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UTEP Names Two Faculty Fellows to Strengthen University’s Vision of Community Engagement

Last Updated on September 25, 2018 at 12:00 AM

Originally published September 25, 2018

By UC Staff

UTEP Communications

The Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at The University of Texas at El Paso has named Elena Izquierdo, Ph.D., associate professor of bilingual education, as UTEP’s 2018-19 Faculty Fellow for the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE). Izquierdo will be joining Mark Lusk, Ed.D., MSW, professor of social work, who will serve as a faculty fellow for an additional academic year.

The Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at The University of Texas at El Paso has named Elena Izquierdo, Ph.D., associate professor of bilingual education (right), as UTEP’s 2018-19 Faculty Fellow for the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE). Izquierdo joins Mark Lusk, Ed.D., professor of social work (center), who will serve as a faculty fellow for an additional academic year. CCE Director Azuri Gonzalez is pictured with them. Photo: J.R. Hernandez / UTEP Communications
The Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at The University of Texas at El Paso has named Elena Izquierdo, Ph.D., associate professor of bilingual education (right), as UTEP’s 2018-19 Faculty Fellow for the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE). Izquierdo joins Mark Lusk, Ed.D., professor of social work (center), who will serve as a faculty fellow for an additional academic year. CCE Director Azuri Gonzalez is pictured with them. Photo: J.R. Hernandez / UTEP Communications

CCE connects students and faculty with community organizations through community-based teaching and learning opportunities. It seeks to enrich student education and support faculty community-engaged scholarship by focusing University resources on the needs of the region and developing mutually beneficial partnerships. The center also works with faculty to develop community-engaged scholarship in partnership with local agencies and nonprofit organizations.

Izquierdo and Lusk bring rich experiences that have led to successful solutions for the community. As faculty fellows, they will continue to demonstrate awareness of the significance of engaged research and practice, and how to integrate it into various fields.

“Faculty fellows bring a wealth of experience to help the University facilitate its community engagement goals,” said UTEP Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Carol Parker. “As successful community-engaged scholars, they provide our faculty – campuswide – with mentorship and insight on how to administer or integrate community engagement into their own research and curriculum. Fellows also contribute a faculty perspective to the offices they work with. Together with the CCE, Izquierdo and Lusk will also work closely with University program directors to increase student-learning experiences, enhance faculty community-engaged scholarship and contribute to the University’s mission.” 

“I’d like to thank Dr. Amy Wagler who finished her two-year fellowship and did an excellent job at bridging community engagement with undergraduate research efforts,” said Azuri Gonzalez, director of the Center for Civic Engagement. “I am looking forward to working with Dr. Izquierdo. She regularly works with school districts to improve dual language programming and address education issues in our community. She is a model community-engaged scholar who has demonstrated the integration of research, teaching and service in truly remarkable and impactful ways.”

Lusk has an extensive background in conducting community-based participatory research. He has collaborated with Family Service of El Paso to study depression and trauma among Mexican refugees, and most recently earned a grant to examine protective factors that mitigate the trauma experienced by migrants who have fled violence and adversity in Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.