John Preston, of Round Lake, 'paving the way' as one of Clark University's inaugural LEEP Project Pioneers

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John Preston is a LEEP Project Pioneer at Clark University

WORCESTER, MA (01/10/2013)(readMedia)-- John J. Preston, of Round Lake, N.Y., is one of 46 Clark University students selected to serve as a LEEP Project Pioneer-the first class of students conducting projects under LEEP (Liberal Education and Effective Practice), Clark's model of education that combines a robust liberal arts curriculum with life-changing world and workplace experiences.

The LEEP Pioneers have been working closely with faculty mentors as well as Clark alumni and organizational partners on projects of shared interest or leading-edge research and analysis. The projects, some of which started this summer, and others which will commence during the 2012-2013 academic year, allow the students to creatively address actual problems and apply their knowledge in authentic workplace settings before they graduate. The LEEP Projects span the full breadth of academic studies, from arts/humanities to natural and social sciences.

Preston worked with the Clark Anti-Violence Education (CAVE) program to develop a Pre-Bystander Program for international students, and is working to create a joint internship with Pathways for Change (formerly the Rape Crisis Center of Central Massachusetts).

"Clark's LEEP Project Pioneers initiative is the inaugural run for an exciting new feature of our undergraduate curriculum. LEEP Projects provide opportunities for students to blend academic learning with professional development," said Colin Polsky, associate dean for undergraduate research and active pedagogy and associate professor of geography. "LEEP Projects not only allow Clark students to dive deep into a topic about which they are passionate, but also require students to learn how to communicate about the topic to multiple and diverse audiences."

Preston is a member of the Class of 2014 at Clark; he majors in comparative literature. On campus, Preston serves as a Resident Adviser (RA) and treasurer of the Slam Poetry Team. He is a playspace activity leader for Horizons for the Homeless Children, and has been an outreach and education intern for the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. Preston is a 2010 graduate of Shenendehowa High School.

Founded in 1887 in Worcester, Massachusetts, Clark University is a small, liberal arts-based research university addressing social and human imperatives on a global scale. Clark's faculty and students work across boundaries to develop solutions to contemporary challenges in the areas of psychology, geography, management, urban education, Holocaust and genocide studies, environmental studies, and international development and social change. The Clark educational experience embodies the University's motto: Challenge convention. Change our world. www.clarku.edu