Author: Dustin Grabsch

Categories
Office of General Education

Southern Methodist University achieves Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement

students doing service

Southern Methodist University is proud to announce that it has earned the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, a prestigious national designation recognizing commitment to community partnerships, civic engagement, and measurable public impact. This designation affirms SMU’s deep and sustained commitment to working collaboratively with local, regional, and global communities to generate knowledge, advance equitable outcomes, and contribute to the public good.

What Is the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement?

The Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement is administered by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Institutions voluntarily apply for this classification by submitting evidence of meaningful and sustained partnerships with communities that go beyond traditional service activities. The designation highlights:

  • Robust community-campus collaborations that are reciprocal and mutually beneficial;
  • Civic engagement embedded across curricula, co-curricula, research, and scholarship; and
  • Demonstrable impact, measured through community-defined outcomes as well as institutional assessment.

Earning this classification involves a rigorous self-study and documentation process that compels institutions to reflect on their engagement practices, structures, and outcomes. It is not an accreditation, but rather a national acknowledgement of excellence in community engagement that signals to partners, funders, prospective students, and peers that a university is a committed civic actor.

This achievement reflects the dedication and collaborative spirit of faculty, staff, students, and community partners across SMU. Special recognition goes to the Carnegie Elective Classification application committee, whose thoughtful work made this submission possible:

  • Belle Diaz, Engage Dallas Graduate Assistant, Residence Life and Student Housing, Division of Student Affairs
  • Dr. Wendelin Donahue, Director of Community Engagement, Media and Community Relations, Development and External Affairs
  • Dr. Dustin Grabsch, Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Engagement and Success, Office of the Provost
  • Dr. Toni Harrison-Kelly, Director of Recruitment, Retention, and Alumni Affairs, Office of the Dean, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
  • Dr. Dayna Oscherwitz, Associate Provost for Institutional Planning, Office of the Provost
  • Audryanna Reed, Associate Director of High-Impact Practices (former), Residence Life and Student Housing, Division of Student Affairs

In addition, we extend heartfelt thanks to all the community and campus partners who submitted data, shared narratives, and provided insights that strengthened our application. Your partnership and trust are foundational to SMU’s community engagement efforts.

What This Means for SMU’s Future

Achieving the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement is both a celebration and a call to action. It validates SMU’s existing work and positions the institution to deepen and expand engagement efforts in the years ahead. With this designation, SMU:

  • Reinforces its role as a place-based institution in Dallas and the broader region;
  • Enhances capacity for collaborative research that addresses community-identified needs; and
  • Strengthens educational experiences that prepare students for civic and professional leadership.

As SMU continues to foster innovative partnerships that generate measurable public impact, this recognition serves as a milestone marking how far we’ve come, and how much more there is to do together.

Categories
University Testing Center

Search for University Testing Center Testing Manager begins as Lori Krone announces retirement

Two SMU students working at a laptop

After 22 years of service to SMU, Lori Krone, testing manager of the University Testing Center (UTC), has announced her retirement effective June 30, 2026. The search for her successor is underway, with the position officially posted to the SMU Staff Career Portal today, December 1. The UTC aims to welcome a new testing manager by mid-March.Lori’s connection to SMU runs deep. She is not only an alum, having earned both her undergraduate degree and a Master of Liberal Studies,  but also a proud SMU parent and long-serving staff member. Her professional journey at SMU began in May 2004 as testing coordinator for Counseling Services at the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center before transitioning to testing manager for the UTC in June 2022.

She helped facilitate the opening of the center to provide accommodated testing services previously managed by the Disability Accommodations and Success Strategies (DASS) office, later expanding services to include early and makeup testing for student-athletes; credit-by-exam testing (CLEP) for select SMU courses; placement testing for Math, Chemistry, and Second Language courses; and fee-based proctoring for distance learners and professional licensure exams. In January 2025, Lori secured UTC’s recertification as a testing center through 2030 by the National College Testing Association (NCTA) in recognition of adherence to national testing standards and test integrity.

“I’m sincerely grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given, the unwavering support I’ve received and the lasting friendships I’ve formed.  I’m proud of my work with exceptional colleagues to lay a solid foundation for the UTC’s continued growth and impact on SMU students and our broader community,” Lori said.

Lori’s supervisor, Dustin Grabsch, shared the following on the announcement of her retirement: “Lori has led the University Testing Center with the kind of grace and good humor that makes you wonder if she secretly has superpowers, or at least an extra 10 hours in her day. Her work ethic is unmatched, her leadership steady and thoughtful, and her care for students absolutely unwavering. We’ll miss her deeply, but knowing Lori, she’s probably already color-coding her retirement plans with the same precision she brought to the UTC. Lori, thank you for shaping a center, and a community, built on integrity, compassion, and heart.”

The UTC Testing Manager plays a critical role in overseeing the center’s daily operations, including communications with students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders; test scheduling and administration; software and hardware systems; and electronic surveillance protocols.

Please see the job description in the SMU Staff Career Portal for more information, share it with your offices, and post it within your professional networks on or after December 1.

