FAIRFIELD, CT - Matthew D. Kaye, Ph.D., recently became director of Volunteer Programs and Service Learning at Sacred Heart University. As such, the Easton resident is responsible for facilitating faculty development of service learning initiatives within their academic disciplines and coordinating and overseeing student volunteer efforts that take place not just on the University campus, but throughout the state, nation and, in some cases, the world.
“The clear commitment Sacred Heart students have to volunteering and social justice are part of what attracted me here,” said Kaye, citing a group of students who just returned from working for Habitat for Humanity in Mississippi and another group about to leave to help with community development in El Salvador. “Right in Bridgeport, our students regularly volunteer in five elementary afterschool programs. I’ve been nothing but impressed by Sacred Heart’s connection to the community.”
Kaye brings extensive experience coordinating and supervising both volunteers and service learning projects. Particularly interested in collaboration opportunities and cross-cultural communications, his background includes positions with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Migrant Education, U.S. Peace Corps and the University of Florida’s College of Education.
Kaye earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Winthrop University in South Carolina and his doctorate from Claremont Graduate University/San Diego State University, where he focused on international education and research that looked at Haitian students’ access to education in the Dominican Republic.
“I’m excited to be part of such an enthusiastic and dedicated volunteer- and service-oriented community,” Kaye said.
