https://nccampusengagement.org/engaged-faculty-scholars
On July 1, Dr. Alyx Beckwith, of NC Central University, and Dr. Rhonda Jones, of UNC Greensboro, began their term as Engaged Faculty Scholars. Two faculty or administrators from the North Carolina Campus Engagement (NCCE) network are selected annually for this prestigious statewide role. This is the second time NCCE has selected an NC Central faculty member since the program began in 2015. Dr. Kristi Vincent Johnson, Director of Dance and Assistant Director of Dance, participated in the 2021-22 cohort.
Engaged Faculty Scholars receive support from NCCE and their institution to carry out a self-designed project that advances and deepens community engagement and/or the scholarship of engagement at their institution. They will also serve as a mentor to one faculty member or administrator in the NCCE network of campuses to support their efforts to advance service-learning and community engagement.
Dr. Beckwith is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Higher Education at NC Central University. Through her Engaged Faculty Scholars project “Building Counselor Competence and Community Partnerships to Face a Mental Health Crisis,” Dr. Beckwith will design and implement a service-learning course component for the Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling course, which is an asynchronous online class required of masters students in clinical mental health counseling. As part of the service-learning requirement, students may choose to volunteer with the National Alliance on Mental Illness's Helpline, assist NCCU's Eagle Counseling, Consultation, and Research Clinic with outreach efforts in Durham and across North Carolina, volunteer with the Licensed Clinical Counselors of NC related to counselor advocacy work, or become trained in Stress First Aid for community wellness support.
Beckwith, a licensed clinical mental health counselor supervisor and a counselor educator, focuses on preparing mental health counselors to practice multicultural and social justice counseling, increase equitable access to services, and cultivate fulfilling and enriching careers, as they enter a dynamic, rapidly shifting, and under-resourced field. Dr. Beckwith's research interests include social justice in counseling, parental wellness, and community-based counselor education clinics.
She received her Ph.D. in Counseling and Counseling Education from North Carolina State University and her Master of Education in Psychological Counseling from Teachers College at Columbia University.
Engaged Faculty Scholars receive a stipend and additional funds for professional development. The scholar’s institution is encouraged to provide a monetary match, course release, or other resources.
North Carolina Campus Engagement is a collaborative network of 38 colleges and universities committed to educating students for civic and social responsibility, partnering with communities for positive change, and strengthening democracy.