Deadline for submission: Sunday, January 4, 2026

Hiring Points of Contact:

Categories
Office of General Education

Celebrating Melina Padron and her next adventure

SMU Balloons on Dallas Lawn

Since joining the Office of General Education in July 2023 as Senior Advisor, Melina Padron has made a transformative impact on the undergraduate academic experience at SMU. With energy, vision, and a commitment to student success, Melina has led initiatives that strengthened support for students navigating the Common Curriculum and deepened our academic engagement culture across campus.

During her time with our office, Melina:

  • Rebooted the Peer Academic Leader (PALs) program, broadening its reach and improving training to ensure students received informed, peer-centered support within the Residential Commons.
  • Launched the Common Curriculum Reading Program, pairing students with curated readings to spark shared intellectual experiences and conversation.
  • Supported advisor and student adoption of Degree Planner, helping streamline pathways to degree progress and empowering students to take clear ownership of their academic journey.
  • Led several faculty working groups on the Texas Common Course Numbering System (TCCNS), resulting in clearer course alignment and improved credit transfer outcomes for transfer students.
  • Contributed to several research projects involving academic testing centers and testing irregularities, informing SMU practices for academic testing.

Melina also shared her work widely with the campus community through blog features and updates (which I know she loved!). Her posts often highlighted how thoughtful supervision, advising, and shared academic experiences enriched student belonging and success at SMU.

As Melina transitions out of the Office of General Education, we want to express our deep appreciation for her leadership, partnership, and care. Her last day in OGE will be November 28.

However, we are thrilled that Melina is not going far! She will be joining the Division of Student Affairs as the Assistant Director of Signature Academic Experiences in Residence Life and Student Housing, where she will continue to support meaningful, high-impact learning experiences for students—this time embedded directly in the heart of our residential communities.

Join Us in Celebrating Melina!

We invite colleagues, partners, and friends to a come-and-go reception honoring Melina:

Monday, December 1, 2025
Noon – 1:00 PM
Laura Lee Blanton 112

Please join us in congratulating Melina on her next adventure on the Hilltop! We are so grateful for the impact she has made and excited to see the work she will continue to lead at SMU.

Categories
Office of General Education

Last Chance! Registration closes Oct 24 for the Place-based Community Engagement Symposium

The 4th Annual Engage Dallas Place-Based Community Engagement Symposium is taking place on November 5–6, and we’d love for you to be there! Registration is free and open to all through the button below.

We can’t wait to gather with community leaders, educators, students, and neighbors from across DFW for two days of meaningful learning and engagement.

RSVP Today!

The RSVP deadline is October 24, 2025, so don’t miss this community-based professional development opportunity.

Categories
Office of General Education

Reminder: #1Day4Dallas Residential Commons Fall Day of Service scheduled for October 25

Come join the Office of General Education at Engage Dallas’ fall day of service called #1Day4Dallas. 

On Saturday, October 25th, 2025, Engage Dallas is hosting our 5th annual day of service, where students, faculty, and staff can serve alongside our community partners.

Students can earn 4 hours of direct service towards their Common Curriculum Community Engagement Proficiency and Experience graduation requirement. The day will also include meals, transportation, and giveaways!

Register here to join us for this fall day of service. Please share this opportunity with your students!

Categories
Student Academic Engagement & Success

Introducing the Common Curriculum Assessment Design Assistant

The Office of General Education is excited to promote a new resource developed by the Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness. We are excited to announce the launch of the Common Curriculum Assessment Design Assistant, a specially curated GPT designed to support SMU faculty and pre-approved activity supervisors.

This innovative tool helps instructors and pre-approved activity supervisors design thoughtful and appropriate assessment assignments that evaluate students’ attainment of the learning outcomes associated with specific Common Curriculum (CC) components. Whether you are developing a new assignment or refining an existing one, the Assistant provides practical, tailored support to ensure your assessments align with SMU’s Common Curriculum goals.

What the Assessment Design Assistant Can Do

  • Create New Assignments
    Generate fresh, outcome-aligned assessment ideas tailored to your CC component.

  • Evaluate Existing Assignments
    Review current assignments for alignment with student learning outcomes and receive suggestions for strengthening rigor, clarity, and relevance.

  • Refine and Adapt Assessments
    Get recommendations on how to better connect assignments to CC outcomes while also maintaining disciplinary integrity.

Key Benefits for Instructors and Supervisors

  • Time-Saving Support – Quickly draft or improve assessments without starting from scratch.

  • Alignment with Learning Outcomes – Ensure assignments directly measure student achievement of CC goals.

  • Practical Guidance – Receive concrete, discipline-sensitive suggestions for assignment design.

  • Flexible Use Cases – Helpful whether you are teaching a new course, refreshing an existing syllabus, updating co-curricular assessment and reflection prompts, or preparing for an upcoming CC assessment cycle.

  • Confidence in Compliance – Know your assessments support institutional effectiveness and accreditation requirements.

The Common Curriculum Assessment Design Assistant is one more way SMU is committed to supporting faculty and supervisors in creating meaningful learning experiences and ensuring students thrive in the Common Curriculum.

