higher education’s involvement in public and community service. Campus Compact believes that community service develops student citizenship and values, encourages partnerships between campus and community and aids faculty in bringing community engagement into teaching and research.

  Smithson has worked with agencies including the Safe Harbor After School Program in Michigan City and the LaPorte Youth Service Bureau/Big Brothers & Big Sisters' School Buddies. He previously earned a Campus Compact grant to help develop a program for his Business and Professional Communication class that allowed students to act as communication trainers for an area after-school program and help elementary students improve interpersonal communication skills.

A PNC faculty member since 1987, Smithson is coordinator of the Hyde Park Forum annual public speaking contest; has earned the Outstanding Teacher Award; was named the Central States Association Outstanding New Professor; was named to the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and was nominated for the Campus Compact Thomas Ehrlich Faculty Award for Service Learning. He has authored several articles as well.

He encourages area organizations interested in working with a team of communication students to contact him at 800-872-1231, ext. 5356.

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