Southern Miss Administrator Captures Service-Learning Award

Josh Duplantis, assistant director for the Union in the Office of Community Service Learning at The University of Southern Mississippi, harbors a deep passion for student achievement, particularly in the area of community outreach.

For his tireless efforts, Duplantis has been presented the Gulf-South Summit Award for Outstanding Practitioner Contributions to Service Learning in Higher Education. The award is given to a practitioner who has demonstrated excellence in creating, providing and sustaining opportunities for engaging college/university students in service-learning.

“I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition,” said Duplantis. “This award represents the work of so many people that connect with the Office of Community Service Learning, including Southern Miss students who selflessly serve the greater good through our programs. Also, out faculty fellows regularly provide high quality service-learning experiences that deeply enrich course content and bring excitement to student learning.”

Duplantis' responsibilities include conducting faculty training on the concept of service-learning; promoting civic engagement among students, faculty and staff and managing a network of non-profit leaders in the Hattiesburg area. He also serves as the vice-president of the Board of Directors of Hattiesburg Area Habitat for Humanity.

A Raceland, La., native, Duplantis earned his bachelor's degree in Human Resource Education and Workforce Development from Louisiana State University and his master's degree in Educational Administration from Auburn University. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Human Capital Development at Southern Miss.

For more information about the Office of Community Service Learning at Southern Miss, call 601.266.5074 or visit: http://www.usm.edu/ocsl/