Rachel Young, assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, received the first annual Faculty Service Award, presented by the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities. The award is presented to one faculty member each semester and recognizes the winner's commitment to community engagement and the impact of his or her project on students and the partnering community.

Young’s projects include producing a strategic communication campaign to draw attention to Iowa City’s sustainability initiatives and producing a bike- and pedestrian-safety communication plan for Sioux City. “Students love when classroom work teaches hands-on professional skills,” says Young. “Students gain experience working in groups, understanding and meeting client expectations, conducting primary research, developing campaigns, and presenting their ideas to clients and other experts. These projects may be much more challenging and time-consuming than the usual class assignments, but students find it engaging to work on real issues and empowering to see their campaigns come to life.”

“This award honors faculty who have taken their courses, and objectives for those courses, into communities," says Linda Snetselaar, associate provost for outreach and engagement. "They work closely with students and community partners to ensure there is reciprocity throughout the project. It honors the dedication and extra effort it takes to do an engaged learning course.”