Skip to main content
Apply Request Info

Ph.D. in Community Engagement

Students in the Ph.D. in Community Engagement Program's New Cohort Reflect on the Start of a Transformative Journey
Monday, October 28, 2024 "I am most excited to experience the evolutions and expansions that will occur through this program. This Ph.D. journey won’t be an easy one, but I am not alone. Since the start of the program, I have been supported by my cohort members, professors and local community partnerships."
Pictured are students Esrom Williams, Margaret Hinnebusch and Leroy Headen at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Photo by Nicole Chynoweth.
Alumni Profile
Jimyse Brown '22
"The work that you do in the community engagement program is undoubtedly connected to what you want to do professionally. When you attack it with the best intentions in a genuine way and you dive in and give your all, you can be transformed and fully show up in the sector that you desire."
Pictured is Jimyse Brown. Photo by Ethan Stoner.
Veterans Day Recognition 2023
Friday, November 10, 2023 Jake Wheatley, keynote speaker at the Veterans Day Recognition ceremony, urged attendees to care for and support veterans.
Point Park University Study Examines How Safer, Cleaner Alleyways Could Positively Impact Quality of Life in Downtown Pittsburgh
Wednesday, August 9, 2023 The latest study out of Point Park University's Department of Community Engagement & Leadership in the Rowland School of Business offers a plan for transforming Downtown Pittsburgh's alleyways into inspiring spaces that add beauty and value to the city. 
Pictured is an alleyway in Pittsburgh. Photo by Heather Starr Fiedler.
Students in Marketing Course Collaborate with Point Park Alumni at Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
Monday, June 5, 2023 Students in Professor Paige Beal's Principles of Marketing course developed mission-driven marketing plans for a real-world client this spring as they teamed up with Point Park University alumni working at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
Pictured is Professor Paige Beal interacting with students in the Principles of Marketing course. Photo by Madi Fisher.
Student Profile
Vickye Ford '23
"I recommend Point Park's community engagement program to anyone who wants to take a comprehensive, holistic approach to working in and improving communities."
Pictured is Vickye Ford. Submitted photo.
Faculty Q&A: Shamayeta Bhattacharya, Ph.D.
Thursday, October 13, 2022 "Point Park's Department of Community Engagement & Leadership provides the space to pursue and work on meaningful community engagement with an emphasis on engagement. I see students and faculty working hand in hand with the community."
Pictured is Shamayeta Bhattacharya. Submitted photo.
Faculty Q&A: Tahirah Walker, Ph.D.
Wednesday, September 28, 2022 "I want students to know that if you take my class or come to an event I'm putting on, my number one goal is to make you laugh. I absolutely believe in the power of joy."
Pictured is Tahirah Walker. Photo by Randall Coleman.
"Where Can We Go?" Public Restroom Study Provides Community Engagement Students with Hands-On Research Experience
Tuesday, September 13, 2022 Students researched the lack of access to public restrooms in the Golden Triangle of Downtown Pittsburgh that outlined potential solutions and benefits of installing public restrooms in the city.
Pictured from left to right are Ashley Malachi, Heather Starr Fiedler and Judy Riegelnegg. Photo by Nicole Chynoweth.
Department of Community Engagement & Leadership Welcomes New Cohort with Symposium and a Service Project
Tuesday, September 6, 2022 Point Park University's Department of Community Engagement & Leadership welcomed its fall 2022 cohort for the Ph.D. in Community Engagement program with a welcome weekend of volunteer service and real-world research presentations.
Rising Brothers and Sisters Program
Tuesday, March 22, 2022 Faculty member Mitchel Nickols, Ph.D., has launched Rising Brothers and Sisters, a mentorship program focused on academic preparedness, career readiness and character development for high school students, especially students of color, in the Greater Pittsburgh region.
Alumni Q&A: Deborah Skillings-Phillips, Ph.D., and Karen Smoot, Ed.D.
Monday, October 4, 2021 Sisters Deborah Skillings-Phillips and Karen Smoot leaned on each other for support as they successfully defended their doctoral dissertations in September, earning a Ph.D. in Community Engagement and Ed.D. in Leadership and Administration, respectively.
