"[Service-learning] gives students the freedom to explore openly with hands on in a career of interest. For example, I volunteered in several elementary, middle school and also high school. Once I explored all these grades I realized that I liked working with adults. So I concentrated in getting degrees that would be socially inclined and help communities in creative ways."
Dr. Elizabeth Galvez-Hard, "Dr. Ellie" is a service-learning professor in the Early Childhood Studies department as well as the Literacy Studies and Elementary Education department at Sonoma State University. She has been teaching at SSU since 1996. Her class entitled Education 295: Community Involvement Program, has been in her teaching calendar for about 20 years. Dr. Ellie wears many hats at Sonoma State, she's on the California Faculty Association (CFA) at Sonoma State's executive board as the lecture representative. I was fortunate enough work closely with Dr. Ellie while I served as the CFA student organizing intern. I also took a course taught by Dr. Ellie last semester so I was able to personally experience her inspirational work.
Dr. Ellie is the definition of hard-working. She came to the US from Chile right after high school. She learned English while also raising a family. Her undergrad degree took her about 8 years. She explained, "this is about the length that takes to master a second language." She then attended about 4 different junior colleges, including Chemeketa Community College in Oregon, Pasadena City College, Monterey Peninsula and graduated from West Hills College in Fresno.
She earned her BA and MA at Humboldt State University and her Doctorate at the University of San Francisco in the International Multicultural Program. It was at one of the junior colleges she attended that she first took a service-learning course. "It was so rewarding, as I could choose my own interest and serve in a community of my choice. I could create my own ideas and curriculum and this sparked my desire to teach older students."
Her Community Involvement Program course is designed to allow students to plan and implement a service project with a local community partner. The students must spend a few hours a week serving their organization and then once a week the class meets in the classroom to discuss and reflect on their service.
When asked about a service-learning project that stood out to her, Dr. Ellie couldn't choose, "it is hard to choose a favorite, as my students always come up with very creative ways to serve their community. I had one who volunteered at the Boys & Girls Club. She was studying to become a teacher, but then she realized she loved this club. She is today a director of one of the clubs." She said that her students perform a variety of projects for different populations, some work with the elderly, teaching and supporting their aging lives, giving them great motivation and purpose.
Others have been activists that create citizenship workshop for people to become legal citizens. Most of her students like to volunteer in the grade levels that they think may like and service-learning classed prepare them to become Early Education majors with certainty. Emilio Olivares-Reyes, a service-learning student was truly inspired by Dr. Ellie's course, "Overall Dr. Ellie's class was an eye-opening experience. Her class and curriculum were democratically structured meaning all her students had a voice. In her class, we were all teachers to each other as well as students. She helped me break my shell and gave me the inspiration to continue my education after SSU. Dr. Ellie has a big heart but she is strong and she won't be stepped on!"
She explained that her students have responded very well, "I think most of my students like service-learning. My role as their facilitator is to support their ideas and efforts. Many take my Community Involvement Program service-learning class up to four semesters and can truly make a difference in their communities of choice." Her students have also become more involved with not only the Sonoma County community, but the Sonoma State community. "The SSU Multicultural Club was created by students in this class. As a club we do things in the community like volunteering at events, putting on a Day of the Dead event, and more!"
Dr. Ellie's efforts in service-learning at Sonoma State have advanced students into well-rounded members of society who want to improve and work for the common good. Her background story is one many students can relate to. She loves her job and the role model she's become to her students, "it is very rewarding as I see students create their own goals and get credit for something they like doing. Many of my students become long term friends and I get to mentor them."