Sweetman Inducted Into Academy of Community Engagement Scholarship

Sweetman Inducted Into Academy of Community Engagement Scholarship

Leah Sweetman, Ph.D., director of community-engaged learning with Saint Louis University's Center for Social Action, has been inducted into the Academy of Community Engagement Scholarship (ACES).

Members of ACES were selected for their significant contributions to advancing collaboration between higher education institutions and communities.

"This honor is a testament to all Leah has done over the years to further community engagement at SLU, especially through the classroom," said Bobby Wassel, Ph.D., director of the Center for Social Action. "Her commitment to helping faculty develop a curriculum that is rooted in our mission, as well as her philosophy of seeing our community partners as 'co-educators' for our students, have helped raise the national profile of Saint Louis University as a place that develops both minds and hearts."

Sweetman was part of a 24-member class inducted at the end of July. ACES has a total of 175 members from across the world, including university faculty, staff, and administrators, as well as community leaders who collaborate with higher education institutions.

The mission of ACES is to provide expertise to policymakers, higher education institutions and organizations, community leaders, and national and international entities interested in addressing complex societal issues through the effective engagement of higher education with community members and organizations.

"Members of the Academy of Community Engagement Scholarship work side-by-side with communities to address real-world needs and advance high-impact community-engaged research," Sweetman said. "This aligns with SLU's commitment to improving the quality of life for all persons. I look forward to advancing the community work our faculty, staff, and students foster in both St. Louis and Madrid, as well as across the world. Because this organization brings together a global membership, it truly shows what diversity and inclusion look like in action."

Sweetman is only the second member from a Jesuit institution to join ACES.