Citizen Scholar Program On-campus Resources
The following is a list of on-campus organizations, opportunities, and experiences available for those interested in fulfilling the project requirement of the Citizen Scholar Experience. If the student decides to utilize one of the following resources, they should contact the organizations directly in order to plan their experience. Students may also work closely with their advisor and the Graduate School and design their own experience. This list is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all programs found at Virginia Tech that qualify for the Citizen Scholar Experience. This list is intended to provide examples of experiences that may be available. In addition to the resources on this list, you can ask with your department or college about internships in your field, and student-sponsored journals and conferences in which you might participate.
Agriculture Extension and Education Project and Report
Contact: Eric Kaufman | 231-6258
Pairs students with an extension agent or specialist for a semester. Available to any student in a department with a strong extension component.
Center for Gerontology
Rosemary Blieszner | 231-5437
Field practicums available for students in all departments interested in adding a gerontology component to their graduate experience.
Center for Race and Social Policy
Wornie Reed | 231-6107
A variety of community projects are available through the center.
Center for Peace and Violence Studies
James Hawdon |231-7476
A variety of community projects are available through the center.
Community Design Assistance Center
Information desk | 231-5644
Graduate students help in the architectural design process for members of the community.
Externship Program
Laura Hickerson | 231-8084
This is a volunteer job shadowing opportunity for students to spend up to five days during winter break observing and often working with professionals, investigating a career field and experiencing a typical week on the job.
Graduate Ambassador Program
Monika Gibson | 231-4558
Particpants in this program commit to build and promote the graduate community at Virginia Tech through a variety of projects.
Hometown Industries
Perry Martin | 231-9186
Engages students with citizen groups in unincorporated Appalachian communities involved in community beautification and cultural preservation projects. Graduate students can participate in the development of "homegrown" economic development initiatives related to community arts and heritage.
Insect Tours
Loke Kok | 231-6341
Graduate students give tours of the facilities and insects in the Department of Entomology.
Kids Tech University™
Kristy DiVittorio | 231-1389
The goal of Kids' Tech University (KTU)™ is to spark interest and excitement about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM disciplines) in children between the ages of 8-12.
McNair Scholars Program
Cheryl Gittens | 231-5499
Designed for under-represented undergraduate students, this program prepares them for graduate school. Participants are given a project, a mentoring relationship, and participate in development programs. Citizen Scholar participants would act as mentors.
Poet in the Schools
Lucinda Roy |231-8465
Graduate students go into local public schools and help the students advance their creative writing skills.
Refugee Resettlement Initiative
Michele Deramo 231-6947
Graduate student coordinates the resettlement needs of refugee families moving to the area. This includes volunteer training, English language instruction for low level learners, job readiness counseling, and educational support for children.
Science Outreach
Science Outreach Information Desk | 231-3001
Graduate students in the fields of science participate in outreach programs.
Service Learning Center
Michele Deramo | 231-6947
Can assist graduate students in identifying local and regional needs, building relationships with community organizations and agencies, and negotiating a community-based project.
Student Teacher Supervision
Sue Magliaro | 231-1802
Graduate students in the School of Education supervise undergraduate student teachers
Undergraduate Scholars in Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program
Nini Smiley |231-5023
Designed for under-represented undergraduate students. Provides a mentoring relationship and other development programs. Citizen Scholar participants would act as mentors.
Upward Bound/Talent Search
Daly Hayes-Murphy | 231-6911
Graduate students volunteer as mentors helping underrepresented high school students prepare for college.
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Marc Fisher | 239-1775
Work closely with cooperative extension on projects important to the state of Virginia.
Virginia Higher Education Civic Engagement Network (VHECEN)
Michele Deramo | 231-6947
Graduate students can give administrative leadership to building a statewide network of professionals and administrators in higher education. The VHECEN "headquarters" is the VT Service-Learning Center. Work needs to be done to build a virtual meeting site for the network.
