Hokies build the future of community-engaged scholarship
The HokieBird posed for selfies, the Highty-Tighties filled The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center with the sounds of school spirit, and conversations about the future of university-community partnerships echoed across downtown Roanoke as nearly 700 engagement scholars gathered for an unforgettable week of learning, reflection, and connection at the 25th annual Engagement Scholarship Consortium International Conference.
But ESC 2025 wasn’t just about sharing best practices — it was about shaping what’s next. From reimagining research through community voices to strengthening partnerships that create measurable impact, Virginia Tech and its global partners are building the future of community-engaged scholarship.
As the host university, Virginia Tech showcased what it means to live its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) — not only celebrating 25 years of ESC’s leadership but helping chart the next 25. Of more than 250 sessions presented, more than 50 were led by Virginia Tech faculty, staff, and students. Topics ranged from AI accessibility and innovative approaches to community-engaged research to preserving community stories through oral history and measuring engagement’s impact.
“This conference reaffirmed the power of collaboration — across disciplines, across borders, and across perspectives,” said Susan E. Short, senior associate vice president for outreach and international affairs. “As we look ahead, our challenge — and our opportunity — is to deepen those connections so that engagement remains the foundation for a more just and connected world.”
Preconference sessions such as the Engagement Academy and Emerging Engagement Scholars Workshop brought together both seasoned leaders and those just beginning their engagement journeys, fostering connections that will shape the field for years to come. Through visits with local partners, participants saw engagement in action in the Roanoke region — including projects led by Hokie alum Bethany Lackey and the Roanoke Refugee Partnership.
Impact takes center stage
Keynote speakers offered both challenge and inspiration. Davarian Baldwin, author of “In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower” and founder of the Smart Cities Research Lab at Trinity College in Connecticut, urged universities to examine how their growth affects surrounding communities. Mary Maker, a South Sudanese refugee, educator, and global advocate for girls’ education, shared stories of resilience and the transformative power of learning.
The conference also celebrated outstanding partnerships through the ESC Awards for Excellence and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Engagement Scholarship Awards, recognizing collaborations that make a difference from whale-migration research in the Pacific to health care in Appalachia. Three students from the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine — Etta Hanlon, Blaire Barton, and Colby Mallett — won Best Poster, as voted by attendees, for “Creating Sustainable Partnerships: Connecting CHIP and Feeding Southwest Virginia.” Their project underscored how sustained collaboration can address food insecurity and strengthen community health.
Meanwhile, Short received the inaugural President’s Award for Distinguished ESC Service for her longstanding leadership and commitment to advancing engagement nationally and globally.
“Receiving this recognition is deeply meaningful because it represents the collective work of so many,” she said. “Community engagement is never done alone — it thrives through relationships, trust, and the belief that we can achieve more when we work side by side.”
Next year’s conference will be held in Knoxville, Tennessee, Oct. 5–8, 2026.
