In celebration of the Center for Service and Learning’s 25th Anniversary, stories were collected from twenty-five individuals who have been involved in the Center’s work throughout the years. Together these stories highlight CSL’s impact and demonstrate the value of unique perspectives, the involvement of diverse individuals, and the importance of authentic relationships.
Oral histories
Featured stories
Diane Arnold
Diane Arnold grew up in what is now called the Near West neighborhood and has lived there ever since. Her commitment to community runs deep. She served as the Executive Director of Hawthorne Community Center for 31 years and through this role, partnered with the IU Indianapolis (IUPUI at the time) Center for Service and Learning and many other units on campus to further the mission of Hawthorne and to meet her community’s needs.
Listen to her story
Joe Spaulding
Joe Spaulding was first exposed to community service in high school through his church involvement. He quickly became invested in making a difference. He continued his involvement throughout his college career at IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis). He was a scholar in the Sam H. Jones Community Service Scholarship program and was the co-founder of both Paw's Pantry and Paw's Garden.
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Starla Hart-Officer
Starla Hart-Officer is deeply committed to the community as is evidenced from her involvement throughout college and her career. Starla served as the Director of the Office of Neighborhood Partnerships. During that time she dedicated her energy to the Near West community, developing deep, meaningful relationships and mutually beneficial partnerships to collaboratively meet community identified needs. Among her many achievements was the re-opening of George Washington Community School.
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NiCole Keith
While working on a research project as a PhD student, NiCole Keith, saw first-hand the impact exercise can have on a person’s physical and mental health. She decided right then and there that that is what she wanted to do…“I want to help people make their lives better through physical activity and exercise.” And that’s exactly what she has done during her 15 year career at IU Indianapolis (formerly IUPUI). She was the second faculty member in her school to do service learning and the first one to actually send students out into the community.
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Bill Plater
During his time at IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis), William M. Plater led campus efforts to improve undergraduate retention, enhance the effective use of technology, develop IUPUI as a model for civic engagement, and increase research productivity as a part of the campus vision to become a leading urban research university. Administrators and faculty from across the country come regularly to IU Indianapolis to learn about its innovative programs in undergraduate education which Dr. Plater was instrumental in designing and developing.
Listen to his story