Combining service, community, and leadership education
The Office of Community-Engaged Leadership (CEL) engages Appalachian State University students in academic, experiential, and community-oriented programs that enhance their capacity to serve and lead in socially-responsible ways for the benefit of their local and global communities.
Get involved as a first-year student
There are a variety of ways you can get involved with the Office of Community-Engaged Leadership. As a first-year student, consider registering for our Trailhead Experience or applying for our Plemmons Leadership Scholars program. Be sure to check out all of our programs and find the perfect fit for your goals and aspirations throughout your time at App State.
Trailhead Experience
This three-day program held each August prepares incoming first-year and transfer students for life at App State by creating connections, building community, and developing their capacity to lead. Applications to participate open in the spring semester. Learn more about how you can participate in the Trailhead Experience.
Plemmons Leadership Scholars
This cohort-based, four-year scholarship program empowers students to critically examine leadership systems and structures, take action on issues and causes that matter to them, serve as advocates alongside peers and community members, and contribute to lasting change in groups and organizations they are a part of. Learn more about the Plemmons Leadership Scholars program.
Participate in a workshop or event
We offer general leadership workshops to help students learn more about leadership and build upon their own capacities to lead and serve. Learn how you can request a LEAD workshop.
Our office also hosts a variety of events throughout the year in need of volunteers. Traditional annual events like Don’t Throw It Away or the MLK Challenge may require individual or group volunteers to fulfill their missions and ensure a successful day of service. Event updates and volunteer calls are shared on our social media.
Serve the community
Many nonprofit organizations across the High Country rely on the compassion and skills of volunteers to work towards their mission and need a few extra hands in areas such as: administrative support, event management, social media outreach, or hosting donation drives. Stop by our office and our staff can help talk through some of the options that fit a particular time or cause close to your heart, or consult our database of community partners. Our Community Fellows host regular service outings with small groups in the immediate Boone area.
Ensure your vote counts
Know your rights and make your voice heard. Dive into comprehensive voter registration guides, create your personalized voting strategy, and stay informed about the crucial issues on the ballot in the next election. Whether you’re a first-time voter or a seasoned participant in our democratic process, App Votes is here to support you every step of the way.
Go on a service trip
Are you interested in taking your education beyond the classroom? Consider an Alternative Service Experience and explore a variety of social issues while working with communities across the globe. ASE coordinates local, domestic and global experiences that provide students with an opportunity to serve, learn, explore, and make a difference during their breaks from school. Each trip is led by two Peer Leaders (undergraduate students) and one Learning Partner (faculty/staff member).
Latest news
¿Eres o te interesa ser Voluntario? Este mensaje es para ti.
For over a decade, Alternative Service Experience and Service for Peace have partnered through our international service programs. In this video, participants in the 2023 Dominican Republic ASE program share their experiences working and learning alongside Service for...
3rd Annual Leadership & Legacy of MLK Returns
Intercultural Student Affairs teamed up with Community-Engaged Leadership Jan. 24 to host the third annual Leadership & Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. workshop in Plemmons Student Union. “While his message has transcended generations, we are still talking about...
Fourteen North Carolina Schools Earned a ‘Voter Friendly Campus’ Designation This Year
You have to be 18 to vote, which means a lot of people’s first time casting a ballot is in college. That’s why Appalachian State University's Director of the Office of Community-Engaged Leadership Heather Jo Mashburn says higher education institutions should support...
Support us
Support the Office of Community-Engaged Leadership, our service-affiliated programming, and the scholarships we offer students by making a special donation.
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