Assistant Professor of Biology Jen Uno's vision for the Civic Engagement Scholars program prompted the Council on Civic Engagement to select her for the leadership role.
As the new director of the Civic Engagement Scholars program, Jen Uno, assistant professor of biology, will continue her STEM-focused civic engagement work and expand to new students outside of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines.
Uno has been at Elon since 2009 and was recently promoted to associate professor of biology. She earned her Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Arizona and was a SPIRE Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has been an active participant in service-learning and community outreach during her time at Elon.
The Civic Engagement Scholars program educates, prepares and inspires students to become agents of change in their communities and in society. Scholars acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to become engaged, active citizens throughout their lives. Building on academic study, service-learning, community based research, and critical analysis of social issues, the scholars link knowledge and social action to address unmet human needs in collaboration with the local community.
Alexa Darby, associate professor of psychology, is currently serving as director of the Civic Engagement Scholars program and will assume the role of Faculty Fellow for Service Learning in the fall.