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Laura Wilson recognized by Indiana Campus Compact

Dr. Laura Wilson, associate professor of history and political science, was recently recognized by The Indiana Campus Compact as one of the “Emerging Leaders in Community Engagement.” This recognition is awarded to faculty and graduate teaching assistants from multiple Indiana Campus Compact partner institutions who are in the first seven years of their career who demonstrate leadership and innovation in advancing and shaping community engagement across the field. This honor is designed to recognize emerging engaged scholarship work, rather than long-established projects.

J.R. Jamison, Indiana Campus Compact Director, presented Dr. Wilson the award saying this:

Dr. Laura Wilson, Associate Professor of History and Political Science at the University of Indianapolis. To say that Dr. Wilson inspires students to fully participate in their education, their community, and their commitment to the common good is quite an understatement.  As a faculty member, Dr. Wilson seeks to prepare her students to make a difference in their community, with an emphasis on training the next generation of community leaders.  Though she is still early in her career as a recently promoted Associate Professor, she has already distinguished herself through her teaching, her advising of pre-law students, and her leadership with the Gender Center.  Many of her courses incorporate a service-learning activity, such as engaging in voter registration, hosting a mock election with elementary students, or helping girl scouts earn a badge in civic leadership. This work has clearly inspired some students to do more. Two students stand out among the many who Wilson has inspired: Junior Ally Nickerson, who joined Wilson as the Student Project Director for UIndyVotes! in 2018 and is responsible for the increased partnership with the Baxter YMCA and expansion of neighborhood canvassing, and Senior Karlee Taylor who conducted research with Wilson on Harriette Bailey Conn, which yielded May Wright Sewell Fellowship, transpired into two conference papers, and resulted in a new Indiana Historical Marker to share Conn’s inspiring legacy as an African-American leader with the community.