An Excellence in Civic & Community-Engaged Partnerships Awardee

Thursday, September 3rd at 1:00 PM ET (12:00 PMCT / 11:00 AM MT / 10:00 AM PT)

Join us this summer for a deep dive into the 2026 Campus Compact Programming & Partnership Impact Award winners. This session, you will hear from the OSU-Puerto Rico Community Resilience Study Abroad Project.

The Oregon State University Puerto Rico Service-Learning Study Abroad program is a multi-year initiative that connects undergraduate students with Puerto Rican community organizations to address local priorities in ecological restoration, sustainable agriculture, and environmental education. Designed as a faculty-led, interdisciplinary collaboration, the program emphasizes equity and access by recruiting first-generation, low-income, and Spanish-speaking students, many of whom are from historically underrepresented backgrounds. Through immersive projects such as mangrove restoration, community garden construction, water quality monitoring, and health education, students serve as cultural and linguistic bridges, while gaining hands-on experience in leadership, cross-cultural communication, and civic engagement.

Sustained through long-term relationships, annual reflection, and shared governance, the program is expanding to include additional disciplines and reciprocal exchange opportunities, positioning itself as a national model for inclusive, community-engaged global learning.

Wanda Crannell

Wanda Crannell, M.S. serves as BioResource Research (BRR) Interdisciplinary Program Coordinator, Senior Instructor, and undergraduate advisor in the College of Agricultural Sciences, and serves on Pre-Medical Committee at Oregon State University. Her work integrates teaching, advising, undergraduate research mentorship, and community-engaged learning to support student success in the Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Human (FANH) sciences.

Crannell teaches across the BRR curriculum while providing specialized support in academic advising, undergraduate research placement, internships and fellowships, scholarship and grant applications, and scientific communication. Her work emphasizes access and belonging for first-generation, low-income, rural, and underrepresented students pursuing research-intensive educational pathways.
As PI/Co-PI on multiple USDA NIFA-funded programs, including the Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) and Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU), she develops high-impact experiential learning opportunities integrating leadership development, mentoring, service-learning, and undergraduate research through a “community of scholars” model in which students progress from mentees to peer mentors and community leaders.

Following Hurricane Maria, Crannell and a team of faculty created and led the interdisciplinary Puerto Rico service-learning course Food Security and Nutrition: Capacity Building in Puerto Rico, now Island Resilience: Exploring Health, Sustainability and Food Security. Since 2018, the program has engaged students, faculty and community organizations in collaborative partnerships focused on community resilience, health systems, environmental sustainability, and food security with trips in 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026 providing 127 student trips.

She also advises the Alliance for Undergraduate Researchers in Academia (AURA) and serves on institutional and national committees supporting undergraduate research, mentoring, and civic engagement in higher education.
 

Rachel Jones

Dr. Rachel Jones is a passionate advocate for student success and inclusion, currently serving as the Director of Student Engagement in the College of Agricultural Sciences' Academic Programs Office. Since joining the team in September 2022, Rachel has taken on leadership of three college-level undergraduate research programs, serves as an advisor to over 30 college-affiliated student clubs, and leads an annual service-learning study abroad trip to Puerto Rico. She is particularly committed to addressing barriers to access and equity in experiential learning, especially for Ecampus students. To this end, Rachel has spearheaded multiple working groups focused on developing innovative strategies to bridge these gaps and expand opportunities for all students. Prior to her current role, Rachel worked as an academic advisor and instructor in the Biological & Ecological Engineering Department from 2017 to 2022, where she mentored students in both academic and professional development. Rachel holds a B.S. in Biology from Truman State University, an M.S. in Biology from Villanova University, and a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno. Outside of her professional work, Rachel enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking and camping with her husband and three daughters. 

Doris Cancel-Tirado

Doris Cancel-Tirado serves as the Associate Dean for Student Services and Well-being in the College of Health, where she leads initiatives that promote student success through holistic support and inclusive practices. A dedicated scholar, educator, and advocate, she is deeply committed to fostering environments where all students can thrive.

Throughout her career, Doris has championed student well-being by prioritizing mental and physical health and advancing equitable access to critical resources. She is especially passionate about mentoring first-generation students, empowering them to realize their full potential and confidently navigate higher education.

Her leadership philosophy is grounded in empathy, collaboration, and innovation, driving meaningful and lasting change within academic communities and beyond. Doris’s interdisciplinary work integrates human development, family science, and public health, with a focus on practical, impactful solutions to complex social challenges. Through her work, she continues to advance equity, student success, and community well-being.