UNC Chapel Hill: APPLES Service-Learning Program: For Students

Jenny Huq, Director

Jenny Huq is the director of the APPLES Service-Learning Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Jenny began her work with service-learning and APPLES in 2001. Currently, she serves on various UNC-CH committees: the First-Year Seminar Steering Committee, the Public Service Scholars Advisory Committee and the Social and Economic Justice Minor Committee. She is a graduate of the 2003 BRIDGES Academic Leadership Program.

Prior to working in higher education, she worked for over ten years in nonprofit administration, community development and program management in California, Arizona and South Dakota. During that time, she earned a Senior Director Certificate from the National YMCA, was elected to the position of YMCA National Field Coordinator and received the National Rookie of the Year Award.

Throughout her career, Jenny has focused on successfully designing, implementing and evaluating program initiatives and operational systems. Professionally, her areas of expertise include managing organizational expansion and change, spearheading innovative initiatives, cultivating volunteer leadership and professional staff, and forging collaborative, sustainable community partnerships.

Jenny earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History/Pre-Law from Clark University in Worcester, MA, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. As part of her undergraduate education, she studied abroad for one year at St. Andrews University in St. Andrews, Scotland. She continues her interest in international education through her graduate program in International Studies at North Carolina State University and the recent development of global service-learning programs for UNC-Chapel Hill students. She is a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece at UNC-Chapel Hill as well as the Sigma Iota Rho International Studies Honor Society at North Carolina State University. Personally, Jenny enjoys travel and the exploration of other cultures with her husband, Zaki and children, Durante and Amadeo.

Leslie Parkins, Associate Director for Programs
and Leadership

Leslie Parkins is the associate director for programs and leadership of the APPLES Service-Learning Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill since 2002. Before working at APPLES Leslie has had several years of experience working in higher education administration, specifically with residential programs, leadership development, academic advising and service-learning. Leslie completed her undergraduate degree in Communication Studies in 1999 from the University of South Florida and a graduate degree in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University in 2001. During graduate school, Leslie worked abroad for the University of Glamorgan in Treforest, Wales for a summer. Before arriving at Carolina, Leslie worked at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Leslie spends most of her time establishing and maintaining community-campus partnerships, mainly through service-learning courses. In addition, Leslie is initiating programs to improve the development and support of APPLES faculty, students and community partners. Most recently, Leslie has played an integral role in establishing the Service and Leadership House, a service-learning based residential program launched in Fall 2005.

In Spring 2008, Leslie completed her Ed.D. from North Carolina State University's Higher Education Administration Program. Her dissertation research explored individual characteristics and motivational factors predicting faculty participation in service-learning pedagogy at research institutions. Leslie aspires to continue to work in a college or university setting to promote exciting learning opportunities. Leslie lives in Durham with her husband, Grant and their beagle, Dixie.

Joy is the 2007-2008 NC Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA with the APPLES Service-Learning Program. Before she moved to Chapel Hill, she lived in Rochester, NY where she worked with various community-based organizations and non-profits coordinating service-learning, youth development, peer education, and HIV/AIDS support programs; assisted with community outreach and education for Rochester's HIV Vaccine Trial Unit site; served on the Executive Board of the Rochester Area Task Force on AIDS. Joy completed her undergraduate degree in Social Work and Pre-Law in 2004 at Nazareth College, where she was part of NY Campus Compact and President of the Social Work Student Organization and the LGBTQ Alliance.

This year, Joy will be supporting the development of further classroom-community partnerships through service-learning courses and internships. She will also be coordinating the Service and
Leadership Living-Learning Community, an opportunity for students to create a community dedicated to engaging in service and dialogue related to social justice, civic engagement, and leadership.

In her spare time, Joy likes to explore big cities and quiet mountains, write and perform slam poetry, and participate in grassroots organizing and activism.

Lauren Wilson is the Office Manager for APPLES. She graduated from Mitchell High School in Bakersville, NC in 2007 and is now a first year student at UNC Chapel Hill where she plans to major in Nutrition and minor in French. Lauren participated in the Service-Learning Initiative Program in August 2007 in hopes of becoming acquainted with various service opportunities around the Triangle as well as other APPLES programs. During SLI, Lauren worked with the Durham County Habitat for Humanity on several different building projects and helped teachers in local schools prepare for the new school year. She enjoyed her experience very much and looks forward to participating in other APPLES programs such as alternative break trips and APPLES courses.

After graduating, Lauren would like to attend dental school and then practice in the underprivileged areas of the North Carolina mountains. She is the second oldest of five children and enjoys traveling, concerts of all kinds, photography, reading, and being with her family and friends.

Tonya Walton serves as the Website Specialist for the APPLES Service-Learning Program. A recent graduate of UNC's Master of Public Administration program, she works as a Budget and Management Analyst for Orange County. Tonya's tenure with APPLES began with a graduate assistantship as the program's Student Development Coordinator. In this role, she worked with the Reflections Chair and oversaw an independent study course for reflection facilitators.

Prior to graduate school, Tonya attended NC State University where she earned degrees in Sociology and Communications, with a concentration in Public Relations. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and graphics design.


