Center for Civic and Social Responsibility announces new Faculty Fellow

LAWRENCE – The Center for Civic and Social Responsibility has announced Shannon Criss, associate professor of architecture in the School of Architecture, Design and Planning, as the new Service Learning Faculty Fellow. As Faculty Fellow, Criss will serve a two-year term and work with the CCSR staff and the CCSR Faculty Advisory Board on programming and new initiatives.

The Service Learning Faculty Fellows program specifies three goals: to support Faculty Fellows in their own professional growth; to make the service learning knowledge and expertise that Faculty Fellows possess available to all KU faculty members; and to broaden the understanding of service learning pedagogy within the KU teaching and learning community.

“Shannon brings excellent service learning experience to share with the KU teaching community," said Andi Witczak, director of CCSR. "She believes deeply in the value of the pedagogy, and the projects her students pursue explore how a discipline, and therefore, a responsible practitioner, serves the common good."

Criss is happy to join the CCSR team and contribute to the meaningful work that is service learning. “I am motivated by the concept of ‘service learning’ as it suggests that there is something to be learned by serving others — in effect, we expand the community and value the opportunity to learn from without,” Criss said.  “I see this as a positive and strengthened definition of education, and I am pleased to serve as the CCSR Faculty Fellow to help extend the conversation.”

Shannon Criss came to KU in 2001 from Mississippi State University. Her research works to catalyze means and resources in order to create an architecture that serves the greater good. She has been involved in a variety of service-learning projects, including the development and direction of the Carl Small Town Center, a nonprofit at Mississippi State University, promoting good design and planning for small towns.