Faculty Service Learning Award

The Faculty Service Learning Award recognizes faculty members for their extraordinary efforts in service learning programs. The Faculty Service Learning Award is presented to a faculty member who has been supportive of service learning at UNO through faculty-student presentations, teaching circles, mentoring faculty-students, etc. The faculty member must also have a thorough understanding and appreciation of community issues such as professionalism and cultural competency.

Shannon Cummins, Ph.D. Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship College of Business Administration

Dr. Shannon Cummins’ commitment to service learning has not only shaped the lives of her students but has also created a lasting impact on the campus and community. Upon joining UNO in 2018, Dr. Cummins embarked on a journey to establish a Regent-approved sales center and a sales concentration from scratch. Remarkably, she achieved these milestones within just 12 months, showcasing her dedication and unwavering focus.

But Dr. Cummins' achievements didn't stop there. Her next venture was to integrate service learning into CBA's Professional Selling courses. She harnessed her innovation and creativity to design a unique service learning component that allowed students to use their sales skills to convince businesses to support specific non-profit organizations. This approach not only built students' confidence in pitching ideas but also emphasized the importance of non-profits in community well-being.

Dr. Cummins’ peer-reviewed journal article, "Selling for the Social Good: A Commentary and Extension to Pedagogy Place," presents the structure of the course, student reactions, and empirical comparisons between service learning and non-service learning versions. Her research provides evidence-based insights that propel service learning pedagogy forward, inspiring educators in other universities to follow suit. In addition to her published work, Dr. Cummins actively shares her innovative service-learning approach with academic peers through conference presentations. She has published articles guiding faculty on integrating service-learning and community-based learning into their courses. Her dedication to sharing knowledge has a far-reaching impact on business education.

Dr. Cummins recognized that faculty members needed better understanding and guidance on service learning and community-based learning. She invested countless hours educating and supporting them. She also helped to design and implement a reporting system, ensuring that faculty and staff could document their service learning and community-based learning activities accurately. Her efforts significantly enhanced the culture of service learning and community-based learning within CBA.

Dr. Shannon Cummins' exceptional dedication to service learning, community engagement, and engaged scholarship has elevated her to the status of a true business school faculty exemplar. Through her innovative teaching, impactful research, and strategic advocacy, she has left an indelible mark on her students and the community.

Nomination Information

Download the Faculty Service Learning Award nomination criteria and form.

Important Dates

• March 1: Nomination Deadline
• April 1: Nominee documentation due

Past Award Recipients

View a complete list of previous award recipients