On October 13, 2026, CSGGE and the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute hosted a panel on, "Fostering Student Agency for Community Engagement" that took place in the ACES Heritage Room. Panelists included current and former students who have taken active roles in community-engaged research and leadership. Hear from Kelsi Walters (Social Work), Nikita Chigullapally (Carle Illinois College of Medicine), and Melany Romero (Community Health) as they reflect on their journeys, the opportunities and challenges, and how community engagement has shaped their personal and professional growth.
They will be joined by their faculty mentors Dr. Kevin Tan, Dr. Margarita Teran-Garcia, and Dr. Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo, who will also share insights on fostering student agency and creating opportunities for students beyond the traditional classroom to become leaders and change agents in their communities.