Boylan discusses community learning at conference

Dr. Helen Boylan, professor of chemistry and director of the Center for the Environment at Westminster College, participated at the “Beyond the Classroom: Community-Engaged Teaching and Research Conference” at Gannon University in Erie, Pa., in June.

Boylan presented her work on “Westminster College’s Environmental Project Management Academy: A Program for Cross-Disciplinary Service Learning Work at the Interface of Business, Environmental Science, and Leadership.”

This presentation focused on the EPMA cluster course between ES 170 Project-Based Environmental Science and BA 250 Principles and Practices of Project Management which included an embedded leadership seminar. The EPMA program was developed and offered by Boylan; Brian Petrus, associate professor of business; and Dr. Alison DuBois, president and CEO of The Mindful Mind, LLC. The program was funded by the National Science Foundation under Grant IUSE-171202.

The EPMA program laid the groundwork for Boylan’s current research on community-based learning focused on the New Wilmington area.

“Students collaborate with area community members in a real-world context where they apply their knowledge and skills” Boylan said of the power of this pedagogical approach. “This results in impactful learning for the students and positive outcomes in the community.”

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