Peggy L. Semingson, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Curriculum
and Education, College of Education

Service Learning Course(s):

• Literacy Learning for EC-6 Students:
  Reading and Writing (LIST 4373)

“Service learning made the coursework more meaningful because the students are applying their learning to the community."

Dr. Peggy Semingson was first introduced to service learning in 2010. She wanted to focus her service projects on aiding people in the community who were in need to create awareness of low literacy levels in the Arlington and DFW areas. She partnered with Mission Arlington, where her students helped create book clubs for surrounding residents. She states how the experience has given her both a sense of civic duty and allowed her to engage with her students. Being able to network with faculty from various disciplines through the Faculty Fellows Program has also been a highlight for Dr. Semingson. She has been able to gain new perspectives and believes that service learning has enhanced her students’ active learning skills because they have relevant in-depth experiences while still benefiting the partners involved.

Dr. Semingson would advise incoming faculty fellows and first-time service learning professors to take the time to develop a well-thought-out project. She encourages other faculty to make use of social media platforms to promote their projects and help spread awareness of service learning. Dr. Semingson does this through her YouTube podcast where she occasionally talks about service learning.