Goodrich Getting Involved
Goodrich engages students by working to create learning outcomes that connect with the community. These real life experiences allow for sustained learning, relationship building, and community service. Goodrich faculty have invested in many opportunities.
Troy Romero, Ph.D., Chair of the Goodrich Scholarship Program
In collaboration with Fontenelle Elementary School and Royale Oaks Assisted Living Center, Dr. Romero’s Autobiographical Reading and Writing courses created Words of Wisdom, where 2nd and 3rd graders were matched with Dr. Romero’s students to create bibliographies of seniors from Royal Oaks. Through a partnership with Autism Action Partnership, Dr. Romero also co-directed a peer-mediated social skills program for young adults with autism spectrum disorder.
Barbara Hewins-Maroney, Ph.D.
Her community engagement included a service-learning p-16 initiative which involved 7th and 8th graders at King Science and Technology Magnet School examining several models of aquaponic production and developing a Hunger Banquet to emphasize the impact of food and water scarcity.
Imafedia Okhamafe, Ph.D.
His UNO class, in collaboration with Kiewit Middle School, South Omaha Museum, and a South Omaha group of parents and their children, established a reading and writing club, which enabled students to read professional autobiographies and produce their own autobiographies, including drawings and paintings.
Todd Richardson, Ph.D.
The Summer 2024 summer experience brought back a tradition of rural excursions combined with service learning for Dr. Todd Richardson and Goodrich. Beyond the 2024 Beatrice, NE excursion, the Goodrich Scholarship Program has visited towns throughout Nebraska, including Elmwood, where they learned about best-selling author Bess Streeter Alrich. Before that, Goodrich visited Central City to learn about the life and work of Wright Morris, an award-winning writer and photographer, Bancroft to learn about John G. Neihardt, Nebraska’s Poet Laureate in Perpetuity and author of Black Elk Speaks. The excursions began in 2013 when Goodrich visited Red Cloud, home of Willa Cather. These service learning experiences work to enlarge scholars’ sense of place through first hand experiences with the culturally vibrant, rural regions of their home state.
Stevie Seibert Desjarlais, Ph.D.
Dr. Seibert Desjarlais’ Spring 2023 Perspectives class partnered with Film Streams, a local non-profit theater, to host a public screening of a documentary addressing topics related to our Omaha community. Students screened several documentary options and attended lectures. Students contacted community members and experts to lead a moderated panel discussion following the public film screening. Students also designed and implemented a marketing campaign and collected materials for distribution at the event. The project was successful in bringing an engaging event to over 100 event attendees.
