From the president
Tracy Boyd pursues a Doctor of Philosophy in Instructional Technology with a specialization in Instructional Design and Development. She currently serves as a Doctoral Fellow with TU’s Community Engagement Curriculum Team where she supports a group of campus leaders and faculty in developing a comprehensive community engagement training for faculty, staff, and students. Tracy also works as a Research Fellow with the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility. In this role, she researches national models for institutionalizing high-impact practices (HIPs) and provides recommendations for advancing HIPs work at TU to campus leaders. Tracy is excited to be named TU’s 2025-26 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow. Through this fellowship, she is hoping to expand her abilities to develop innovative approaches to addressing public problems, foster connections with similarly committed students, and become a leader in the field.
Personal Statement
I have witnessed how educational institutions can provide resources for addressing community needs and social issues. I was a Texas public-school librarian throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, my school was a critical resource, but it was evident that we needed stronger connections between students, educators, administration, and community members to effectively coordinate community access. This inspired me to pursue my Ph.D. in Instructional Technology, specializing in Instructional Design and Development. Throughout this program, I have built a greater understanding of civic and community engagement, leveraging my knowledge of tech-based resources to increase opportunities, while also working to limit access barriers. My research focuses on justice-centered community engagement, and I am central to advancing this work at Towson University (TU). I am part of a team that is designing a justice- centered community engagement training program for TU faculty, staff, and students. I am also a Research Fellow supporting the institutionalization of high-impact practices, particularly community-based learning, at TU. I believe that effective instructional design and technology integration enhances our abilities to meet the needs of the individuals in our communities and am looking forward to expanding my knowledge through the Newman Civic Fellowship.