2014 Civic Engagement Professional of the Year
Emerging Leader
Joe Blosser – High Point University
As the Robert G. Culp Jr. Director of Service Learning and Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy, JOSEPH D. BLOSSER, develops strategic partnerships between High Point University (HPU) and the community to create curricular opportunities for students and community members to serve and learn together. Since stepping into the new Director position in 2011, Dr. Blosser has worked tirelessly to develop a sustainable program of engaged learning establishing student and faculty workshops, a lecture series, a recognition banquet, a service learning showcase, student and faculty community research awards, student service and leadership awards, social entrepreneurship projects, and applied ethics seminars. He has also created a comprehensive website and a rigorous impact assessment plan to support service learning.
Dr. Blosser secured funding to create Faculty Course Development Grants. Faculty receive a $2,000 competitive grant to prepare a new “SL” designated course, participate in three workshops, undergo an assessment of the course, and volunteer at least 10 hours alongside the students in the class. The goal is to develop the competency of at least 20% of HPU faculty to teach service learning courses. In fall 2013, 105 students were in eight courses, compared to 65 students in only three courses in fall 2011.
Dr. Blosser led the charge for HPU to create a Bonner Leader Program that allows low-income and minority students to promote social justice through an intern-like experience with local non-profit and community-based organizations. Launched in fall 2013, students make a four year commitment to 5-7 hours of direct community service each week, over 200 hours each academic year, and receive federal work study and other university benefits.
Dr. Blosser has secured over $110,000 in funding to support the Service Learning Program including a $50,000 Think BIG Award in which he was a principle author and investigator to conduct the Democracy USA Project, an interdisciplinary and experiential learning project, involving over 20 faculty and 300 students researching the presidential elections. He co-authored an article about the initiative for the Mid-West Political Science Association. Also in print is his article Beyond Moral Development: Re-Theorizing Ethical Practices in Service Learning.
Joe brought to HPU an NC Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA who is strengthening HPU’s relationship with West End Ministries, helping develop the Bonner Program, and building the MLK Day of Service which in 2014 mobilized 400 volunteers who served 1690 hours at 13 different community sites. In addition to serving on numerous university councils and committees including the Provost’s Council and the Quality Enhancement Plan committee, Joe is active in the local community as a member of Achieve Guilford and the Grants Committee for the High Point Community Foundation.
He earned a Ph.D. in religious ethics from the University of Chicago and describes his teaching and research as an intersection of ethics, civic engagement, Christian theology, and the US economic context. A nominator shared: “At the end of the day, our lives ought to transcend beyond success to significance, beyond earning to serving, beyond caring to sharing. That is exactly what Dr. Blosser teaches at HPU.”