November 17, 2026 – PHENND https://phennd.org We are a network of over 20 colleges and universities that strengthens service learning in Philadelphia, connecting academics with community involvement. Tue, 10 Nov 2026 22:10:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 Rita Axelroth Hodges, Associate Director of the Netter Center for Community Partnerships, Receives 2026 Barbara A. Holland Scholar-Administrator Award https://phennd.org/update/rita-axelroth-hodges-associate-director-of-the-netter-center-for-community-partnerships-receives-2026-barbara-a-holland-scholar-administrator-award/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 22:10:47 +0000 https://phennd.org/?post_type=update&p=88910 The Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) is pleased to announce that Rita Axelroth Hodges, EdD has been awarded the 2026 Barbara A. Holland Scholar-Administrator Award. Dr. Hodges serves as associate director of the Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania, a university-wide center that develops and helps implement democratic, mutually transformative, place-based partnerships between Penn and West Philadelphia.

“Dr. Hodges embodies what the Holland Award was created to honor. I still remember reading the book she co-authored, The Road Half Traveled, and how it introduced me to anchor institution work. That is the kind of influence Rita’s scholarship has had across our field. She doesn’t just study how universities can be partners in building stronger communities, she helps institutions actually do it,” said Valerie Holton, CEO of CUMU.

From her early work as a researcher and consultant examining university-community engagement to her current role as Associate Director of the Netter Center and Executive Secretary of the International Consortium for Higher Education, Civic Responsibility, and Democracy, Dr. Hodges has pursued a career dedicated to understanding and advancing the capacity of colleges and universities to serve as partners in creating more just, democratic, and equitable communities.

Read more.

]]> New Bringing Theory to Practice (BT2P) Initiative: The Changemakers Fellowship https://phennd.org/update/new-bringing-theory-to-practice-bt2p-initiative-the-changemakers-fellowship/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 22:02:40 +0000 https://phennd.org/?post_type=update&p=88909 Bringing Theory to Practice (BT2P) is piloting an important new initiative in spring, 2027: the Changemakers Fellowship.  The Fellowship is a professional development opportunity (fully online and at nominal cost) centered on supporting  the values, skills, and networks to advance bold, positive change in higher education.  The Fellowship offers an alternative and complement to current positional leadership development programs.  It is open to faculty, staff, and administrators in all roles, issues areas, and academic sectors—anyone committed to advancing holistic, transformative, inclusive education and the need for big change.

The Fellowship emerged from BT2P’s changemakers network and was developed by a network working group. I hope you can see how deeply the experience of the EM community of practice informed its values and design.  I hope too it will appeal to folks in the extended networks of our CoP.

To learn more about this exciting initiative and exploring participating, you can visit this overview of the Fellowship and this FAQ.  You can express your interest here and apply for the Fellowship here.  Please also spread the word to anyone who might be interested, and feel free to contact me with any questions at scobey@bttop.org.

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