We are proud to share that Dr. Lauren Wendling, Collaboratory’s Director of Institutional Success, received the IARSLCE 2024 Early Career Award, recognizing her innovative contributions to the field of community engagement as a boundary-spanning leader and nontraditional scholar.
This honor reflects the depth and impact of Lauren’s scholarship and practice. Her career has been defined by a commitment to strengthening the institutional conditions that make community engagement possible, visible, and sustainable.
Lauren’s work centers on two deeply connected goals: advancing community engaged research in the context of promotion and tenure reform, and using data to help institutions foster a stronger culture of engagement.
These goals are at the heart of how institutions define what they value, how they recognize impactful work, and how they build environments where engagement can thrive. Lauren’s scholarship has helped illuminate both the barriers and the possibilities in this space, offering insights that are practical, timely, and field-shaping.
As Dr. Patrick Green, one of her nominators, noted, “Lauren’s work deepens and expands understanding of the barriers and opportunities to rewarding community engaged scholarship, positioning her as a critical voice in shaping national agendas.”
In her role at Collaboratory, Lauren works with institutions nationwide to help them track, analyze, and strengthen their community engagement. Her leadership has helped institutions better understand their partnerships, identify patterns in engagement, and align the work more intentionally with institutional goals and priorities.
She brings the perspective of a scholar together with the practical insight of someone working directly with institutions as they navigate real-world questions about infrastructure, incentives, and visibility. Her work demonstrates that strong systems are not separate from the values of engagement; they are often what allow those values to be sustained over time.
As Dr. Kristin Norris, one of her nominators, shared, “Lauren’s scholarship and practice has been felt by hundreds of institutions. Whether through a conference presentation, a webinar, a workshop, or a phone call, Lauren has built capacity to advance community engagement in immeasurable ways.”
We are thrilled to celebrate Lauren and this well-deserved recognition. Her scholarship, leadership, and practice continue to help institutions strengthen the systems that support public-purpose work. We are grateful for her contributions, proud to work alongside her, and excited for how her work will continue to shape the field in the years ahead.
Congratulations, Lauren, on this important and well-earned honor!