	Biographies Jenny Huq \| Leslie Parkins Joy Messinger \| Lauren Wilson \| Tonya Walton Jenny Huq, Director Jenny Huq is the director of the APPLES Service-Learning Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Jenny began her work with service-learning and APPLES in 2001. Currently, she serves on various UNC-CH committees: the First-Year Seminar Steering Committee, the Public Service Scholars Advisory Committee and the Social and Economic Justice Minor Committee. She is a graduate of the 2003 BRIDGES Academic Leadership Program. Prior to working in higher education, she worked for over ten years in nonprofit administration, community development and program management in California, Arizona and South Dakota. During that time, she earned a Senior Director Certificate from the National YMCA, was elected to the position of YMCA National Field Coordinator and received the National Rookie of the Year Award. Throughout her career, Jenny has focused on successfully designing, implementing and evaluating program initiatives and operational systems. Professionally, her areas of expertise include managing organizational expansion and change, spearheading innovative initiatives, cultivating volunteer leadership and professional staff, and forging collaborative, sustainable community partnerships. Jenny earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History/Pre-Law from Clark University in Worcester, MA, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. As part of her undergraduate education, she studied abroad for one year at St. Andrews University in St. Andrews, Scotland. She continues her interest in international education through her graduate program in International Studies at North Carolina State University and the recent development of global service-learning programs for UNC-Chapel Hill students. She is a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece at UNC-Chapel Hill as well as the Sigma Iota Rho International Studies Honor Society at North Carolina State University. Personally, Jenny enjoys travel and the exploration of other cultures with her husband, Zaki and children, Durante and Amadeo. Leslie Parkins, Associate Director for Programs and Leadership Leslie Parkins is the associate director for programs and leadership of the APPLES Service-Learning Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill since 2002. Before working at APPLES Leslie has had several years of experience working in higher education administration, specifically with residential programs, leadership development, academic advising and service-learning. Leslie completed her undergraduate degree in Communication Studies in 1999 from the University of South Florida and a graduate degree in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University in 2001. During graduate school, Leslie worked abroad for the University of Glamorgan in Treforest, Wales for a summer. Before arriving at Carolina, Leslie worked at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Leslie spends most of her time establishing and maintaining community-campus partnerships, mainly through service-learning courses. In addition, Leslie is initiating programs to improve the development and support of APPLES faculty, students and community partners. Most recently, Leslie has played an integral role in establishing the Service and Leadership House, a service-learning based residential program launched in Fall 2005. In Spring 2008, Leslie completed her Ed.D. from North Carolina State University's Higher Education Administration Program. Her dissertation research explored individual characteristics and motivational factors predicting faculty participation in service-learning pedagogy at research institutions. Leslie aspires to continue to work in a college or university setting to promote exciting learning opportunities. Leslie lives in Durham with her husband, Grant and their beagle, Dixie. Joy Messinger, NC Campus Compact VISTA, Program Development Coordinator Joy is the 2007-2008 NC Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA with the APPLES Service-Learning Program. Before she moved to Chapel Hill, she lived in Rochester, NY where she worked with various community-based organizations and non-profits coordinating service-learning, youth development, peer education, and HIV/AIDS support programs; assisted with community outreach and education for Rochester's HIV Vaccine Trial Unit site; served on the Executive Board of the Rochester Area Task Force on AIDS. Joy completed her undergraduate degree in Social Work and Pre-Law in 2004 at Nazareth College, where she was part of NY Campus Compact and President of the Social Work Student Organization and the LGBTQ Alliance. This year, Joy will be supporting the development of further classroom-community partnerships through service-learning courses and internships. She will also be coordinating the Service and Leadership Living-Learning Community, an opportunity for students to create a community dedicated to engaging in service and dialogue related to social justice, civic engagement, and leadership. In her spare time, Joy likes to explore big cities and quiet mountains, write and perform slam poetry, and participate in grassroots organizing and activism. Lauren Wilson, Office Manager Lauren Wilson is the Office Manager for APPLES. She graduated from Mitchell High School in Bakersville, NC in 2007 and is now a first year student at UNC Chapel Hill where she plans to major in Nutrition and minor in French. Lauren participated in the Service-Learning Initiative Program in August 2007 in hopes of becoming acquainted with various service opportunities around the Triangle as well as other APPLES programs. During SLI, Lauren worked with the Durham County Habitat for Humanity on several different building projects and helped teachers in local schools prepare for the new school year. She enjoyed her experience very much and looks forward to participating in other APPLES programs such as alternative break trips and APPLES courses. After graduating, Lauren would like to attend dental school and then practice in the underprivileged areas of the North Carolina mountains. She is the second oldest of five children and enjoys traveling, concerts of all kinds, photography, reading, and being with her family and friends. Tonya Walton, Website Specialist Tonya Walton serves as the Website Specialist for the APPLES Service-Learning Program. A recent graduate of UNC's Master of Public Administration program, she works as a Budget and Management Analyst for Orange County. Tonya's tenure with APPLES began with a graduate assistantship as the program's Student Development Coordinator. In this role, she worked with the Reflections Chair and oversaw an independent study course for reflection facilitators. Prior to graduate school, Tonya attended NC State University where she earned degrees in Sociology and Communications, with a concentration in Public Relations. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and graphics design.