The Common Curriculum Assessment Design Assistant is now linked on the Common Curriculum’s Faculty and Staff resources page.

Categories
Office of General Education

Introducing our Keynote Speaker: 4th Annual Place Based Community Engagement Symposium

The 4th Annual Engage Dallas Place-Based Community Engagement Symposium is taking place on November 5–6, and we’d love for you to be there! Registration is free and open to all through the button below.

This year’s keynote address will invite us to reflect deeply on how place-based engagement can bridge divides and foster meaningful belonging within the community. Our keynote speaker, Krista Nightengale, brings a wealth of experience in journalism, non-profit management, and community building. Krista will challenge us to think about what it truly means to thrive together.

Alongside thought-provoking talks, you’ll also have the chance to experience connection firsthand. Day two of the symposium will feature an interactive activity, presented by ArtStillery. Believing that audiences should be more than spectators, ArtStillery breaks the fourth wall to create an experiential performance style that fosters immersive theater. Be prepared to be immersed at this year’s symposium.

We can’t wait to gather with community leaders, educators, students, and neighbors from across DFW for two days of meaningful learning and engagement.

RSVP Today!

Introducing, Krista Nightengale

Krista Nightengale began her career in journalism when she stumbled into the fascinating world of urban design. She discovered the Better Block Foundation, an international, urban design nonprofit that educates, equips, and empowers communities and their leaders to reshape and reactivate built environments to promote the growth of healthy and vibrant neighborhoods. In her nearly 10 years at the Better Block, Krista has worked with neighbors in more than 100 cities to rethink streets, turn parking lots to plazas, and identify the barriers keeping communities from enjoying their public spaces. The work has resulted in economic development, calmed streets, and has lowered crime rates. But most importantly, it brings neighbors together. Krista has built hundreds of digitally fabricated benches, kiosks, and survey stands. She uses social media to educate around placemaking and transportation, and she’s a pretty adequate drone operator (as long as there’s no wind).

Krista was most recently on the Dallas City Plan and Zoning Commission, the Dallas Comprehensive Land Use Committee, past-president of the Dallas Architecture and Design Exchange board, former AIA Dallas Board Member, former member of the Dallas Commission on Homelessness, and a graduate of Leadership Texas.

Be Immersed with Artstillery

Artstillery is a multidisciplinary arts & social justice organization that uplifts marginalized voices by working alongside community members to shape their narratives into original immersive productions.

Founded in 2016, Artstillery creates performances centered around issues of racial, cultural, and social injustice. Sometimes a story needs a storyteller, but that starts with listening. Our process begins with research using a combination of community outreach and interviews. We combine these stories with an interdisciplinary artistic approach that creates a ‘total theatre’ experience. Artstillery’s goal is to give a voice to people who feel they have none.

Categories
Office of General Education Student Academic Engagement & Success

#1Day4Dallas Residential Commons Fall Day of Service scheduled for October 25

Come join the Office of General Education at Engage Dallas’ fall day of service called #1Day4Dallas. 

On Saturday, October 25th, 2025, Engage Dallas is hosting our 5th annual day of service, where students, faculty, and staff can serve alongside our community partners.

Students can earn 4 hours of direct service towards their Common Curriculum Community Engagement Proficiency and Experience graduation requirement. The day will also include meals, transportation, and giveaways!

Register here to join us for this fall day of service.

Categories
Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies Office of General Education Student Academic Engagement & Success Student Success & Retention University Testing Center

Undergraduate Education and Academic Success publishes 2024-2025 Annual Report: On the Move!

Undergraduate Education and Academic Success is an area within the Office of the Provost’s Division of Student Academic Engagement and Success, which oversees a wide range of academic support and engagement offices, including:

The annual report showcases how UEAS is “On the Move!” with bold, integrated, and optimistic progress. A copy of the annual report is now available for download. Take a look at how our movement is impacting SMU.

Questions, comments, and feedback can be directed to Dr. Dustin Grabsch (dgrabsch@smu.edu).

Categories
Student Academic Engagement & Success University Advising Center

Welcoming Brandi Primm as Our New SAES Degree Counselor

We are excited to announce that Brandi Primm transitioned to the Division of Student Academic Engagement and Success (SAES) as our new Degree Counselor on June 2.

Brandi brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to student support. Most recently, Brandi has been serving as an Academic Advisor at SMU, and she brings more than two decades of experience as a counselor and educator in both K–12 and higher education settings. Her background includes extensive work with early college high school programs, student support services, and academic advising. Brandi holds a Master of Science in School Counseling from Texas A&M Commerce and a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Stephen F. Austin State University.

In her new role, Brandi will serve as a key academic resource for both pre-major students and declared majors in the Simmons School of Education and Human Development. She will be responsible for maintaining student academic records, assisting with degree certification, evaluating transfer work, and supporting students and advisors through the completion of general education requirements and timely graduation. The SAES Degree Counselor plays a critical role in ensuring a smooth and successful academic journey for our students, and we are thrilled to welcome Brandi into this important position.

Please join us in congratulating and welcoming Brandi Primm to her new role!