Practitioner-Scholar
Meet Dr. Rochelle Smarr
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9
Dr. Rochelle Smarr is a community organizer turned higher education leader, bringing two decades of practitioner–scholar experience in service-learning and community engagement (SLCE). Her 20-year career reflects a dynamic path—from organizing communities to leading institutional initiatives—across public, private, and land-grant universities.Her work lives at the intersection of leadership, reciprocity, and impact—on campus and in community. As a practitioner–scholar–administrator–podcaster–author, she understands what it means to navigate spaces that don’t always name or value the full scope of what individuals bring.Grounded in a deep commitment to service-learning, community engagement, and experiential learning, Dr. Smarr designs and advances initiatives that foster meaningful partnerships and transformative learning. She has taught courses on civic engagement and community engagement. Dr. Smarr has facilitated workshops on critical reflection and ethical community engagement programs. She continues to create spaces for educational doctoral (Ed.D.) leaders—especially women of color in higher education—to lead with authenticity, clarity, and courage across the many roles they hold.
Co-Chair (2024-Present) | UC San Diego's Collective Impact Experiential Learning Working Group
Chair (2025) | International Assocation for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE)
Board Member IARSLCE (2019-2026) | Conference Chair 2023-2025.
Fellow (2026-27) | Campus Compact's Mid-Career Learning Community
Author-Podcaster
Substack Community
More than a newsletter. More than a podcast. A community for multi-hyphenated leaders to connect, reflect, and grow.
Substack Community | This is the staff huddle for boundary-spanning leaders navigating the in-between spaces of higher ed and beyond.
Podcast | Launched in 2025, The HyphenatEdD Leader is a Substack and podcast exploring the lived experiences of higher education professionals balancing roles—mentor, advocate, scholar, and administrator. Season 2 features the Voices from the Huddle, guest interviews with Ed.D. leaders across the education spectrum.
Author-Leader-Keynote
Speaking and Collaborations
Whether through research, speaking, or facilitation, Dr. Smarr brings a grounded, reflective approach to advancing leadership and applied-learning opportunities with community into her practices across higher education.
Her work spans scholarship, speaking engagements, and practice, including, but not limited to:
Dissertation | Smarr, R. N. (2023). Stories from the Field: Black Service-Learning Student Experiences. University of California, San Diego.
Keynote | Smarr, R. N. (2025). How Community Engagement Fosters Leadership, Teamwork, and Effective Communication. General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka for their Fusion 2025 Student Symposium.
Foreward | Furco, A., Smarr, R., Muse, S., Webster, N., Nance, A. & Lortan, D. (2025). Global research agenda for service-learning and community engagement. International Association for Researchon Service-Learning and Community Engagement.
Book Chapter| Smarr, R. (2026). Grace, Grit, and Resilience in Black Women in Educational Leadership: Stories of Resilience and Achievement.
Dr. Smarr partners with institutions and organizations to lead conversations for students, staff, and faculty on on critical reflection, tenants of service-learning and community engagement, experiential learning pedagogy and opportunities, and civic engagement. In addition to mentorship of staff, practitioners and faculty seeking holistic pedagogy practices.She is available for keynotes, workshops, panels, and collaborative engagements.
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Whether you’re looking to collaborate, book a talk, or join the conversation—you’re welcome to join the HyphenatEdD Leader Huddle!