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Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM
About the Spencer Center
Founded in 2007, the Spencer Center for Civic and Global Engagement fosters creative engagement between ý students and their local, domestic and international communities.
Through civic and global partnerships, ý students develop the self-awareness, knowledge, and skills needed to become proactive community leaders.
The Center was named in honor of Dr. Samuel R. Jr. and Ava Spencer. As president of ý from 1957-1968, Dr. Spencer promoted civic responsibility, supported the development of study abroad programs, and emphasized internationalization on the campus.
Civic Engagement Opportunities
ý is dedicated to supporting the local Staunton and Shenandoah Valley community that we call home. By creating programs for local civic engagement, the Spencer Center trains ý students for lives of difference-making in Staunton and beyond.
Faculty Fellows Program
Four ý faculty serve as Spencer Center Fellows, creating civic partnerships and on-campus events to connect ý students to their broader communities.
Events have included voter registration tables, volunteer work with local elementary schools, and more!
Community Coursework
Earn credit outside the classroom while making a difference! ý’s Civic Engagement (CE) courses allow students to learn hands-on in the local community.
CE courses include community service, civic entrepreneurship training, local externships, ethnographic research, and more!
Interfaith America Programming
Interfaith America is a non-profit dedicated to building bridges across religious divides to promote tolerance in civic discourse.
Through a partnership with ý Chaplain Katie Low, Interfaith America will sponsor seminars that instruct students how to engage plural communities.
Global Engagement Opportunities
The Spencer Center promotes global study and travel to grow ý students’ communication skills and cross-cultural competency. These skills will prove invaluable in every community and career field our students might join.
Study Abroad
ý has a wealth of global partnerships and scholarships that allow students to earn credit while exploring different cultures around the world.
ý also offers great financial and merit-based scholarships for multi-week and semester-long study abroad.
May Term
May Term is a mini-term during the summer where students take unique, accelerated courses abroad with ý professors.
Past courses have included studying European teaching styles in the Mediterranean, observing tropical wildlife in South Asia, and more!
International Exchange
International students have studied at ý for decades. The Spencer Center hosts numerous events to welcome exchange students and offer them a home at ý.
ý currently has exchange partnerships with schools in Japan, South Korea, Northern Ireland, Taiwan, and India.
Upcoming Events
Our Team
Directors
Martha Saunders
Associate Professor, Studio Art; Chair, Hunt Gallery; Interim Director, Spencer Centermsaunder@marybaldwin.edu
Faculty Fellows
Lisa Landram
Field Director, Department of Social Work; Assistant Professor, Social Worklnlandram@marybaldwin.edu
