With a focus on social issues, Northeastern professor Lori Gardinier has spent her two decades at the university helping expand its global mission.
Lori Gardinier has been director of Northeastern’s Human Services Program since 2005. In that time, she has not only seen the university evolve — she’s played a major part in expanding its global mission.
As a professor in Northeastern’s College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Gardinier focuses her research primarily on antipoverty and social issues. One of her proudest accomplishments is her work with the Dialogue of Civilizations program that allows students to take four- to six-week classes abroad focused on promoting “global engagement.”
Through her work, she has helped students build connections with various nonprofit organizations locally and around the world, including in Benin, Mexico, Costa Rica, India, the U.K. and Zambia.
Service is at the heart of these relationships, she explains. Her students have tackled various projects designed to help improve conditions for these communities — from providing legal aid workshops for widows in India to planting community gardens to create more food sources for the people of Zambia.
Recognizing her contributions, Northeastern recently awarded Gardinier with the Global Educator Award. In a letter to Gardinier, the selection committee said her “years of service to university — particularly leading Dialogues and partnerships with various non-profits conducting impactful work with students” stood out.
Northeastern has been a nearly perfect fit for Gardinier, given its emphasis on experiential learning. Moreover, she says she feels fortunate to work at a university that values global education.
“I’ve been really lucky to be a part of the dialogue program since its start,” she says. “Having the opportunity to work alongside colleagues who are equally passionate about global education and to have the opportunity to work deeply with students in an intensive study abroad program where we all have this experience together is at the cornerstone of my career.”
Before coming to Northeastern, Gardinier worked as a social worker. She tries to bring the practical experience she obtained, working industry into the classroom and in the university’s experiential programs.
“Our program is committed to preparing students for practice and research in the field,” she says. “In order to do that, students need the opportunity to do that in the field,” she says.
“What I’ve been able to do through these experiential offerings has been able to place students in nonprofit organizations and internships through service and community-based experiences so that they can build their attitudes, values, skills and knowledge that are pertinent to working in the social justice space,” she adds.