Syracuse University names Pamela Heintz associate vice president for engagement in Division of Academic Affairs

Syracuse University names Pamela Heintz associate vice president for engagement in Division of Academic AffairsMarch 19, 2009Peter Englotptenglot@syr.edu

Syracuse University has named Pamela Heintz associate vice president for engagement in the Division of Academic Affairs. Heintz’s promotion, which is already in effect, is in recognition of her outstanding work as director of the Mary Ann Shaw Center for Public and Community Service (CPCS).

Heintz’s responsibilities as associate vice president include developing the framework necessary to create new community partnerships and community-based service learning and research opportunities, as well as expanding existing programs, all of which are essential to the effective implementation of SU’s Scholarship in Action programs.

In her new role, Heintz reports to Bruce Kingma, associate provost for entrepreneurship and innovation, working in close collaboration with faculty and staff from across the University to effectively leverage campus and community resources to achieve learning outcomes for students that also provide real value to the community.

“Pam brings a wealth of leadership, administrative experience and community concern to her position and greatly enhances the University’s ability to provide a wealth of invaluable opportunities to students,” says Vice Chancellor and Provost Eric F. Spina. “Pam works so well with faculty to create special service learning connections and also really values what students can bring to our community. This promotion is a true recognition of the great work that Pam does.”

Heintz has served as the founding director of CPCS since its opening in 1994. Under Heintz’s leadership, CPCS has enabled the University to reach out to the surrounding community through literacy programs, community-based learning and research opportunities, and multiple partnerships. In 1997, she founded the SU Literacy Corps, SU’s America Reads program that provides more than 35,000 hours of tutoring to more than 4,500 children in Central New York annually. Heintz also oversees more than 150 student mentors working in the community as part of other CPCS literacy initiatives.

Under her direction, SU was recognized by The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll-the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service learning and civic engagement-for exceptional accomplishments in the special focus area in 2007, and with distinction for community service and hurricane relief in 2006. SU was also named in the 2005 Princeton Review/Campus Compact publication “Colleges with a Conscience, 81 Great Schools with Outstanding Community Involvement,” and was one of 62 campuses designated in December 2006 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching with the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification in Curricular and Outreach/Partnership.

Heintz continues to work with several SU schools and colleges to integrate community engagement into their curricula. She helped create the community geographer position and program at the Maxwell School and assisted the L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Whitman School of Management and the School of Architecture to establish service-oriented programs and course work.

Heintz’s passion for community service stretches beyond SU and Central New York: She worked with colleagues across New York state to promote the concept of higher education as a public good, serving as chair of the New York Campus Compact advisory board. She is also personally engaged as a volunteer, serving on various local boards and community organizations, including the Family Literacy Alliance of Greater Syracuse and the Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County, the Syracuse Hunger Project, Literacy Volunteers of Greater Syracuse and Partners in Learning. She has received several awards for her engagement and service, including recognition by The International Reading Association and the Central New York Council for exemplary service in the promotion of literacy.

For more information about the Office of Academic Affairs, visit http://provost.syr.edu.