Purdue News
Purdue News
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October 17, 2003 Boiler Volunteer Network expands with new leadershipWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University has hired a full-time director for the Boiler Volunteer Network, which links students, staff and faculty with volunteer opportunities at more than 30 agencies throughout Lafayette and West Lafayette.
Kimberly L. Martin has been named the assistant dean of students for community engagement and involvement. She previously served as community director and a student organization adviser at Wayne State University for more than 10 years. Martin replaces Sara Solloway, who oversaw Boiler Volunteer Network operations on a part-time basis. Solloway continues to serve as program director for the Purdue Student Union Board. Martin graduated with a bachelor's degree in organizational behavior from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta. She said she is enthusiastic about her new position, since community engagement is a primary focus of Purdue. "Every time I have heard President (Martin C.) Jischke speak, he always stresses service learning and volunteerism," Martin said. "And, if you review the university's strategic plan, engagement is one of the top three 'defining core characteristics.' Establishing a full-time position to coordinate volunteer efforts speaks volumes about Purdue's commitment." In addition to increasing the awareness of volunteer opportunities on campus, Martin said she would like to see an increase in student, faculty, staff and retiree participation for the regular BVN sponsored programs, such as the monthly Community Action Days and annual events. Annual programs include: • National Make a Difference Day, in which people help their neighbors or volunteer for school or community service agency sponsored projects. This year's Make a Difference Day is Saturday, Oct. 25. • A Food Drive in November. • The Season of Sharing holiday drive in December for disadvantaged families. • The Martin Luther King Day of Service in January. • Boiler Spring Community Day in which volunteers will clean and plant in April. • Project Move Out, in which students donate items they no longer need at the end of the academic year. "We will continue to offer and broaden the scope of these programs while expanding our services to include other service opportunities, such as an alternative spring break program," Martin said. "We also want to increase the involvement in, and visibility of, the Martin Luther King Day of Service by partnering with the Diversity Resource Office." Other goals include nurturing the network's relationship with the Greater Lafayette Volunteer Bureau and increasing interaction with all local service agencies. "I am confident that my past experiences working with college students and large- and small-scale student event planning, in addition to my volunteer-related connections, will enable me to foster the partnership necessary to continue to be a positive force within the Lafayette-West Lafayette community," Martin said. The BVN also oversees the Indiana Reading Corp, which employs work-study students to tutor reading to pupils in kindergarten through fifth grade. Students interested in learning more about the program can contact its coordinator, Margaret Huntsberry, at (765) 496-2452. Martin said student interest in volunteer opportunities has been high, as evidenced by a strong turnout at a volunteer fair on the Purdue Mall at the beginning of the semester. Additional volunteers can register for upcoming events by contacting the BVN at (765) 496-2450. They also can visit the BVN office in Stewart Center, Room G-4. Martin said she looks forward to working with the Purdue community for years ahead. "I love this so much. It's my focus, passion and heart." Writer: Marydell Forbes (765) 496-7704, mforbes@purdue.edu Source: Kimberly Martin, (765) 496-2453, klmartin@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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