Promoting public welfare and being of service to humanity have been core Stanford values since the university’s founding, and ones carried forward by generations of scholars. Since its launch in 2020, the Office of Community Engagement has worked to extend Stanford’s education and research mission by supporting connections with communities beyond campus.

Martin Shell, Stanford’s vice president and chief external relations officer, oversaw the creation of the office and said its work has strengthened ties that have existed for decades while helping establish transformative new ones.

“The streets that connect Stanford with our neighbors run both ways, and the Office of Community Engagement has been instrumental both in fostering connections beyond campus and creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere for our visitors,” he said. “While Stanford has an array of units and functions across campus, for many of our neighbors, we are simply viewed as ‘Stanford.’ OCE has helped foster connections that build upon the depth, strength, complexity, and mission of the university.”

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