2026 SHECP Internship Academy – Keynote Address
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Keynote Address – Dr. Kelly Hamshaw
"Building Resilience in Rural Places"
Wednesday, June 3rd at 12:00 PM ET
On June 3rd, Dr. Kelly Hamshaw will present her keynote address entitled "Building Resilience in Rural Places: Insights from Vermont's Flood-Impacted Manufactured Housing Communities." Dr. Hamshaw is a Senior Lecturer and Research Specialist at the University of Vermont Center for Rural Studies. Her teaching focuses on how communities can become more sustainable and resilient, especially in the face of difficult challenges and complex issues, to improve quality of life for all.
Dr. Jill Waity, UNC Wilmington Professor of Sociology, will provide a short welcome and host the event. Dr. Waity is a 2005 alumna of Washington and Lee University and now teaches courses such as Applied Social Research, Poverty Studies, The Community, Modern Social Problems, and Social Policy.
About the Speakers:
Dr. Kelly Hamshaw
Dr. Kelly Hamshaw is a Senior Lecturer and Research Specialist at the University of Vermont Center for Rural Studies and the Self Design Major Program Director for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
"Kelly Hamshaw's teaching focuses on how communities can become more sustainable and resilient, especially in the face of difficult challenges and complex issues, to improve quality of life for all. As a teacher, her ultimate aim is to inspire a new generation of engaged citizens who are equipped with the necessary tools, competencies, and mindset for creating lasting change through community-based solutions. Kelly has experience in designing and teaching service-learning courses that actively connect students to community organizations through meaningful learning experiences. Providing high quality and meaningful advising for advisees is a top priority. She particularly enjoys connecting students to campus resources and brainstorming internship opportunities. In her role as a researcher in the UVM Center for Rural Studies, Kelly has worked on a variety of projects related to rural affordable housing, disaster resilience, development of community indicators, and conducting of program evaluations for non-profit organizations." (from: https://www.uvm.edu/cals/cdae/profile/kelly-hamshaw)
Dr. Jill Waity
Dr. Jill Waity is Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Sociology and Criminology Department at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She is also a 2005 alumna of Washington and Lee University and, a few years ago, she shared some reflections in “From Poverty 101 to Professor of Sociology” for the SHECP website.
"Jill earned her PhD in Sociology with a minor in Public Policy from Indiana University Bloomington. She has been at UNCW since 2013. Community engagement and outreach are important components of Jill’s teaching, research, and service. She has recently completed a food security plan for New Hanover County in collaboration with local government and nonprofit organizations. Currently, Jill is working with rural communities to co-create a toolkit with best practices in disaster food security preparedness. Jill is the co-director of the Community Engaged Research Lab, which works with students and community partners to conduct research that improves the community, including incorporating community engagement into courses and mentoring students through the research process. Many of her courses involve community engagement, such as Applied Social Research, Poverty Studies, The Community, Modern Social Problems, and Social Policy. She has disseminated her work to academic audiences and also in the community through community meetings, webinars, and reports." (from: https://uncw.edu/profiles/w/waityj) • Full CV
The full SHECP Internship Academy will run from June 1st to June 4th, and will serve to provide additional preparations for interns to responsibly engage with host communities and frame the upcoming internship within the larger academic context.
Contact info@shepherdconsortium.org if you have any questions or would like further information.