INDIANAPOLIS – Dr. Julie Hatcher will direct the nation’s first undergraduate degree program in Philanthropic Studies, the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University announced today.
Hatcher was selected as the Center’s director of undergraduate studies following a national search. She will oversee the new Bachelor of Arts in Philanthropic Studies program that begins this fall in the IU School of Liberal Arts at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IU Indianapolis), recruiting and advising students, developing courses and coordinating faculty.
As an associate professor of Philanthropic Studies, Hatcher also will teach in the Center’s undergraduate and graduate programs and conduct research.
“This is an exciting opportunity to work with students who want to improve their communities and work with others towards the common good” Hatcher said. “I’m delighted to help pioneer this unique degree, which offers students vibrant classroom and hands-on experiences that will prepare them to be more actively engaged in their community regardless of what professional path they choose.”
Hatcher is internationally recognized as a leader in the field of service learning and civic engagement in higher education. She is a passionate educator who wants to make a difference. She previously served as associate director of the Center for Service and Learning at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IU Indianapolis).
“Julie is uniquely suited to lead our new undergraduate degree and we are very pleased that she has agreed to join our team,” Patrick M. Rooney, executive director of the Center on Philanthropy, said. “She has the ideal combination of personality, skills, background and expertise to deliver a top-quality experience for our students as they prepare to become the future leaders of philanthropy.”
An experienced member of the Philanthropic Studies faculty at Indiana University, Hatcher is also an adjunct faculty member at the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs and remains a Senior Scholar with the Center for Service and Learning. As one of the first scholars to earn a Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies, Hatcher is accustomed to breaking new ground.
“Our students are fortunate to have as their advisor, teacher and advocate someone who has earned a doctorate in this important field and is so well-prepared to advance it,” said Dwight Burlingame, associate executive director and director of academic programs at the Center on Philanthropy. “Her command of the subject and her commitment to the important role that philanthropy and civic engagement play in strengthening society will be a tremendous asset to the program.”
Hatcher has published widely in academic journals on issues related to service learning and philanthropy. In 2003, she was honored with the Brian Hiltunen Faculty Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Scholarship of Engagement. She received the 2008 Dissertation Award from the International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement and is chair of its 2010 international conference.
“Philanthropic Studies is an important and emerging area of study across the globe,” said Bill Blomquist, dean of the IU School of Liberal Arts at IU Indianapolis. “Julie’s relationships with scholars internationally and with community partners in central Indiana will further expand and enhance IU Indianapolis’s reputation as a leader in philanthropy education and training and bring new opportunities for our students.” Hatcher earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies and a master’s degree in higher education and a PhD in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University. More details and application information for the Bachelor of Arts in Philanthropic Studies are available at https://www.philanthropy.indianapolis.iu.edu/education/ba.aspxAbout the Center on Philanthropy
The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, a part of the Indiana University School of Liberal Arts at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, is a leading academic center dedicated to increasing the understanding of philanthropy and improving its practice worldwide through research, teaching, training and public affairs programs in philanthropy, fundraising, and management of nonprofit organizations.