Division:	Arts and Communication
Education:	B.A., SUNY at Potsdam M.A., SUNY at Albany M.C.I.S., Rutgers Univeristy
Office:	ET 125
Extension:	3332
E-Mail:	munded@mccc.edu

How did you get involved in Service Learning?
I became interested in this thing called academic service learning when I was sent to a faculty development opportunity at the College of New Jersey. At this time, about 10 years ago the College of New Jersey was doing something called the Freshman Experience and every freshman was required to go and do service. They actually had van loads of students. Then I had the opportunity to do a mid career fellowship at Princeton University, and that gave the chance to look into this in great detail...so that's how I got into it.

What is Service Learning?
It is service done for the community that is tied to course goals and objectives. So simply put it's students serving in the community and in the process learning what their course is all about.

Why is service Learning so important for our community?
We are a community College so it doesn't make any sense for a community college not to be involved in the community. And academic service learning puts our students out there helping community organizations that need volunteers. It gives faculty a chance to work side by side with their students for the good of the community.

What was it like to teach an Honors course at Mercer?
The honors public speaking course scared me to death. I had never taught an honors course before...I didn't know what to expect from the students and I had to redesign the entire course.

What helps you relax?
Relaxing for me is essential for me everyday. One of the things I do is take a walk with my neighbor every morning for 2.3 miles. I also like to garden, and to me that's really important. I love to watch things grow, I love to watch something I planted...Bloom. I think that has a lot to do with teaching. I also like to ride my 1975 Schwinn one speed bicycle around my very flat neighborhood.

Bonus Coverage!

As a mentor, Donna has offered some great ideas for retention of online students. The Virtual College team got wind of her ideas and put together a slideshow outlining her suggestions on this topic.

Click here to see the PowerPoint Presentation.