NYLC Research Director Named Vice Chair of International Service-Learning Research Organization

Dr. Susan Root, Research Director at the National Youth Leadership Council, has been named vice chair of the International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement. This past November, IARSLCE held its 11th annual conference, Research for Impact Scholarship Advancing Social Change, gathering hundreds of researchers focusing on service-learning from K-12 to post-secondary education in Chicago, Ill.

The conference theme reflected a recurring concern throughout IARSLCE’s history: how can scholarship support the power of service-learning to promote the public good? IARSLCE began as an idea promoted by Dr. Shelley Billig and Dr. Andy Furco, who obtained funding for the first five years of the conference from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The goal was to support the construction of a knowledge base about service-learning and a venue where scholars, practitioners, students, and funders could exchange information and ideas. IARSLCE now operates as an independent 501c3 nonprofit that collaborates with member institution(s) to host the conference and publishes an annual volume of conference papers, Advances in Service-Learning Research.

“In terms of future goals, I think there is widespread agreement within IARSLCE that we need greater K-12 representation at the conference, and more studies of service-learning in k-12 schools and organizations,” said Root. “We also need more longitudinal research and … an understanding of the meaning and impacts of service-learning in different developmental periods.” With the growth in service-learning internationally, Root also stressed the need to support research programs outside the U.S. and to find common ground with scholars who are studying areas that are related to service-learning, “like community building and social activism — who don’t necessarily see their work as service-learning but in fact it probably is.”

In this position, Root will take a more formal leadership role in addressing these opportunities for growth. “I’m honored to have been elected as vice chair. It presents a particularly exciting opportunity for NYLC to have a stronger connection with the research community in service-learning. And since [NYLC is] a primary national K-12 service-learning organization, I hope the connection will benefit IARSLCE, as well.”

Dr. Susan Root oversees the evaluation of NYLC projects such as the Generator School Network and Generator Go Green, and other related research activities. Click here to view her full bio.