LUNCH & LEARN – From Passion to Profession: Leveraging Community Engagement for Student Growth
Event Details
You’re invited to join SOCHE for a virtual lunch and learn, “From Passion to Profession: Leveraging Community Engagement for Student Growth,” on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 12 p.m. ET via Zoom. This session will be presented by Doreen Grontkowski, Gwen Roemer, and Raechel Scarchilli from the College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies at the University of Cincinnati.
Community engagement and nonprofit partnerships can be powerful tools for helping students discover their strengths, clarify their career goals, and develop the skills employers value. By connecting service-learning opportunities with students’ passions, lived experiences, and academic journeys, educators can create meaningful experiences that foster both personal and professional growth.
In this session, presenters will explore how colleges and universities can leverage community engagement to enhance student development while building mutually beneficial relationships with local nonprofit organizations. Participants will gain practical ideas for identifying service-learning opportunities, cultivating community partnerships, and helping students recognize the transferable skills they develop through these experiences.
Participants will learn how to:
- Explore innovative approaches to supporting students’ ongoing professional development through community engagement.
- Help students connect their passions, lived experiences, and transferable skills to future career opportunities.
- Recognize the value of nonprofit involvement as a catalyst for personal and professional growth.
- Develop strategies for building local partnerships and creating meaningful service-learning opportunities.
Invest in new ideas that help students grow beyond the classroom. Register today to discover practical strategies for connecting community engagement with career readiness and student success.
Registration for this session will close on Sunday, Nov. 29.
[If you are unable to attend live, a recording link will be sent to all registrants.]
Pre-Work
While not required to attend, participants are encouraged to reflect on their personal passions prior to attending this session by completing the “Find Your Passion” exercise, which will be sent out to registrants ahead of the webinar. This mimics the work students complete as part of the learning module and will provide the foundation for meeting the learning outcomes of this presentation.
When: Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 12-1 p.m. ET [If you are unable to attend live, a recording link will be sent to all registrants.]
Where: SOCHE Zoom platform [link sent at least 24 hours prior to event]
Cost:
- Personnel from SOCHE member schools: $5
- Personnel from NON-member schools/organizations: $10
- Students: FREE [Note: This fee is is reserved for individuals who are students only, not for personnel pursuing continuing education.]
Questions? Contact Mindy Claggett at SOCHE
Student Registration Fee Policy
Registration Cancellation Policy
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT WILL CLOSE ON SUNDAY, NOV. 29
About the Presenters
Doreen Grontkowski
Associate Professor, College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies
University of Cincinnati
Doreen Grontkowski is an Associate Professor in the College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies at the University of Cincinnati, where she serves as Faculty Co-op Advisor for Aerospace Engineering, supporting and teaching more than 475 undergraduate students annually. Her work involves collaboration with employers, academic advisors, advisory boards, and other stakeholders to advance student career readiness. With over 10 years of experience teaching professional development courses at the first-year and mid-curricular touchpoints, her teaching focuses on co-op preparedness, career readiness, and structured co-op reflection. Since 2019, Professor Grontkowski has presented on high-impact cooperative education practices at university, regional, and national level.
Gwen Roemer
Assistant Professor, College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies
University of Cincinnati
Gwen Roemer has worked in the experiential education field for over 20 years. She joined the University of Cincinnati in 2010 as the Associate Director in the Lindner College of Business International Office, where she planned and executed hundreds of study abroad programs over a 12-year period. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the College of Cooperative Education and Professional studies where she teaches and advises Computer Science students with career education, professional development and successfully finding cooperative education experiences. Encouraging students to have experiences outside of the classroom became her career ambition after she participated in two extensive study abroad experiences in her undergraduate education at Wittenberg University.
Raechel Scarchilli
Assistant Professor, College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies
University of Cincinnati
Raechel Scarchilli is an Assistant Professor in the College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies at the University of Cincinnati. Professor Scarchilli primarily serves undergraduate Biomedical Engineering students as a Faculty Co-op Advisor and Instructor for Professional Development Courses. Her role includes advising, teaching first-year and mid-curricular Professional Development courses, and helping students refine their career goals throughout their undergraduate education. Professor Scarchilli strives to continually refine her courses to best meet evolving student and industry needs. Professor Scarchilli has presented and shared expertise on topics related to cooperative education at the University of Cincinnati, regional, and national conferences since 2021.