MonticelloLive

A University of Arkansas at Monticello faculty member and one of his students recently received a $2,500 grant from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education to find ways to get UAM students more involved in the political process and their local communities.

Assistant Professor Andre Lewis, director of the UAM social work program, and Brenda Wooley, a sophomore social work major from Warren, were recently awarded a Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Grant.

Lewis and Wooley will use the grant to conduct nationwide research of civic engagement programs at other colleges and universities. “Civic engagement is going to be a point of emphasis for our students,” said Dr. Trey Berry, dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. “This research will give us ideas for what we can do at UAM to get our students involved in areas such as volunteering to work with civic organizations and getting involved in the political process.”

According to Berry, one of the outcomes of the research could include the creation of a center for civic engagement on the UAM campus.