In a liberal arts context, we believe citizenship and scholarship are inextricably connected. This certificate program uses an intentionally interdisciplinary lens to make sense of social issues, and weaves applied scholarship, meaningful service, and collaborative leadership together to advance the well-being of communities near and far.

Why study Civic and Global Leadership at Sewanee?

The Civic and Global Leadership Certificate at Sewanee offers two tracks: development and human capabilities; and community and global health. Courses in the development and human capabilities track expose you to topics such as the intersection of poverty and environmental protection, community mobilization, political institutions, and policies shaping poverty eradication. In the community and global health track, you learn about the nature and significance of health care to human life and social development. You also learn about the effects of health on the human condition and debates over how citizens get access to health care.

Good Neighbors

By Tom Sanders

Sewanee’s flourishing civic engagement program reaches beyond the Domain to prove that a crucial part of preparing students for success is giving them opportunities to interact meaningfully with the communities and people around them.

Like many good Southerners, Kelsey Arbuckle, C’19, is a talented storyteller, often adopting a self-deprecating tone. Take the time she got in trouble at Camp Discover, an after-school enrichment program that helps build resilience in at-risk children by helping them learn how to tell their own stories through words and photography. It was Columbus Day, and Arbuckle showed up for time with the children. “They love me,” she says. “They think I’m funny. So I said, ‘Do you know why we celebrate Columbus Day?’ They didn’t, so I said, ‘Well, gather round, kids! (Two beats ... ) We stole all this land from the people who lived here, and Columbus was the first one to do it!’” (Two more beats … ) 

“They told me I couldn’t say that to the children anymore.”

 

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A Sampling of Courses

Introduction to Civic and Global Leadership
Civic & Global Leadership

An interdisciplinary examination of the theoretical and analytical tools essential for an understanding of civic engagement and leadership. Topics focus on typical problems faced in the context of community change, including, but not limited to, framing social issues; qualitative and quantitative field research methods; socioeconomic, cultural, political, and global structures underlying poverty; the social change model of leadership development; human capabilities perspective; and cross-cultural communication.

CIVC 200
The Politics of Development and Foreign Aid
Politics

An introduction to the major political, social, historic, and economic reasons for development and underdevelopment in the Global South. This course explores the theoretical approaches of neoliberalism, dependency, human capabilities, and post-development, as well as topics such as gender, globalization, non-governmental organizations, sustainability, and foreign aid policies. International, national, and local institutions and actors involved with development processes are investigated, as well as questions of power, representation, and accountability in both donor and developing states.

POLS 280
Health Psychology
Psychology

This course examines psychological issues surrounding physical health and medical care. Theories from personality and social psychology are applied to topics such as stress-related diseases, exercise adherence, coping with illness, interpersonal relationships and health, doctor-patient interactions, dying, and the hospital environment.

PSYC 227
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Civic & Global Leadership

Programs of Study

Students select one of two certificate tracks Civic & Global Leadership:

Meet some professors

Deborah A. McGrath
dmcgrath@sewanee.edu

Deborah McGrath earned a B.A. at the University of Wisconsin and an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Florida. Her specialties include ecosystem and plant physiological ecology, biogeochemistry of land use, and environmental health. Professor McGrath studies pharmaceuticals in treated wastewater and watershed streams, the effects of exurban development on water quality, and the impact of land-use change and plant invasion on ecosystem nutrient dynamics.

Professor of Biology
S. Katherine Nelson-Coffey
sknelson@sewanee.edu

Katie Nelson-Coffey has taught at Sewanee since 2015. She earned a B.S. in psychology from the University of Mary Washington and an M.A. and Ph.D. in personality/social psychology from the University of California, Riverside. In her research, she uses multiple methodologies (longitudinal, experimental, daily experience) to study how and why close relationships influence well-being. Specifically, she is interested in understanding how giving and receiving care in close relationships is related to positive emotions, happiness, and meaning in life. Professor Nelson-Coffey enjoys engaging students’ research interests and invites student collaborators with interests in personality, health, and well-being. For more information about her research and information on joining her lab, please visit www.katherinenelsoncoffey.com.

Assistant Professor of Psychology
Richard Allan O'Connor
roconnor@sewanee.edu

Richard O’Connor graduated from William & Mary and earned M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Cornell. His research began with fieldwork in Bangkok, expanded to Southeast Asia, and for the last decade has focused on anorexia as well as breastfeeding in the United States and Canada. As a teacher, he enjoys connecting anthropology to students’ everyday experiences.

Biehl Professor of International Studies, Chair of Anthropology
Greg Pond
gpond@sewanee.edu

Greg Pond teaches upper division courses in sculpture, intermedia, and film production. He is an artist, teacher, and researcher working at the intersection of art and digital technologies to make sculpture, video, images, sound, and software. Professor Pond has screened, presented, and exhibited his work at venues in Nashville, Memphis, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, Austin, Cairo, Basel, Kingston, and Galway.

Contact

Jim Peterman
Professor of Philosophy and Director of Civic Engagement

jfpeterm@sewanee.edu

Bishop's Common 201, Ext. 1482

You might be interested in

Civic Engagement
Where purpose meets service

Collaborate and learn with your campus and community. Learn while doing, explore careers, and invest in the people around you. The Office of Civic Engagement facilitates partnerships between campus and community members to develop the relationships, knowledge, and skills that improve our common life across the South Cumberland Plateau.

Get Involved
Students
Chart your civic engagement pathway at Sewanee

We envision students as active global citizens advancing economic, social, and environmental well-being. Develop the knowledge and skills to become a changemaker in the local community and beyond.

PATHWAYS
Visit Sewanee
Welcome to the Domain

A visit to the Domain (it's what we call our 13,000-acre campus) is the best way to determine if Sewanee is a good fit for you. Once you set foot on campus, spend time with our students and professors, or take a stroll through Abbo's Alley, we are confident that Sewanee will find its way into your heart.

Come see us