The Academic Service-Learning Faculty Award

Following the mission of St. John’s University and in the footsteps of St. Vincent de Paul, Marilyn Dono-Koulouris, Ed.D, Associate Professor, Staten Island Campus Discover New York (DNY) Program Coordinator, is the 2017 recipient of The Academic Service-Learning Faculty Award, awarded at the Faculty Convocation on August 29th on the Queens campus.

Dr. Dono-Koulouris is committed to making meaningful and authentic connections between St. John’s students’ service work and the learning objectives of the Discover New York course.  With her students, she has participated in academic service learning for many years working with sites such as Central Family Life, Public health projects with Healthy neighborhoods and in schools such as St. Clare’s. Her students reflect through written work and discussions in her Discover New York class.

This past semester, many of her students engaged in site visits and research for the Staten Island Urban Center Initiative: Rebuild Cromwell. This initiative supported a community recreational center that was destroyed during Hurricane Sandy. The students had the opportunity to be involved in research on other urban coastline planning in NYC boroughs, such as Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Additionally, students got to see first hand how the organization advocated for revival and lobbied for funding.

"Receiving this award was such an honor for me, but I have to thank the hard work and dedication by my students over the years," she said. Professor Dono-Koulouris’ work with various sites has significantly deepened university relationships with the community as the organizations are consistently pleased with their partnerships with Professor Dono-Koulouris. Additionally, Professor Dono-Koulouris has been an advocate for AS-L on the Staten Island Campus. She takes the time to volunteer to speak at AS-L events, serves on the AS-L Faculty Advisory Board, and is never afraid to give suggestions and brainstorm with AS-L administrators. Additionally, her newest partner, SI Urban Center, has developed into a university partner on a Grant proposal coming out of the Vice Provost’s office. Working with the Staten Island Urban center, Professor Dono-Koulouris’ students examined how the other New York communities have developed and how best practices can help the North Shore of Staten Island continue to grow and best serve the community.

Dr. Dono-Koulouris’s work with her students in and through the community through these projects has helped to expand our community partnerships on Staten Island.