Valerie A. Endress

Alumni Faculty Award

Criteria: Need not be a graduate of the College but employed by the College. Wide recognition for exceptional competence in teaching, printed publication, initiative in research, development of a new program, community recognition of quality of service to the community or campus.

In the nearly eight years that Val has been a member of the campus community, she has set precedents for civic engagement and community partnerships for RIC. She has spearheaded projects on campus garnering recognition for the College in the process. Val’s dedication and commitment to the College’s role in the American Democracy Project (ADP) brought us visibility as one of only 225 higher education institutions in the nation to participate in ADP. Dr. Endress was a driving force behind several campus initiatives. DebateWatch 2004 and 2008 were prime examples of her expertise in the field of civic and political engagement. The 2004 event drew an audience of over 800 people, the largest ever held for a DebateWatch. She has also been an integral part of the Open Books- Open Minds project, a common reading program where students, faculty, and members of the campus community read the same book and discuss themes and social implications and the VISTA/AMERICORPS Service Learning program which integrates community service and teaches civic responsibility. In addition, Val is a well-respected political analyst for the local news media. The students in Val’s communications’ courses gain the knowledge and value of public and professional applications through intense research related projects. She teaches them the purest form of disciplines needed to become leaders in their communities.