Diane Jones Allen, Ph.D.

Service Learning Course(s):

• Site Planning & Development Processes
   (LARC 4301)
• Site Planning & Development Processes
   (LARC 5301)

“You want to make a difference in the world. When you’re in practice you’re engaging with people - getting their feedback, recognizing desires - it’s a collaborative effort and an exchange of knowledge. You want to pass that on to students."

Dr. Diane Jones Allen sees service learning as an avenue for making a difference in the community, which is why her classes have service learning components in them. By incorporating it into her courses, she can blend her work as a practicing architect with her teaching.

As part of her Site Planning and Development Process class, Dr. Allen and Dr. Michael Zaretsky from the Department of Civil Engineering, along with a handful of students took a trip in the summer of 2019 to Tanzania and Kenya to work on community projects. While in Tanzania, they studied and addressed issues relating to sustainability, health, and water accessibility. The landscape architecture students worked with Dr. Allen on a healing garden for a local clinic. In addition to this, they were able to assess the needs of the community which included a vegetable garden, a playground for children and walking paths. The residents contributed to the project by consulting as they knew the land as well as the materials and methods for going about the project efficiently.

Dr. Allen advises faculty interested in service learning to be aware that service learning is the best way to make sure you are keeping up with the expectations of your students.