Binghamton University hires new CCE director

Jan. 30, 2018

Kelli Huth, director of Center for Civic EngagementKelli Huth will begin her new role as the director of the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) at Binghamton University on Feb. 5, 2018. As director, she will advance the Center's mission of connecting the greater Binghamton community with University resources to address community needs and provide high-impact learning experiences for Binghamton University students, supporting their academic, personal and professional growth through civic engagement. The office coordinates an array of community engagement opportunities for students, staff and faculty, including credit-based service-learning, short- and long-term volunteering and community-based research.

"This director role has a particular importance for both our university and community," says Kelli Smith, Assistant Vice President for Career Programs and Experiential Education. "We were in need of a leader who can create high-impact and immersive learning opportunities for our students by matching faculty research interests with the needs of our local community to make a true difference. We were fortunate to have an incredibly strong pool of candidates, but Huth rose to the top due to her proven experience, knowledge base and passion for bettering local communities."

Huth brings two decades of experience in coordinating experiential learning opportunities for young adults. She comes to Binghamton from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., where, as the director of immersive learning, she worked to connect faculty interested in community-engaged teaching with community partners throughout the region. The resulting partnerships and collaborative projects provided meaningful learning experiences for students while simultaneously advancing Indiana communities.

"I am incredibly eager to make a home for myself and my family in the greater Binghamton area," says Huth. "I'm excited to learn more about the community and to facilitate campus-community partnerships that will be beneficial to everyone involved. Throughout my career, it has been satisfying to watch students develop professional skills through community relationships, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue this work with the students at Binghamton University, increasing opportunities for them to learn more about becoming active, engaged citizens."

The Division of Student Affairs will host an open house reception for Huth from 9-11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 14 at the CCE office in the University Union, room 137. Community members and campus faculty and staff are encouraged to attend, welcome Huth to the community and share their ideas for areas of University-community synergy.