The IIST program offers seniors the opportunity to engage in a year-long service learning program to provide support to domestic non-profit organizations in the D.C. metro area. As a new initiative this fall, Dr. Blackmon collaborated with World Vision International-Guatemala and West African Research Center-Senegal to offer an international service learning experience for seniors. This pilot program provided students the opportunity to conduct international, community-based field research. Dr. Blackmon worked collaboratively with students to secure funding through GW-sponsored grants.
Dr. Blackmon has just received the Nashman Center Engaged Scholarship grant to design a course and study abroad program to connect real-world needs with student based learning. Over the next year, she will continue to form a community partnership to develop education technology in Central America, Senegal, and Kenya. Her course re-design will focus on teaching students Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), program evaluation and field research. In addition, over the spring semester, students will respond to GW RFPs to fund their summer abroad course.