Campus Compact is excited to announce that Dr. Bettina Love will deliver the keynote at the Compact22 conference. Dr. Bettina L. Love is an award-winning author and the Athletic Association Endowed Professor at the University of Georgia. Her writing, research, teaching, and educational advocacy work meet at the intersection of education reform, anti-racism, carceral studies, abolition, and Black joy. The aim of her scholarship is twofold: firstly, to advance how the field of education understands and critiques the systemic and structural racism of public education within the U.S.; and secondly, to advocate for abolitionist approaches in the field of education that seek new possibilities for educational justice. In the pursuit of making her scholarship a reality, she works with activists, communities, youth, families, and school districts to build communal, civically-engaged schools rooted in the aspirations of abolitionist strategies that love and affirm Black and Brown children. In 2020, Dr. Love co-founded the Abolitionist Teaching Network (ATN). ATN’s mission is simple:…

By Maggie Grove, Interim President, Campus Compact Thanksgiving is coming. It will be the first time (in a long long time) for many to gather with friends and family, to travel, or to catch a breath. At Campus Compact, we have been talking about gratitude and resilience. This fall, our staff have listened to remarkable stories about how students, faculty, and institutional leaders have supported one another, shared resources, stood up, and continued to advance the public purposes of higher education in impossible contexts—pushing for education for informed and active democratic participation, community-based learning and scholarship, responsibility as anchors in communities, and for authentic partnership. We have witnessed true coalition work. We are grateful for the leadership of our members. Faculty, civic and community engagement professionals, presidents, and students are defining our work—collectively. You are showing up to facilitate national communities of practice, leading work through the Research University Civic Engagement Network and Community Colleges for Democracy affinity networks, contributing…

Campus Compact is excited to welcome four new members to its Board of Directors: José D. Padilla, president of Valparaiso University, Dr. Annette Parker, president of South Central College, Dr. David Potash, president of Wilbur Wright College, and Dr. Yolanda Watson Spiva, president of Complete College America. “Campus Compact is thrilled to welcome this group of extraordinary leaders,” said Jonathan Alger, president of James Madison University and chair of the Campus Compact board of directors. “Each brings a unique perspective, deep commitment to the public purposes of higher education, and a longstanding commitment to the work of Campus Compact. We are certain that their collective experience, creativity, and passion will enable us to achieve great impact in the years ahead.” José D. Padilla, J.D. has been president of Valparaiso University since 2020. Previously, he served as vice president, university counsel and secretary to the Board of Regents of the University of Colorado System. Prior to that, he spent 15 years…