Meet the New O&E Community Engagement Assistants

Emma and Stevie will be assisting the Office of Outreach and Engagement to enter faculty and staff activities into Collaboratory, a web-based tool designed to build connections and help universities understand the landscape of their engagement.

Emma Dare Barnhill

  • College/Department: I am in the second year of my studies as an M. Ed. Student in the Department of Education, College Counseling and Student Development.
  • Education Interests: I am interested in studying the systemic structures within universities that influence the quality of education and experience for marginalized populations. Specifically, I am seeking to use the counseling skills I’m learning in my M. Ed. program to help identify populations who may benefit from preemptive social and educational programs that foster inclusion and promote cultural diversity within traditionally homogenous universities. I also am fascinated by the impact of trauma on the physical body and how generational and systemic trauma influence society on a larger scale.
  • Why are you interested in engagement? Or, why do you think university engagement is important? Engagement is key to fostering inclusion, diversity, and collaboration; all of which are central values at NC State. The multitude of opportunities for engagement enables any faculty member or student to find a way to contribute meaningfully to their community and to the greater good. I am thrilled to be a part of the Collaboratory project which will help connect individuals who share similar interests and goals in their engagement work.
  • What’s your favorite place to visit in NC? North Carolina is such a beautiful state and I feel lucky to live relatively close to the ocean and to the mountains, as both make for wonderful getaways. Although I love the Outer Banks, my favorite vacation spot is Blowing Rock, NC. I love the calm atmosphere, scenic views on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the variety of outdoor activities available there. Hiking and river tubing are two of my favorites, and I enjoy their annual “Art in the Park” festival as well.

 

Stevie Kimmet

  • College/Department: I’m in CHASS, in the Sociology Department.
  • Education Interests: I study racism and anti-racism in K-12 education settings and am interested in addressing racial inequities in public school settings.
  • Why are you interested in engagement? Or, why do you think university engagement is important? For me, university engagement provides myriad opportunities for healthy feedback loops between higher education and broader communities. I love when community-informed research contributes to best practices that, in turn, enhance academia’s understanding of real-world problems.
  • What’s your favorite place to visit in NC? Although I’m newer to NC, my favorite place to visit thus far has been Asheville and the mountains!