A spring 2016 speaker series at Cornell will feature practitioners and scholars who will share diverse perspectives on local community engagement.

Speakers will explore opportunities in local community partnerships, how to strengthen communities through storytelling, how to use analytics to enhance community-engaged teaching, and innovative methods to teach students about social impact. Free and open to all.

“We are thrilled with our speaker lineup for the spring semester,” said Amy Somchanhmavong, associate director of service-learning and partnership for the Cornell Public Service Center, and Amanda Barrett Wittman, associate director of engaged learning and research for Engaged Cornell. “Each of our speakers has deep experience in building and sustaining local community partnerships.”

Founded to advance the Cornell community’s knowledge, skills and understanding of community-engaged learning and research, the series is a collaboration among the Public Service Center, Engaged Learning and Research and the Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives.

Feb. 19: “Community Connectors: Working with Community Organizations to Advance Engagement,” noon to 1:30 p.m., 226 Weill Hall.With Bob Riter, executive director, Cancer Resource Center, and Karen Yearwood, executive director, Village at Ithaca. The session will focus on ways to build partnerships by connecting with local organizations, the complexity of engagement through partnership, definitions of communities, and roles within community-engaged partnerships. RSVP to elr-cornell@cornell.edu.

March 4: “The Facing Project: Storytelling for Change,” noon to 1:30 p.m., 102 Mann Library. J.R. Jamison and Kelsey Timmerman, co-founders, The Facing Project, share their stories of becoming engaged citizens, which led to founding a national movement that strengthens communities by connecting people through stories. They will connect accomplishments of Facing Projects to the narrative of the nationwide movement and inspire the audience to build and strengthen their communities. RSVP to elr-cornell@cornell.edu. The History Center in Ithaca will host a community event with The Facing Project, March 4, 9 to 11 a.m.

April 8: “Practical Learning Analytics: A Guide to Examining Student Data and Learning,” noon to 1:30 p.m., 226 Weill Hall. Timothy McKay, the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Physics and Astronomy, University of Michigan, will discuss how faculty can use data analysis to assess teaching and student learning and use learning analytics to help students succeed. McKay will define learning analytics, give examples of how faculty have used it and explain what learning data and analysis tools are available. RSVP to cte.cornell.edu/events/special-events.

May 25: Organizing for Engagement: Pedagogies for Social Impact, noon to 1:30 p.m., 226 Weill Hall. Sandra Enos, associate professor of sociology, Bryant University; scholar-in-residence, Campus Compact, will focus on changing campus culture, framing language and thinking broadly about how to teach students about social impact, all of which frame her new book “Service-Learning and Social Entrepreneurship: A Pedagogy of Social Change.” RSVP to elr-cornell@cornell.edu.

Ashlee McGandy is a content strategist at Cornell.