About Us - Center for Community Engagement
Suffolk's Center for Community Engagement (previously S.O.U.L.S.) was founded in 1997 to engage the Suffolk University community in meaningful service work.
Through transformational experiential learning opportunities and mutually beneficial partnerships, the Center for Community Engagement aims to cultivate and inspire the Suffolk community with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to be active and globally responsible citizens prepared to address social issues locally and beyond.
We develop programs that:
- integrate practical experience in the community with classroom learning
- help students gain a deeper, hands-on understanding of social justice issues
- help students establish an ethic of service, achieve personal growth, and develop their leadership skills
- express and promote the value and acceptance of diversity in our communities
- are based in mutually beneficial partnerships and reciprocity
Meet Our Staff
- Adam Westbrook, Director
- Yvette Velez, Associate Director, Community Partnerships
- Dennis Harkins, Assistant Director
- Cortney Holmes, Administrative Coordinator
- Dadrian Bernard, Alternative Break Programs Graduate Fellow
- Leila Ndiaye, Service-Learning and Community Partnerships Graduate Fellow
- Jessica Mejia, Suffolk Votes Graduate Fellow
- Ben Flanders, Service After Hours Service Scholar
- Luz Pimentel, Community Partnerships Service Scholar
- Elizabeth Finn, Suffolk Votes Service Scholar
Honors and Awards
Suffolk University is recognized as a leader among institutions of higher education for engaging its students, faculty and staff in meaningful community service opportunities.
- The Carnegie Foundation Community Engagement Classification
The Carnegie Community selected Suffolk University for its 2010 Community Engagement Classification, and again in the 2020 Re-Classification process. This honor recognizes higher education institutions that partner with their larger community for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources. These partnerships address community-identified needs, enhance community well-being, and enrich scholarship. Learn more about the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. - All-in Campus Democracy Challenge
Suffolk University has received the Silver seal by the All-In Campus Democracy Challenge for our voter registration and engagement efforts in 2016 and 2018. In 2020, Suffolk was named one of top 150 Best Colleges for Student Voting by Washington Monthly Magazine. For more on student voter engagement, see Suffolk Votes . - The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll
The University was named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the fourth straight year. This honor recognized institutions of higher education that encourage and support community service. Selection was based on a series of factors including scope and innovation of service projects, and the extent of service learning course offerings.