Dr. Stacey Garrett, an assistant professor in the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies at Appalachian’s Reich College of Education (RCOE), received the Alternative Service Experience (ASE) Outstanding Learning Partner award for her work with the International ASE program in Belize. Along with two undergraduate student leaders and 12 undergraduate students of varying majors, she embarked on a week-long service project in the Belize Botanic Gardens over spring break. The program was sponsored by the Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) office. This was her first time serving as a Learning Partner for an ASE at Appalachian.
“My peer leaders and the other participants are amazing individuals that I was honored to work with and learn from during this program,” said Garrett. “Just being nominated shows that their experience was worth sharing and to receive this award means that we created something really meaningful during our time together.”
The program was called Botanic Gardens: Sustainable Agroforestry and Community Development. Students lived on site and learned about the Belize Botanic Gardens and adjacent nature reserve in San Ignacio, Belize. Service projects included plant propagation, regenerative soil building and composting, pruning, trail maintenance, planting, nursery management, and preparing goods for market. These activities supported local garden education programs, special collections and community projects. Students were encouraged to take what they have learned in Belize about native plants and ecosystems to apply principles of regenerative practices to their everyday lives and issues in their own community.
Garrett earned her Ph.D. in educational leadership, higher education at Clemson University, her master of education in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in college student personnel administration at James Madison University, and her bachelor’s of business administration in marketing at the College of William and Mary. She joined the RCOE faculty in 2017.
About Alternative Service Experience at Appalachian
The mission of the Alternative Service Experience program at Appalachian State University is to provide learning opportunities by engaging in meaningful service and dialogue. Alternative Service Experience (ASE) programs provide students with an opportunity to serve, learn, explore, and make a difference in the community on a local, national, or global level during their breaks from school. ASE programs vary in focus, length and cost, but all provide the same components of service, learning, exploration and the opportunity for transformational learning experiences.
About the Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) Office
Appalachian & the Community Together (ACT) provides service experiences as opportunities to connect and engage with others to build authentic relationships, stimulate critical thinking and skill building, and recognize individual impact and responsibility to our local and global community.
Stacey Garrett
