Skip Sub Menu

Community Engaged Learning staff will be available to meet with students either in-person or virtually. Click on a staff member's name to get their email address. 

Meet the CEL Staff

 

Renee Sedlacek Lee, ABD, Director

Renee has spent her career supporting the development of service-learning and co-curricular service programs at small private liberal arts institutions. Prior to joining the Drake staff in 2013, Renee served seven years as the Service-Learning Coordinator at Wartburg College and one year as an Iowa Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA at Central College. Renee received her B.A. from Central College in Sociology and Psychology and her M.A. from the University of Northern Iowa in Post Secondary Education: Student Affairs, and is currently a Ph.D. student in Education at Drake University.

As director Renee provides strategic oversight of external and internal relationships that affect community-based service and learning, i.e. service-learning, engaged scholarship, and community-based research.

515-271-2454
re
nee.sedlacek@drake.edu

Headshot of Renee Sedlacek

 

Amanda Martin, M.Ed., Assistant Director

Amanda joined the CEL team in September of 2015. She brings more than 13 years of experience in the areas of community and national service. Amanda received her BA in Communication from Clarke University and her Masters in Student Affairs from Iowa State University. Prior to joining the CEL team, she worked for the Corporation for National and Community Service, as the Member Development Associate for AmeriCorps NCCC members. She is also an AmeriCorps VISTA alum, having served two years at the Volunteer Center of Story County in Ames. 

Amanda coordinates co-curricular service at Drake, connecting students and student organizations to the local community and volunteer opportunities; directs the Changemaker Scholars Program; supervises the Community Engagement Peers, and facilitates the Pathways for Civic Action & Social Change.

 515-271-2767
 amanda.martin@drake.edu

Headshot of Amanda Martin 

 

 

 

Community Engagement Peers

Community Engagement Peers are student staff in the Office of Community Engaged Learning who are committed to working with service-learning and community engagement. Community Engagement Peers each have their own project they oversee, along with providing 1-1 consultations to students on ways to get involved in the community.  

 The role of a Community Engagement Peer is to:

  • Connect Drake students to the community and recruit volunteers to fulfill community needs
  • Educate the campus on meaningful service and social issues
  • Engage students in reflection
  • Raise awareness of community engaged learning and its impact on Drake students and the community
  • Plan and organize events and opportunities to achieve these goals

2022-2023 Community Engagement Peers

Read their bios here.  
Schedule a 1-1 with a Peer!

Student Staff Program
Stephanie Kiel Community Engagement Peer for Civic Engagement
Sydney Skemp Social Media and Marketing Intern

Madison Luna and
Corinne Sidebottom

Sprout Garden Coordinators

Nachy Gardiner Community Engagement Peer for Food Security
Kirby Nelson Community Engaged Learning Events & Training Coordinator
Mel Sadecki IRIS Coordinator
Nathan Carter Community Engagement Peer for Equity & Inclusion
Community News