2016 2016: Professor Morgan James Peters (aka, Mwalim) receives civic leadership award at annual Civic Engagement Summit

UMass Dartmouth shines spotlight on faculty commitment to civic engagement

UMass Dartmouth recognized Associate Professor of English and Black Studies and Director of the University’s Black Studies Morgan James Peters (aka, Mwalim) during the Dr. Robert Lawrence Civic Engagement Summit held earlier this month at the University’s Woodland Commons. Professor Peters (aka, Mwalim) received the Faculty Civic Leadership Award. 

The Faculty Civic Leadership Award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to civic engagement.  Professor Peters was nominated for demonstrating success in creating active learning opportunities that benefit both university students and the community.

Morgan James Peters (a.k.a., Mwalim) joined the UMass Dartmouth faculty in 2003 after a lengthy career in the theater, film, television and as a performing artist, writer, filmmaker and master teacher of genres spanning theater, spoken-word, music, journalism, film, television, and video, as well as the academic disciplines of musicology and folklore/ oral traditions. This month, in celebration of National Poetry Month, Professor Peters organized the Reading Stage Series, which included two evenings of staged readings of new one-act plays, written and directed by UMass Dartmouth students. Each of the two evenings presented five new plays, written as final projects for the Advanced Playwriting class offered by the English Department and taught by Professor Peters.

Professor Peters received a $500 award to be given to a community-based organization or cause of his choosing.

The Dr. Robert Lawrence Civic Engagement Summit brought together the University community and members of the SouthCoast civic and business community for a discussion on race, religion, and service-building bridges that empower and strengthen our communities. The University welcomed two distinguished keynote speakers for this year’s Summit: University of Notre Dame Packey J. Dee Professor of American Democracy David Campbell, Ph.D. and Director for the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Education Reverend Brenda Girton-Mitchell J.D..

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching selected UMass Dartmouth to receive the 2015 Community Engagement Classification, recognizing the University's commitment to serving the SouthCoast and the Commonwealth. UMass Dartmouth was recognized as among the national Top 20 in community service. This nationwide designation is part of the 2014 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, and recognizes UMass Dartmouth and its students for their commitment to service-learning and volunteer service.