Chapter 3: The Germination of an Engaged Scholar: From Tilling the Soil to Growing the Tree

According to Blanchard et al. (2009), there are levels of competencies involved in practicing engaged scholarship: (a) novice, (b) intermediate, and (c) advanced. Activities at the novice level involve understanding concepts related to community-engaged scholarship (CES) and issues that warrant social change. As one continues the work as an engaged scholar, Blanchard states that one’s scholarship progresses from novice to intermediate. This work involves applying principles of engaged scholarship to community work as well as fostering critical reflection and meaningful community service activities in response to community-identified concerns. At the intermediate level, an engaged scholar works effectively with diverse communities, writes grants expressing CES principles, and publishes articles based on these principles. Lastly, engaged scholar competencies go from the intermediate to the advanced level. Scholars at this level balance multiple tasks in academia (i.e., research, teaching, service). For over 30 years, I have balanced my research, teaching, and service in higher education to reach the advanced level of an engaged scholar.