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

Elizabeth Dougall, Assistant Professor
2006 Recipient: Ueltschi Service-Learning Course Development Grant and The Edward Vick Prize for Innovation in Teaching

Dr. Elizabeth Dougall has attracted national and international recognition for her research applying the content analysis of media sources to describe the public opinion environment of organizations at the population or industry level of analysis over time. In addition to her track record in academia, her extensive industry experience in public relations and corporate communications has included counseling and conducting applied research for organizations in Australia, the United Kingdom, Europe and Canada. Dougall teaches graduate and undergraduate public relations classes, including several classes that partner students with government agencies and community organizations to develop effective communication campaigns. Many of these student-designed campaigns focus on public health and safety issues such as distracted driving and motorcycle safety. In March 2006, she received a UNC-CH Ueltschi Grant to develop a crisis communication service-learning class requiring field engagement with a community partner to research, design and implement a crisis response and recovery strategy. Her work has most recently been published in Public Relations Review and the Asia Pacific Public Relations Journal. In May 2005, Dougall’s research was featured in the national trade PR Week, as part of the “new science” of public relations.

Service-learning is a progressive and innovative teaching strategy that has been adopted by university faculty nationwide. Service-learning integrates community service with academic instruction, offering students an opportunity to explore the connections between the theoretical realm of the classroom and the practical needs of the community.

Ueltschi Service-Learning Course Development Grants are gifts provided through the generosity of Jim and Jean Ueltschi, in collaboration with the Office of the Provost, to develop new service-learning undergraduate courses at UNC. These $8,000 grants provide resources for faculty to develop courses that successfully connect community service with course concepts, and to promote the pedagogy of service-learning on the UNC campus.

The Edward Vick Prize for Innovation in Teaching is a $10,000 annual award to the UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication teacher whose creativity and innovation most meaningfully enhances students' learning experience.

Alumnus Edward Vick funded the award with a $100,000 gift to the school in 2003. Vick, of Bedford, N.Y., is the retired chairman of the worldwide marketing communications firm Young & Rubicam. He graduated from the school in 1966 and was inducted into the N.C. Advertising Hall of Fame, which is based at the school, in 1996.

Upon his retirement in 2001, Vick was recognized as one of the most creative, innovative executives in the advertising world. He gained a reputation as a passionate leader and team builder who could turn around ailing creative organizations and propel them to growth and prominence.