
Dr. Diane Doberneck will join us on campus to lead the upcoming event Community-Engaged Work: Write, Publish, Disseminate on Feb. 28. Learn more about Diane below, and register by Feb. 21.
Dr. Diane M. Doberneck is the director for Faculty and Professional Development, Office for Public Engagement and Scholarship, University Outreach and Engagement (UOE), at Michigan State University. Doberneck leads several of MSU’s signature programs on professional development for community engagement. Her research interests have also included the incorporation of community engagement in reappointment, promotion, and tenure; faculty integration of outreach and engagement across their teaching, research, service, and administrative responsibilities; and career pathways for community-engaged scholars.
What is your “origin story?” What led you to your career in professional development for community engagement?
I grew up in rural Western Pennsylvania as a young child. My K-6 school was very small, with graduating classes under 50 kids. I went to Penn State University as an undergrad and realized just how much bigger the world was than my community of Beechwoods. I also realized how “left out” of everything rural people and places can be. That sparked my interest in community engagement, especially when organizers pay attention to including those whose voices have been traditionally left out and unheard.
As for my career in professional development for community engagement, I came to that in a rather strange way. I was teaching an interdisciplinary service-learning study abroad course at Michigan State and found it really hard to find a textbook that I liked to use with my students. Worse still, when I talked with my community partner about what was important from her perspective I got some great ideas. But I again came up with no ready-made teaching and learning materials on those topics. And so, out of necessity, we made the materials we needed—like best practice guides on different topics like local history for community engagement. After word on campus caught on that I had these resources, I was invited to give workshops on campus. From there, my career in professional development took off. I’m still always listening to workshop participants’ questions, noticing what’s challenging for them, and then developing workshops or resources to address those learning needs.
Tell us about one of the most interesting community-engaged research projects you’ve ever worked on?
The most interesting community-engaged research project I was on was one I mentored undergraduates to work on in the rural West of Ireland. Fourteen communities joined together to develop a 32 kilometer walking trail that culminates at Croagh Patrick, St. Patrick’s holy mountain. For the walking trail, they wanted to develop materials for tour guides to use along the walk. My students worked with archaeologists, county government, and county library to identify potential sites of interest along the way. They took beautiful photographs. And the best part was meeting with farmers, landowners, parish priests, and other locals to hear the stories of the special places along the way. Most of the important history was known by locals (and not in the official government records). I was proud that the engagement pulled together that local knowledge in ways that will be preserved and shared into the future. To this day, their community-engaged historical research project materials are used by tour guides in that area.
What exciting developments do you see on the horizon for community-engaged research?
This is a super exciting time for community-engaged research, because the world around us is changing quickly and there is so much to understand as a result. For example, when I first started in community-engaged research, all research was done in person with communities that defined themselves by in-person interactions. That’s still true in many ways and with many people. However, community-engaged researchers are also learning with and from communities that exist in virtual space only. They are also using virtual engagement strategies and platforms to reach those who may not have been included previously—though the technology divide still needs to be addressed.
Another area is understanding what community means, how engagement does/does not happen or gets re-established in communities experiencing disruptions. Out of necessity, we saw some innovative community-engagement practices emerge during the Covid-19 pandemic. In communities that experience ecological disasters, community engagement is an important way to understand (and not assume) what the priorities are by those affected the most. Community-engaged researchers, with their commitments to respectful and ethical interactions, are well poised to enter those communities with deep empathy that leads to authentically community-identified actions. That’s a powerful approach during a challenging time.