Molly Han named as Spring 2025 Service-Learning Instructional Mini-Grant Recipient

Fri, 04/18/2025

Kate Kemper

LAWRENCE — Service-Learning Instructional Mini-Grants encourage and support instructors in engaging undergraduate students with the broader community through service learning by integrating community-based experiences and learning as part of the course curriculum.

This spring, the Center for Service Learning has recognized graduate teaching assistant and doctoral candidate Molly Han, communication studies, with a mini-grant for COMS 342: Problem-Solving in Teams and Groups.

COMS 342 focuses on enhancing problem-solving skills within small group settings, and the service-learning component emphasizes the real-world applications of effective communication, conflict resolution and effective decision-making. This semester, COMS 342 students are collaborating in small groups with six different partner organizations:

Learn more about each specific project and partner by watching Molly’s 2025 CSL Service Showcase video.

screenshot of the #DooGood Project slide from Molly's Service Showcase presentation. Contents include a summary of how projects operate and the final product provided to community partners.

Prior to the start of the semester, Han consulted each organization to understand their needs and goals and has since guided the students through the three phases of their projects. As the semester comes to a close, Han will assess projects through community partner feedback and evaluations, student reflections and peer evaluations.

“This mini-grant supports my students in developing communication strategies that address the unique needs of community partners. These hands-on experiences not only reflect the real-world application of our coursework but also demonstrate how communication solutions can create sustainable and community-centered impact,” Han said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to mentor students through the process and watch their work build confidence and civic engagement skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom. Their work also aligns closely with my research on communication and community engagement, allowing me to bridge scholarship and practice in meaningful ways.”

Service-Learning Instructional Mini-Grants encourage and support instructors in engaging undergraduate students with the broader community through service learning by integrating community-based experiences and learning as part of the course curriculum. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

The Center for Service Learning collaborates with community and campus partners to develop students into engaged global citizens through experiential learning and civic engagement.