Social Entrepreneurship
In this month’s newsletter, we are delighted to recognize the appointment of Barbara Hayley as the Kylene & Brad Beers Professorship II in Social Entrepreneurship. Barbara Hayley is a professor of dance in the Theatre & Dance Department. Her work through her innovative course, Building Community through the Arts, underscores the important role the arts play in providing groundbreaking solutions to serious social issues. Under her leadership, students work with local artists on a multi-disciplinary, art and community development project in the 7th Ward, Central City, and Lakeview. Prof. Hayley joins Nghana Lewis, the Louise & Leonard Riggio Professorship in Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship, as individuals recognized in the School of Liberal Arts for the impact their creative activity, research, teaching and service has had on New Orleans and the global community.
Like the School of Liberal Arts itself, the range and impact of the work of these two talented individuals reflect the dedication of our faculty and students to addressing the world beyond the university’s walls. Using the tools and insights of their disciplines, our faculty members are involved in the study of the environment, school policy, criminal justice, poverty, health, and the impact of discrimination. They have brought their expertise into hospitals, clinics, and civic organizations; they have piloted programs in schools, neighborhoods and community centers. In this process, they have not only developed innovative solutions and policy recommendations but they have engaged the imagination and commitment of their students.
Certainly, this description fits the work of our newly recognized social entrepreneurship professor, Barbara Hayley. Her dedication to the community and her innovative approach to addressing community issues stand as an inspiration to us all. We extend our congratulations to her on this well-deserved honor and look forward to her continued achievements.