Life of Service and a Legacy Tribute

Two Saints were recently honored for their deep and long-lasting connection to the Bonner Foundation.

Allison Schultz, Ed.D., director of the Center for Academic Community Engagement, received the National Bonner Recognition: Lives of Service tribute, as well as the Engaged Scholar award. April Backus '12, director of academic programs and events, received the National Bonner Recognition: Legacy tribute. The awards were announced at the Foundation's annual Bonner Summer Leadership Institute held in June at the University of Richmond.

Schultz's Lives of Service award celebrates individuals who have made long-term commitments through 10+ and 20+ years of work with the Bonner Program and the field of civic and community engagement, while her Engaged Scholar award recognizes scholars and practitioners who have made significant contributions to the field through community-engaged research, scholarship, and action that produces knowledge in partnership with communities.

"I was extremely proud to receive these awards from the Bonner Foundation," she said. "My research, Listen to the Experts: What Happens When We Create Space for Authentic Student Voice in the Bonner Service Leaders Program?, was inspired by my engagement with Siena's Bonner students."

Her study, which was the basis of her problem of practice for her recent doctorate, focused on developing multiple onramps for Bonners to share their thoughts and perspectives on how the program was and was not meeting their needs, with the goal of "building student confidence, voice, and agency."

"My work was inspired by their stories, as well as those from Siena faculty and administrators who work with our Bonner students and Bonner network colleagues," said Schultz.

Backus was a member of Siena's first class of Bonner Service Leaders and was a former director of the program.

"I am honored to receive this award, as I have experienced firsthand the benefits of this program to engage and retain first generation students," she said. "Without this program, I would have struggled to find my way at Siena. I am forever grateful for the experiences the program provided me and the opportunities I continue to have to give back to current students and alumni."

Backus interned 15 years ago at the Bonner Foundation in Princeton, NJ, planning the Bonner Summer Leadership Conference held that year in Kentucky. She has hosted a number of Bonner conferences at Siena, leading high impact practice workshops and hosting the Summer Leadership Institute here for 300+ students, faculty and administrators in 2011.

Glenn Braddock '95, Ph.D., associate vice president for academic affairs, praised his colleagues:

"These awards signal to a national audience something that we at Siena all know very well: Allison and April are outstanding leaders with distinguished records of promoting meaningful student learning, engaging with community partners to address real-world challenges, and advancing the mission, vision, and values of Siena," said Braddock. "It is a privilege and a pleasure to work with them and to congratulate them on these prestigious recognitions by the Bonner network."