Joshua Blakely was named the Program Director for the Brock Experiences for Transformational Learning in late Jan. early Feb.
This decision came after Longwood alumna Joan Brock and her husband Macon Brock Jr,. donated $5.9 million to the university to create more “place-based” immersive learning experiences for students, according to a press release from the Office of Public Relations on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016
“My role will be to assist faculty when they create courses,” said Blakely.
Currently, the program is working to launch Longwood University @ the Arctic Circle for Summer 2017 in Alaska.
The Brock Experiences will be designed after Longwood University at Yellowstone National Park, otherwise known as LU@YNP, according to the release.
Blakely has worked apart of the LU@YNP team for many years, according to Dr. Alix Fink, dean of the Cormier Honors College and associate professor of Biology.
“We’ve worked together for a long time and Blakely has been a very important member of the Yellowstone team because he brings that student affairs perspective to the team and so really a hallmark for the Yellowstone program is the partnership between the folks in student affairs and the folks in academic affairs and Josh Blakely and Jen Cox, director of local and community relations, have been an important part of that,” said Fink.
Students who participate in the Yellowstone program are involved in experiences pertaining to the stewardship of our public land. Students will be asked to meet with stakeholders in addition to talking with people in the local community to better understand the issues surrounding the land, according to Fink.
The Brock Experience will fund programs that allow students to learn in place-based environments, modeled after Longwood's annual trip to Yellowstone National Park.
According to Fink, President Taylor Reveley IV selected a group of faculty and staff members to lead the implementation of the program including Fink, Blakley and Dr. Joan Neff, provost and vice president for academic affairs and professor of sociology, Dr. Kenneth B. Perkins, director of development for academic priorities and provost emeritus, Justin Pope, chief of staff for the president’s office and Dr. Pamela Tracy, associate professor of communication studies and director of the center for faculty enrichment, otherwise known as CAFE.
Blakely will be selecting new fellows annually with a two-year development process for the courses.
The first version of the Brock Experiences of LU@TAC will start summer 2018 with a full launch of the program in summer 2019, according to Blakely.
“It’s pretty amazing what’s in place,” said Blakely.
Dr. Phillip Poplin, associate professor of mathematics and Dr. JoEllen G. Pederson, assistant professor of Sociology, are managing the artic circle program and they are using the contacts from our Alaskan program, according to Fink.
Blakely disclosed that those who lead the course will receive a $10,000 stipend.
“Once we get three or four years going we will have six eight or ten brock experiences in the works that students will be able to choose what they want,” added Blakley.
“The new Brock program is going to have an incredible impact on the students because these are experiences that will immerse our students in critical civic issues.” said Fink. “These experiences are incredibly important because they so directly support the mission of citizen leadership.”
For more information about LU@ The Arctic Circle there are three upcoming interest meetings on Monday, Feb. 20 in Ruffner Hall 115, Tuesday, Feb. 21 in Ruffner Hall 108 and Monday, Feb. 27 in Ruffner Hall 115 all at 4:00 p.m.
