7 Elements Hires New Manager of University Partnerships

INDIANAPOLIS - July 10, 2018 - PRLog -- 7 Elements has named Lisa Christy as its new Manager of University Partnerships as the non-profit foundation ramps up its efforts to expand its international service learning programs to new university and college student groups.

Lisa will lead the organization's outreach programs, including representing 7 Elements at events throughout the US, and liaising with university and college representatives to grow awareness of 7 Elements programs, with a special focus on presenting opportunities for collaboration on program design that support faculty-led curriculum and course learning objectives.

Lisa previously served at Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) as the Director for Medical Service-Learning. In that role, she connected with medical students, faculty and affiliates to create programs that promote a lifelong commitment to community, advocacy and people-centered care. She is now looking to replicate that process with 7 Elements, expanding the scope beyond healthcare to the many types of programs that 7 Elements offers.

"We're really excited to have Lisa join the 7 Elements team. Our mission is to solve global issues with engaged global citizens. We do this by providing a transformational experience that empowers students to organize, lead, promote their ideas and champion sustainable strategies for solutions at every level, at home and abroad. Lisa''s insight and abilities will help us grow engagement and impact as we connect with more university faculty and staff to plan their student groups' travel," says 7 Elements Executive Director, David Addison, PhD.

Lisa's duties will include outreach to university and college faculty and staff in charge of planning and organizing immersive international service learning programs, such as Alternative Break Programs, "May-mester" and semester break programs; planning and attending on-site meetings and conferences on campuses throughout the US; networking with industry advocacy groups to represent 7 Elements; and supporting staff and students on crafting the program and projects that meet their needs.

"7 Elements has already accomplished so much with its commitment to ethical volunteering and service learning programs. It's incredibly exciting to work for an organization that is leading the way in making these experiences available to students at a critical point in their education. In the medical field alone, there are clearly identified needs for the development of social science aspects in education programs, which drives my passion for promoting learning experiences focused on collective competence, cultural humility and reciprocity. Personally, I have worked to change the trajectory of service from "giving and doing" to "engaging and advocating," and I'm very eager to connect with others who are looking for just such an opportunity for their organization," Lisa says.

Before joining 7 Elements, Lisa worked for the Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) where she served as the Director for Medical Service-Learning (https://medicine.iu.edu/education/md/service-learning/), and was a key player in developing the Service Learning definition (https://mednet.iu.edu/MasterDocLibrary/MSE-Service-Learni...), and the Culturally Appropriate and Socially Responsible Care curricular thread. Lisa's professional background also includes work in K-12 Human Resources and Student Affairs.

About 7 Elements:

7 Elements is an education organization that operates Service-Learning Programs to teach the seven elements of human security, as defined by the United Nations, and leverages community-directed service projects to create a living classroom that brings theory to life, while also giving participants hands-on opportunities to experience a new culture and work side-by-side with locals to improve living conditions.

For nearly a decade, 7 Elements has been host to 1000s of students, families and groups. In collaboration with our partner organizations, we have worked to change lives by empowering marginalized Latin American communities to implement sustainable development projects that address human insecurities. 7 Elements collaborates with communities in each of our locations to design development projects, using a proprietary community diagnostic model to discover what will uniquely address the needs of the community.  This guides ethical interventions that empower local residents.

Founded in the Dominican Republic, 7 Elements now also operates programs in Peru, Haiti and Belize.

For more information visit http://7elements.global