August 20, 2025
Two MSU Scholars Selected for Campus Compact’s Engaged Scholars Initiative
Contact: Emily Springer, Communication Manager, University Outreach and Engagement, sprin116@msu.edu
Leonora Souza Paula, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Letters (top) and Maggie Williams, assistant professor in the College of Engineering.
EAST LANSING, MI—Campus Compact, a nationally recognized nonprofit that strives to strengthen partnerships between higher education and communities, has selected Leonora Souza Paula, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Letters, and Maggie Williams, assistant professor in the College of Engineering, to be in its 2025-2026 Engaged Scholars Initiative cohort.
Paula and Williams will join 16 scholars from 18 institutions for the yearlong leadership and professional development program designed to deepen their community-engaged scholarship. Participants were selected for their commitment to expanding access and opportunities in civic and community engagement across their respective fields.
“Dr. Paula and Dr. Williams are exceptional representatives of Michigan State’s dedication to fostering meaningful partnerships between the university and communities,” said MSU Provost, Laura Lee McIntyre. “Their selection for the Engaged Scholars Initiative reflects their focus on creating positive change alongside the communities they serve, and we’re proud to support them in their mission to advance community-engaged scholarship.”
Over the course of the academic year, Engaged Scholars will take part in both virtual and in-person meetings, along with collaborative scholarly projects that deepen their own critical community-engaged scholarship. The program aims to enhance individual and collective scholarship, research, and impact, while equipping participants to lead change within their institutions and communities.
“Each year, our Engaged Scholars learn with and from each other, engage in scholarship production, and connect in collaborative ways that contribute to their own individual leadership and the growth of the field of higher education civic and community engagement,” said Nicole Springer, vice president of professional development and inclusive excellence at Campus Compact. “I’m looking forward to seeing how this group progresses over the next year as they engage in this transformative process.”
Learn more about the Engaged Scholars Initiative on Campus Compact’s website.
