Wednesday, September 12, 2001

Igleheart aims to expand concepts of service
New community service director plans to get students excited about volunteering
By Erin LaMourie
Staff Reporter

From soup kitchens to paperwork, TCU’s new community service coordinator wants to get involved in everything inbetween.

Robin Igleheart the new university community service coordinator, said her first goal is to make students, faculty and staff aware of community service opportunities for students, faculty and staff. Volunteering provides pays dividends for all members of the community, she said.

“I feel very strongly about the role community service plays in character development for all people, not just college students,” she said. “I think volunteering and serving others certainly helps people develop into better people.”

Igleheart said she found information about the position from the TCU Web site and applied for the position because she wanted to work with students and organizations. She said she would like to help students get connected to opportunities they are interested in or may not know about.

“Many people think of community service as tutoring kids or going to a soup kitchen,” she said. “If people don’t feel comfortable in those roles, there are other things they can do to help, such as envelope-stuffing. People don’t always think of that as community service, but the agency you are helping certainly appreciates it.”

John Butler, minister to the university, said Igleheart has experience with community service and student affairs.

Igleheart previously worked as an area and leadership coordinator for Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and served as a residence hall director at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis.

Igleheart said she plans to make newsletters for the campus and agencies she will be working with to help be a liaison between them.

Heather Patriacca, a senior religion major and member of the student interview committee, said Igleheart could energize other students.

“She is a big dreamer, and I knew if she could get me excited about service, she could get others excited,” Patriacca said.

Erin LaMourie
e.m.lamourie@student.tcu.edu