Matthew D. Kaye, PhD

Matthew Kaye As the Director of the Office of Volunteer Programs and Service Learning, it is my responsibility to prioritize community engagement at Sacred Heart University (SHU). Community engagement is an excellent means for SHU students to contribute to a community in need, achieve a better understanding of social justice, and, develop their skill set within their major. It has been a pleasure to work with Distressed Children International to further this. Over the past three year partnership, we have been able to collaborate in supporting DCI’s mission of assisting children who don’t have access to healthcare and education. My student team had the opportunity to work hand in hand with their teams at their facility in Dhaka, as well as in the remote village, Patuakhali, in Bangladesh. DCI’s volunteer coordination provide SHU students with a unique, well organized opportunity that directly impacted the children DCI supports. Their dedicated staff in Bangladesh is extraordinary supportive and well suited to bridge cultural and linguistic differences. My students not only had the opportunity to volunteer, they had the chance to work directly with Bangladeshi community members. No doubt that this made a positive and lasting impression, as well as contributed to gaining a better understanding of social justice and international development. I wish DCI all the success. Matthew D. Kaye, PhD Director, Office of Volunteer Programs & Service Learning Sacred Heart University (SHU)