Adventhealth University

Kendra A. Presley

Kendra A. Presley, EMHA, CCEL, is an experienced leader in service-learning and partnership development. She leads programs that provide students with service opportunities, working closely with community partners to create a service-oriented environment.

In an interview with Education Insider, Presley emphasized the importance of engagement between students and the community. She also provided insights into supporting learners and mitigating challenges through application-based learning.

A Strategic Approach to Enhancing Student Experience and Institutional Impact

As the Director of Community and Student Engagement at AdventHealth University, my role is both rewarding and challenging. It encompasses a diverse range of responsibilities that intersect community service, student support, and institutional development. Over the years, I have learned that fostering a strong connection between students and the broader community is key to ensuring their academic and professional success. In this article, I share the core elements of my position, how I design initiatives that align community needs with the university’s academic and health care objectives, and the frameworks we use to sustain impactful partnerships.

My title, Director of Community and Student Engagement, is more than a designation; it defines my day-to-day work, which involves overseeing various departments and initiatives. At AdventHealth University, we place immense emphasis on service-learning and civic engagement, both of which are integral to my responsibilities.

Service-learning is a critical requirement for our students. It should not be confused with volunteerism, although my department also manages volunteer activities. Service-learning goes beyond community service; it connects classroom learning with real-world application. Students are encouraged to apply the knowledge they gain in their academic courses to address actual community needs and then reflect on those experiences. This reflective process is what makes service-learning distinct and academically meaningful. Each student at AdventHealth University is required to complete service-learning as part of the graduation criteria.

“At AdventHealth University, we are fortunate to be part of an institution that values community service as a cornerstone of its mission to develop skilled professionals who live the healing values of Christ. Every day, I am proud to see how our students, faculty, and staff come together to make a positive impact.”

In contrast, volunteerism may be self-initiated and does not necessarily involve academic coursework or reflection. While we encourage students, faculty, and staff to volunteer, the absence of an academic connection or reflective component distinguishes volunteerism from service-learning. It is an important aspect of community engagement, but it operates in a different context.

The civic engagement aspect of my role focuses on advocacy and helping students recognize that their voices matter. I regularly work with academic programs to create opportunities for students to lobby at the state Capitol, advocating for legislation that impacts their fields of study, whether nursing, occupational therapy, or other health care disciplines. These experiences provide students with a platform to advocate for changes that affect their education and future careers. They help students understand that they are not merely passive recipients of education but active participants in shaping their futures.

Finally, student engagement is another critical component of my work. Since 2020, my role has expanded to include initiatives aimed at improving the overall student journey. While community engagement has always been my primary focus, the addition of student engagement has allowed me to connect students not only with the external community but also more deeply with the university itself. My team works to create programs that enrich students’ time at AdventHealth University, enhance their academic experience, and contribute to student retention.

Aligning Community Needs with Institutional Priorities

Balancing the community’s needs with AdventHealth University’s academic and health care objectives is a complex but essential task. The university has strategic initiatives that guide our actions, and community engagement must align with these priorities to create meaningful, measurable impact.

A central strategic initiative at AdventHealth University is student success, which we prioritize in all our community engagement efforts. By working closely with our Institutional Effectiveness department, I help ensure that the programs we develop support this goal. Whether through service-learning, volunteer work, or advocacy, everything we do is designed to enhance the student journey, helping students understand the social issues and health disparities affecting their communities. At the same time, these programs provide real-world experience that prepares them for future careers in health care.

One example of this alignment is our food insecurity initiative. We operate a student food pantry on campus to support students facing financial hardship while also collaborating with local food banks to address broader food insecurity in the community. This initiative not only assists our students but also engages them in service projects that directly benefit those in need, reinforcing the idea that their work as students can have a meaningful impact on the wider world.

In addition to direct service efforts, we collaborate with community organizations to address health disparities and population health concerns. As health care students, our learners must understand the broader societal issues that affect their future patients. Whether related to access to health care, housing instability, or food insecurity, our community engagement programs expose students to these challenges and equip them with the tools to address them as future professionals.

Building Long-Term Partnerships for Sustainable Impact

One of the biggest challenges in community engagement is ensuring that partnerships remain effective and sustainable. To build and maintain strong relationships with community organizations, health care partners, and local stakeholders, I rely on a concept I have championed throughout my career: stewardship.

Stewardship is about nurturing relationships. It involves listening to our partners and understanding what matters most to them. It means knowing the people we work with—whether nonprofit organizations, health care providers, or community leaders—and recognizing the unique needs of those they serve. We support this approach through regular communication, surveys, and appreciation events that acknowledge the hard work of our partners.

For instance, this past year, I hosted our first-ever partner appreciation lunch in Tampa. While AHU’s Tampa site is smaller than our Orlando or Denver locations, we chose to start small and scale thoughtfully. During the event, we welcomed community partners to campus to introduce them to our institution and thank them for their ongoing contributions. While the gesture was modest, it reflects a broader commitment to relationship-building. I also make a point of visiting partners in person, particularly during the holidays, to deliver small tokens of appreciation. These face-to-face interactions help sustain strong relationships and support continued collaboration.

Contributing to Workforce Development and Student Access

At AdventHealth University, we believe education is a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty and expanding opportunity. One way we contribute to workforce development is through certificate programs designed to provide accessible education for individuals who may not be able to pursue a full degree but still require the skills to succeed in their careers.

Through partnerships with community organizations, established by both our Business Development department and our Community Engagement office, we provide access to higher education for underserved populations. By offering certificate programs in fields such as medical assisting, we help individuals double or even triple their earning potential, creating meaningful and lasting change.

Measuring Success and Ensuring Accountability

Community engagement can be difficult to measure, but we rely on a combination of quantitative and qualitative data to ensure our efforts produce tangible outcomes.

We conduct surveys to measure satisfaction and impact. Tools such as the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and the Faculty Survey of Student Engagement (FSSE) provide valuable insights into how effectively we connect students with the external community. We are proud that our students consistently report higher-than-average satisfaction in this area.

We also conduct focus groups and individual interviews to gather more nuanced feedback. One particularly meaningful moment occurred when a student visited my office to thank me for requiring participation in our service-learning day. The student had initially been reluctant, but the experience was so impactful that they planned to return to the organization as a volunteer independently.

These stories represent the qualitative data that truly demonstrate the impact of our work. While surveys provide measurable outcomes, personal experiences underscore the significance of what we do. These tangible and intangible measurements are major factors in AdventHealth University earning its first Carnegie Elective Classification in Community Engagement this year. This prestigious honor recognizes how AdventHealth University integrates its mission with service. The recognition signifies our dedication to instilling civic awareness and community service in creative and consistent ways.

For professionals working in community engagement, my advice is to remain humble and always keep your audience in mind. Know your audience, your stakeholders, and your constituents; understand their needs; and ensure your work delivers real, measurable impact. At AdventHealth University, we are fortunate to be part of an institution that values community service as a cornerstone of its mission. Every day, I am proud to see our students, faculty, and staff come together to make a positive impact—not only within our university but throughout the wider community. The work we do is meaningful, and the results speak for themselves.