Daemen College : News : News Releases
Stephanie Malinenko Named Executive Director of Western New York Service Learning Coalition
Stephanie Malinenko has been named Executive Director of the Western New York Service Learning Coalition. Malinenko was most recently Manager, Services to Seniors for the American Red Cross, Greater Buffalo Chapter. Malinenko holds a Master of Business Administration from Medaille College, and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (minor in Sociology), from the State University of New York College at Buffalo.
“The investment of students and faculty in our community is significant, and, in fact, Western New York has the largest collaboration of its kind among colleges and universities in the country,” noted Harvey Garrett, of Buffalo’s West Side Community Collaborative, and Co-Chair of the Coalition. “Our area is usually considered resource poor, but when it comes to higher education we are a very wealthy and fortunate community.”
In the 2006-2007 academic year, WNYSLC members Daemen College, Buffalo State College, Niagara University, Trocaire College, and Canisius College, five of the nine higher education members of the Coalition, reported a combined total 5,674 students participating in community-oriented service-learning for a total of over 120,000 hours. These service-learning projects have a large financial impact on the area as well. For instance, a collaborative project with UB’s School of Architecture led to a $150,000 investment on the West Side. Projects like these are happening all over Western New York.
Established in 2001 at the initiative of Damen College, in collaboration with Niagara University, the WNYSLC is a highly active collaboration of colleges, universities and non-profit and community-based organizations committed to sharing resources and practices related to engaging students in the community. With offices housed at Daemen, the WNYSLC has grown to include higher education institutions representing a combined undergraduate enrollment of 52,000+ students: Buffalo State, Canisius College, Daemen College, D'Youville College, Erie Community College, Medaille College, Trocaire College, Niagara University, and University at Buffalo, as well as numerous non-profits and community-based organizations that engage volunteers to provide services. And, this year, The Buffalo News Education Services has been named as an Ambassador to the WNYSLC.
The vision of the WNYSLC is to become the hub for service-learning in Western New York and to serve as a conduit for community organizations seeking service-learning students as well as for higher education institutions placing them. The higher education institution members each offer service-learning or student volunteer opportunities, and each school has varying requirements for participation in service as well as a diverse range of non-profits with which they work to place students. A range of non-profits, such as The American Red Cross, Journey’s End Refugee Services, The West Side Community Collaborative, and The Morlock Foundation, participate in activities as service providers who utilize undergraduate student volunteers.
Joseph Gardella Jr., Professor of Chemistry at University at Buffalo and WNYSLC Steering Committee Co-Chair said, "The Coalition is deeply committed to promoting collaboration in two areas: first, effective coordination among Western New York colleges and universities to develop their human resources in students and faculty in order to address priority issues of community need, and, second, facilitating collaboration among service agencies to utilize these human resources in a way that also expands the education of all involved."
Edwin Clausen, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Daemen College, founded the Coalition in 2001 with representatives from Niagara University. He serves as a steering committee member of the Western New York Service-Learning Coalition. “The WNYSLC is a collaboration that is significant in scope and has already demonstrated itself as a model nationally for collaboration between and among private and public institutions and non-profit and community-based organizations. Among the Coalition’s goals are to significantly escalate its capacity to streamline practices, reduce duplication, and to engage multiple constituents strategically and thoughtfully in efforts to improve our region."
In her new position, located at Daemen College, Malinenko will report to the WNYSLC Steering Committee. Among her responsibilities will be to facilitate all communication, coordinate activities and meetings of the WNYSLC; oversee development of marketing materials and membership recruitment efforts; prepare, administer, and manage an annual budget; interface with campus and community service-learning coordinators and provide support for faculty development and institutionalization of service-learning; facilitate the implementation of a region-wide database of student service opportunities; and identify opportunities for funding and growth, and actively seek additional project support and funding from foundations, government agencies, and other sources.
In September of 2007, The Western New York Service-Learning Coalition (WNYSLC) was awarded a three-year grant of $485,654 from The John R. Oishei Foundation. The John R. Oishei Foundation's mission is to enhance the quality of life for Buffalo area residents by supporting education, healthcare, scientific research and the cultural, social, civic and other charitable needs of the community. The Foundation was established in 1940 by John R. Oishei, founder of Trico Products Corporation. Click here for more information on the WNYSLC.