LaShan Epperson, DBA, an Assistant Professor in the School of Business and Management, is passionate about making the classroom learning environment challenging, creative, innovative, and fun, and she strives to ensure that each contributor feels valued and often adjusts to align the learning experience to simulate what can be anticipated beyond academics. This past semester, Epperson embedded a service-learning project in her MGMT312 course titled ‘Managing Diverse Teams & Groups’.
Working with a local food bank
In conjunction with APU’s Center for Academic Learning, students within the MGMT312 course worked together in small teams to bring the theories discussed in class to practice. With a desire to contribute to a cause that would help people, students drew attention to APU's Campus Life, and the topic of food insecurity evolved. Knowledge of APU's on-campus food pantry and a need for increased awareness captivated students' attention. One student even said:
"being hungry is no fun; together, we can make a difference in the life of many with one more bite of food."
Students visited the food pantry, and after that, the mantra "the more we know, the more we can do" initiated a movement. Modest donations were made, and food and monetary donations continue to be welcomed.