In addition to academics, the Honors
College at West Chester University
places priority on personal leadership development and civic engagement.
A prime example is the ongoing commitment to the children of South Africa,
strongly supported by President Madeleine Wing Adler. Since 1998, Honors Director Kevin Dean
has paved the way and subsequently organized three teams of WCU students, faculty,
and staff to travel to South Africa to participate in community-needs
assessment projects that have profoundly
impacted lives on both sides of the ocean. Plans for a fourth trip in 2008
are underway.
Dr. Kevin Dean Director of Honors
A Message from Dr. Kevin Dean
Through the graciousness of a leadership grant I received from the Kellogg
Foundation, in March of 1997, I had the opportunity to travel to South Africa.
In countless ways, South Africa became a
'trip of a lifetime,' or so I thought. Little could I have imaged that
the people met, places seen, causes served or lessons learned would have
become such a central part of my professional and personal life.
The seeds of that initial experience have flowered into the development of
a course that has reached over 250 WCU students, established Deon's International
Shoe Fund that has helped raise Africa and America
through the
internet and visits to campus from South Africa leaders, and
enriched the service activities sponsored annually by
Honors Student Association by focusing on the ability of students to apply lessons learned
internationally to communities in West Chester region.
The students who went to South Africa in 2006 were also frequent spectators
to the harsh reality of the widespread AIDS epidemic. Students performed
community needs and assessments of children affected by AIDS. All of the
children in Sparrow Village Orphanage have AIDS. The eye-opening, heartbreaking,
and inspiring moments that each child felt in South Africa contributed to
the drive behind the Aid to South Africa event.
It is with pleasure that I and devoted group of WCU faculty and Honors Program students who are 'alumni' of South Africa
experiences have begun work for our fourth student/faculty research/service project to South Africa in spring of 2008. I am
confident that this experience will open additional doors to unanticipated opportunities for all participants.
Dr. Kevin Dean
Professor, Communication Studies
Director, Honors College
Honors College • West Chester University • West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-2996 • aidtosouthafrica@wcupa.edu
