Faculty

With community-engaged scholarship, research and creative activity, your work may involve generating a publication, professional report, invention, patent or any other type of output that provides demonstrated value to the community.

Community-engaged scholarship is defined as mutually beneficial activities undertaken by faculty members, staff and students in partnership with the community that adds to existing knowledge by applying scholarly expertise, skills, experience, and resources, to create advances in public good and scientific knowledge.

Stories:
Associate Professor of Political Science Douglas Carr, Ph.D., powers Oakland University’s research by embodying innovation. He collaborates with the City of Auburn Hills to develop and conduct surveys with Auburn Hills residents and businesses, helping the city consider programs, ordinances and set priorities that better serve its residents.

Associate Professor of Health Kwame Sakyi, Ph.D., fosters community research at OU by inspiring outreach through global service. He conducts research that supports children with disabilities in Ghana, using parent-based peer health models to partner with hospitals to research global health and social issues.

Teaching and instruction encompasses internships and experiential learning opportunities, as well as outreach to community partners and the general public on and off campus with public events, workshops and continuing education. 

This community-engaged instruction is defined as instruction in which faculty, staff and students ally with external partners to enhance educational opportunities to the broader community. Learn more about service learning courses.

Stories:
Director of the Pawley Lean Institute Dennis Wade supports Oakland University’s student force by embodying imagination through service. He runs student-led local community projects that connect students with vital service work that not only enhances the students’ resumes, but also offers much-needed help to organizations.

Distinguished Professor of Engineering Huirong Fu, Ph.D., powers mentorship at OU by inspiring passion through teaching. By offering hands-on learning for the National Science Foundation CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service students, she is training the next generation of information technology professionals to meet the cybersecurity needs of federal, state and local governments.

Associate Professor Kelly Berishaj prepares the next chapter of Oakland University students by infusing compassion into teaching. She supports her forensic nursing students with opportunities for them to work alongside health care providers at Turning Point, a domestic abuse treatment center in Mount Clemens. 

Service work includes volunteering, conducting seminars to community groups, consulting for community agencies and serving as an expert for the media. 

Community-engaged service is defined as collaboration between faculty, staff and students and a community partner that results in mutually beneficial services. Community-engaged service may, or may not, be related to an academic program.

Stories:
Assistant Professor in Foundational Medical Studies Abram Brummett, Ph.D., embodies OU's spirit by inspiring compassion through service. He cares about the experience of his patients, volunteering with Nobody Dies Alone (NODA) which provides companionship to patients at the end of their lives.

Associate Professor of Dance Ali Woerner fuels Oakland University’s vision by inspiring creativity through service. She’s developed a number of programs that use movement for both physical and mental wellness, including Soulful Steps, a partnership with Gilda’s Club Detroit that offers dance classes to those on their cancer journey.

Associate Professor of Accounting Seong Yeon Cho, Ph.D., powers Oakland University’s academic sphere by embodying ingenuity through service. He tailors his skills to aid the finance committee at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church with bookkeeping, contributing to the greater good by helping interpret their budget and allocate resources to the wider community.