Rob Rosenthal, director of the Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life and the John E. Andrus Professor of Sociology, was honored with the Community Leadership Award during the Middlesex United Way Annual Meeting on Jan. 28. Rosenthal was honored for founding Wesleyan’s Service-Learning Center, focused on connecting faculty to the community through coursework, and for his efforts leveraging university resources and expertise to partner with community organizations to meet community needs.
Middlesex United Way Executive Director Kevin Wilhelm presented the award to Rosenthal. “Rob’s service-learning course, Community Research Seminar, has provided incredible data to the community on topics including food security of children in Middletown and effects of parent-child joint learning model used in the Even Start Family Literacy Program,” Wilhelm said.Rosenthal also is a founding board member of the North End Action Team, where he continues to serve on the Board. As a past provost of Wesleyan, his platform was the Engaged University, and challenged all aspects of the university to consider how they contribute to the public good.Bill Holder, director of university communications and president of the Middlesex United Way Board, led the annual meeting at the Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station in Haddam, Conn. Wesleyan has a long history of employees giving to the United Way. Since 2001, employees have donated $1.7 million to the cause. (Photos by Olivia Drake)
Olivia Drake
Mike Mavredakis
Ziba Kashef
Andrew Chatfield