Spotlight On Service

CSUCI graduate and recipient of the 2006-2007 Outstanding Experiential and Service Learning Student Award Ashleigh Dodson has always been involved in the community, a majority of her time spent working with children. So it was a natural progression for her to want to become a teacher and major in Liberal Studies when she entered CSUCI.

While at CSUCI Ashleigh enrolled in Claudia Reder’s Children’s Literature course that incorporates service learning and places students in various educational settings reading aloud to children.

“I knew I was going to work with children and was looking forward to it. But I had no idea how much this experience would impact my life.”

While serving at Tierra Vista Elementary in Oxnard Ashleigh soon realized that she no longer wanted to work inside the classroom; however she did want to work with children in a different capacity.

“After serving at Tierra Vista and realizing I wanted to go in another direction with my career I decided to explore other avenues of working with children. Over the summer I volunteered with a non-profit organization, Café on A; working there really solidified my decision to go into the non-profit world and pursue working with a program that benefited kids outside of the classroom. It also helped me make the decision to enter the Master’s Program in Business Administration here at CSUCI.”

Café on A is a youth leadership program designed to provide options for youths actively at risk in the Oxnard area. Throughout the summer Ashleigh gave of her time helping with fundraising, organizing events and participating in the youth leadership program.

“I really didn’t not have a job position I just jumped in and helped out where I was needed. I gained so much experience. I’m glad I have been able to try out what I thought I might want to do. I would not have done this if I hadn’t taken that service learning course. It gave me an opportunity to find out what I really wanted to do”

Ashleigh still volunteers at Tierra Vista Elementary and Café on A and will be entering the Master’s program this spring 2008. We wish Ashleigh the best of luck in all her endeavors.