Edit:  Effective March 11, 2020, all Brown University-sponsored, in-person direct service community engagement has been suspended. In addition, multiple Swearer Center events have been canceled or postponed. A full list of event and program changes can be found online here. These decisions have been made in the interest of protecting the health and well-being of our multiple communities. We are grateful to the many students who proposed presentations, panel discussions, and other ways to share their own engaged scholarship in meaningful ways. 

For the first time, on April 7, 2020, the Swearer Center will host Engaged Scholarship Day, which will take place at Brown University’s Alumnae Hall. This day-long series of events will highlight the intellectual pursuits of Brown University students in collaboration with faculty, community partners, and staff, grounded in deep community engagement towards a public purpose. 

“Ethical and engaged scholarship is a key component of the Swearer Center’s mission, as well as a pillar of a Brown University education. We’ve created Engaged Scholarship Day to recognize and celebrate the myriad ways this interdisciplinary work presents not only through the many initiatives of the Swearer Center, but also across the entire Brown community,” said Mathew Johnson, associate dean of engaged scholarship and executive director of the Swearer Center. “Our hope is that when students, faculty, and community members have the opportunity to see and hear more about this collaborative form of scholarship, they will see opportunities for themselves to participate in new ways and integrate engaged scholarship into the work they are already doing.”

The Swearer Center is asking for presentation proposals from any undergraduate or graduate student with a Brown affiliation; presentations could include individuals, groups, or be conducted in partnership with a faculty member or community partner. Prior affiliation with the Swearer Center is not required. Some of the anticipated formats include poster presentations, lightning presentations (short talks that last no more than 5 minutes and include 10-15 slides to highlight a project), panel presentations, roundtable discussions, hands-on workshop presentations, and facilitated interviews. Proposals will be accepted until February 28, 2020.

“Engaged scholarship is a collaborative and often interdisciplinary endeavor, with people based in academic institutions and communities generating knowledge together and addressing issues of common concern," said Julie Plaut, director of faculty engagement and research at the Swearer Center. “We want to highlight the ways in which this work is happening throughout Brown and the Providence community – and to create a space for people to connect and reflect on that work.”

Extending the celebration of work into the lunchtime plenary session, the Swearer Center will recognize students’ achievements and outstanding contributions to the Swearer Center’s mission with a series of graduate and undergraduate student awards. The ceremony will highlight those who have taken on leadership roles and done exceptional work through and for the Swearer Center. Nominations will be accepted until February 28, 2020.