By Sophie Foster
News Co-Editor
On Thursday, Feb. 2, President of the College Dr. Michael Sosulski announced that Washington College would be joining Transform Mid-Atlantic.
According to President Sosulski, Transform Mid-Atlantic is “the region’s premiere association for [higher-education] institutions committed to civic engagement.”
“I have the highest regard for this association’s work to enhance higher education’s academic and co-curricular public service and civic engagement efforts,” President Sosulski said.
This partnership was developed in collaboration with WC’s Holstein Program in Ethics and the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience.
According to President Sosulski, this will provide students and members of the campus community with opportunities for development on the professional level as well as collaborative opportunities regionally.
Additionally, this partnership means that a WC student will be nominated for the Mid-Atlantic Civic Fellowship program, which aims to spotlight and support student leaders from a variety of disciplines. Nominations, which were accepted until Feb. 15, will be evaluated by Miller Director of Civic Engagement Dr. Patrick Nugent.
Another unique component of this partnership includes a Faculty Development Mini-Grant Program, which will “support cross-institutional collaborations that enhance student learning and civic engagement,” President Sosulski said.
The College will be working with Transform Mid-Atlantic to develop an AmeriCorps VISTA service position on campus to work to alleviate experiences of poverty in the community.
Other potential opportunities presented by this partnership include conferences and community-oriented gatherings, increased space for diversity and inclusion efforts, and partnerships with grade schools from kindergarten through high school.
“Transform Mid-Atlantic is an incredible resource that can help us achieve our mission ‘to challenge and inspire emerging citizen leaders to discover lives of purpose and passion,’” President Sosulski said. “As a community, WC must face three great challenges that will define the next decade and beyond for us: the global climate crisis, the crisis of democracy, and the challenge of renewing the liberal arts for the 21st century. Transform Mid-Atlantic can support us in the work of equipping our students to face these challenges, and we look forward to launching this partnership.”
More information about Transform Mid-Atlantic and what this partnership will bring to the College can be found on the organization’s website, where the organization defines itself as “a non-profit membership association…[that] provides leadership to colleges and universities in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Delaware by advocating, supporting, and encouraging institutional participation in academic and co-curricular based public service and civic engagement programs.”
Future updates regarding this process will be shared by the President’s Office.
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Photo Caption: This new partnership will impact many on the Washington College campus.