Pictured from left are Deborah Skillings-Phillips, Ph.D., Mitchel Nickols, Ph.D., and Karen Smooth, Ed.D.
Heather Starr Fiedler and Shawn Sweeney Earn National Community Engagement Credential
Monday, September 20, 2021 Heather Starr Fiedler, Ph.D., and Shawn Sweeney, M.S., earned a micro-credential in Community Engagement Fundamentals through Campus Compact’s Community Engagement Professional Credentialing Program.
Alumni Profile
Veronika Panagiotou '21
Ph.D. in community engagement alumna Veronika Panagiotou is an advocacy and program manager for the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.
Pictured is Veronika Panagiotou. Photo | Megan Gloeckler
Student Profile
Shannon Gregg '14, '20
Shannon J. Gregg, Ph.D. in community engagement student, MBA grad and a part-time instructor, was recognized as a top influential woman in technology.
Pictured is Shannon Gregg. Submitted photo.
Alumni Profile
Michael Harding '14 '20
Meet Michael Harding, MBA alumnus and Ph.D. in community engagement student who was recently promoted to director of business engagement at Carnegie Mellon University.
Pictured is MBA alumnus and Ph.D. student Michael Harding. Photo submitted by Harding.
Professor Serves as Wellness Instructor in Colombia, Gives Global Entrepreneurship Lecture to Universidad del Valle de México Students
Thursday, March 21, 2019 Point Park University Organizational Leadership Professor Helena Knorr, Ph.D., recently traveled to Medellín, Colombia, to teach yoga and mindfulness as part of a wellness retreat.
Pictured is Helena Knorr, Ph.D., organizational leadership professor, presenting in Colombia.
Pioneer Pantry Helps Point Park University Students in Need During the Holidays
Wednesday, November 22, 2017 "Students are realizing that we’re protecting their privacy, and that’s allowing us to gain their trust," said Veronika Panagiotou.
Ph.D. in Community Engagement Student is the Driving Force Behind Point Park's Pioneer Pantry
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Pictured is Veronika Panagiotou.
Pioneer Pantry
Tuesday, September 26, 2017 The food pantry provides students in need up to 10 items twice a month.
Heather Starr Fiedler, director of the Department of Community Engagement, Veronika Panagiotou, doctoral student, and Keith Paylo, vice president of student affairs and dean of students, prepare to stock Pioneer Pantry on campus.
#PghImpact2017 Forum Held at Point Park University
Friday, August 25, 2017
Professor Serves as International Grant Review Expert on Research Integrity
Monday, March 6, 2017
Food Insecurity in the Region Topic of Ph.D. in Community Engagement Program's First Speaker Series
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Ph.D. in Community Engagement Students Develop Program Reviews for the POISE Foundation
Tuesday, November 1, 2016 As part of their coursework in the Program Design, Implementation and Evaluation class, Point Park University Ph.D. in community engagement students developed program reviews for the POISE Foundation, a 501c3 organization in Downtown Pittsburgh that provides fiscal sponsorship services for projects, organizations and individuals in need.
Point Park Professor Presents to Community College Presidents
Friday, June 17, 2016
Point Park Professor Judges International Media Competition
Wednesday, April 27, 2016 Tatyana Dumova, Ph.D., professor of multimedia in the School of Communication, served on a panel of judges for the 2016 Communicator Awards Competition sponsored by the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts.
Ph.D. in Community Engagement Student Committed to Serving Others Professionally, Personally
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
M.A. Psychology Grad, Ph.D. Student Embraces Her Role Helping Girls Take Control of Their Sexual Health
Wednesday, November 11, 2015 Meet Leatra Tate, Girl Talk Project Coordinator for Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force.
Fall 2015 Issue of The Point Magazine Now Online
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Point Park Offering Region's First Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Community Engagement Program
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Point Park's Psychology Program Prepares Alumna for Graduate School
Monday, June 6, 2011
Back to Top