Room 159 of the E.B. Doran building is not the average office — it’s painted bright yellow, and the walls are covered with framed photographs, awards, art and even a ribbon-laced pair of hedge clippers.
 
The office is unique and energetic, much like its owner.
 
The space belongs to Marybeth Lima, a former professor of biological and agricultural engineering and the new director of the Center for Community Engagement, Learning and Leadership.
 
Lima succeeds retiring director Jan Shoemaker, whom Lima called a pioneer of service-learning at the University.
 
“[Jan Shoemaker] taught me everything I know about service-learning,” Lima said. “She made service-learning happen in a big way at LSU, and it is such an honor to follow in her footsteps. If I make half the progress that she made, I will be thrilled.”
 
Lima began her career at the University 14 years ago as an assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering. She later became an associate professor and then a professor.
 
She was first introduced to service-learning by Ed Zlotkowski, a guest speaker who lectured on service-learning. After hearing his presentation, “the light went off,” Lima said.
 
Lima was teaching a freshmen-level class in biological engineering at the time and wanted to host a project that could involve each member of her diverse group of students.
 
“I tried to find something everyone would know and understand and would have an appeal to a broad interest base,” Lima said.
 
Her selected project was playgrounds, a passion that earned Lima the nickname “The Playground Lady.”
 
It started with one playground at Beechwood Elementary School in Baton Rouge, designed in 1998 and built in 2000.
 
“I didn’t initially set out to do all of the playgrounds in the public-school system. I set out to do one,” Lima said.
 
But one led to another and has since resulted in the construction of 20 local playgrounds.
 
The LSU Community Playground Project is dedicated to ensuring equipment is safe, fun and accessible, Lima said. The project allows students to work in small groups to design a playground for a local public school with the help of a community partner. At the end of the course, they work together to consolidate ideas into one and work on funding the projects.
 
Once the money is raised, volunteers are recruited. More than 500 students have completed the course, and the project has generated more than 1,500 volunteers, Lima said.
 
The next playground construction will take place this fall at Howell Park Elementary School.
 
“I would say I started out doing playgrounds because I thought it would be better for my students, but the playgrounds picked me back,” Lima said. “I feel committed to making sure that every single one is awesome. It has become my passion over the past 12 years.”
 
Lima’s passion is contagious, said Michael Lee, a former student of Lima’s and biological engineering sophomore.
 
“I think it’s amazing for one person to spend so much time on something that is to no direct benefit to her,” Lee said. “She is helping out not only the kids but the community.”
 
As director of CCELL, Lima will take this dedication to a new level.
 
CCELL facilitates learning partnerships for an influential and constantly expanding program of the University, service-learning.
 
In conjunction with the University’s commitment to community, service-learning courses have provided students with a new method of instruction during the past decade. This hands-on curriculum allows students to achieve learning objectives in classes by working with community partners to address critical community needs, Lima said.
 
Service-learning is available in every college and school, and the University is nationally recognized for its efforts in civic engagement with awards like the President’s Community Service Honor Roll and the American Association of University Administrators Outstanding Model Award.
 
Lima has plans to continue the Faculty Scholars Program to target faculty in departments that have no service-learning courses. She is also working to launch a type of proposal writing institute that will train students and faculty alike in proposal writing for funding.
 
Lima said she eventually hopes to create a Community Engaged Student Leader program, a funding stream for students to carry out project ideas through CCELL.
 
CCELL, along with Communication across the Curriculum, is also organizing a fall workshop for students applying to the National Science Foundation scholarship program.
 
“Marybeth has been actively involved in CCELL for many years, and she has national recognition for the role she has played in bringing service learning to campus,” said Stacia Haynie, vice provost of Academic Affairs.”She brings a breadth of experience, and we are so excited to have her.”
 
The students have a lot to learn and a lot to give, Lima said.
 
“I’ve learned again and again that we can accomplish extraordinary things when we do ordinary things together,” she said.
 
 
 
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Contact Sydni Dunn at [email protected]