Denison University has named Lyn Robertson ’70 as interim director of the John W. Alford Center for Service Learning. Robertson will succeed Laurel Kennedy in the position; Kennedy recently was appointed vice president for student affairs at Denison. Robertson is an associate professor in the Department of Education and the Women’s Studies Program and has been a member of the Denison faculty since 1979.

“Lyn has taught courses for many years that have integrated student learning with community engagement, and she herself has modeled active citizenship, both at Denison and in local government and community organizations. Her experiences working as a public school teacher, a Denison professor, and an active member of the community will help her move the Center forward,” Kennedy said of Robertson’s appointment.

“The purpose of the Alford Center is to serve as the point of interface between Denison and Licking County, so that we can provide resources to help address the needs of our county,” Kennedy added. “Lyn understands those needs well, and is creative in her ideas and deeply committed to fostering the habits of good citizenship among our students.”

Robertson holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Denison (1970), a master’s in reading and language from Northwestern University (1976), and a doctorate in reading from Ohio State University (1988). She is the author of two books, “Literacy and Deafness” and “Literacy Learning for Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing,” as well as articles about literacy and deafness, feminist pedagogy and issues in education.

The Alford Center was established in 1997 through a bequest from local philanthropist John W. Alford. The Center provides resources and support for Denison students, faculty and staff to address community issues through volunteerism and service learning courses. The Center also administers an America Reads literacy program serving 10 Licking County elementary schools. In 2009, Denison students committed more than 37,000 hours to community service.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

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