Dr. Lisa Twomey, associate professor of Spanish, and senior Layla Ali received 2023 Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact Awards (IAMNCC) along with Hope Inc. The IAMNCC network of colleges and universities is invited annually to recognize outstanding work in civic and community engagement through the Presidents’ Awards and Community Engagement Awards.
Concordia nominated Twomey to be the 2023 recipient of the Presidents’ Civic Engagement Leadership Award. Her nomination stated:
- Professor Twomey is dedicated to connecting students with community members outside Concordia, bridging the gap between classroom learning and the issues and people in the community. Students in her first-year seminar engage in story and culture exchange with immigrants in Moorhead, building relationships and creating with them a book of poetry. Dr. Twomey's enthusiasm for cultivating meaningful community connections is infectious, energizing others on campus. Most recently, she has played a central role in the development of a new first-year seminar program focused on the theme of engaged citizenship.
Concordia nominated Ali to be the recipient of the Presidents’ Student Leadership Award. Her nomination stated:
- Layla has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to building community and tackling equity issues. She leads the student group Club Access, which provides a safe space for underrepresented students to feel accepted within a community that values them as an entire person. In 2022, Layla started a students of color mentoring program that connects Concordia students with students at Moorhead High School. Her diligence, creativity, and compassionate leadership have made this initiative a tremendous success.
Concordia also nominated HOPE Inc., an adaptive sports and recreation program in Moorhead,
- For over 15 years, Hope Inc. has provided family-friendly sporting and recreational opportunities critical to the health and development of children and adults living with mobility challenges. Hope Inc. has a multifaceted relationship with Concordia, involving students from various parts of campus, including an adaptive physical education class, theatre, and several athletic teams. Students learn from an often-overlooked underrepresented community and discover new ways to do good in the world. Concordia is honored and blessed to have such an invaluable partnership with such an admirable organization.
The mission of Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact “strengthens the capacity of colleges and universities to fulfill the public purposes of higher education through its network of 56 campuses. This includes educating students through community and civic learning experiences and making an impact in communities through reciprocal partnerships that address community-identified goals.”
Minnesota Campus Compact was founded 1994 and Iowa Campus Compact in 2003. The two organizations joined a strategic alliance in 2019 and legally merged in October 2022. IAMNCC continues to be part of the National Campus Compact network.
See a full list of 2023 IAMNCC award winners.