Clinical assistant professor named 2017-2018 Service-Learning Fellow

Elizabeth Saylor, a clinical assistant professor in the department of educational theory and practice, was one of nine University of Georgia faculty members selected to participate in the Office of Service-Learning's yearlong Fellows program.

The program provides faculty members from a broad range of disciplines to integrate academic service-learning into their professional practice. Fellows meet regularly throughout the academic year and receive $2,500 to develop a proposed service-learning project.

"Being selected as a 2017-2018 Service-Learning Fellow is an incredible honor," said Saylor. "The early childhood education program at the University of Georgia is committed to the integration of academic service-learning as our students are placed in a variety of classrooms for practicum experiences in PreK-5 throughout all four semesters of the program."

Saylor's service-learning project aims to bolster existing relationships between the students and faculty of the Early Childhood Education Program in the College of Education and their partnering mentor teachers in the Clarke-County School District by creating a space for open dialogue, reciprocal support and a continued understanding of contemporary school community concerns.

"Our graduates are highly qualified and well-equipped when they enter the teaching profession," said Saylor. "We could not do this without community school relationships, which include the gracious mentor teachers that host our students for experiential learning opportunities in schools."

Saylor's areas of expertise include elementary education, critical theory, feminist theory and teacher preparation. Her research interests range from women in history and intersectionality to pre-service elementary teacher perspectives of feminism.