Last semester, Dr. Jinho Joo embraced new ways of teaching while stepping into teaching PR301, a course with a long tradition of using service-learning. In PR301, students partner with local nonprofits to design real-world public relations campaigns ranging from community outreach and volunteer recruitment to event promotion. Although service-learning was new to him, Dr. Joo approached the transition with openness and curiosity.
With support from the Service-Learning Program, Dr. Joo thoughtfully integrated community partnerships into his teaching, creating an environment where students could apply classroom concepts to authentic, real-world learning experiences. His guidance helped students balance creativity with professional responsibility, resulting in campaigns that were both innovative and deeply responsive to partner needs.
Community partners consistently praised the quality of the students’ work and the professionalism of the collaboration. One partner reflected on how students pushed their organization to think more strategically:
“They did a fantastic job, and surprised me by taking a different, but thoughtful, spin on our target audience.
[T]hey. . . challenged us to consider. . .whether our marketing should more intentionally target voters within a specific age demographic. . .[considering our work]. . .isn’t just about promoting the coalition or building empathy for people experiencing homelessness, it’s about converting understanding into action.” – Boise Homeless Coalition
Partners also emphasized the professionalism and communication skills students demonstrated under Dr. Joo’s mentorship:
“This experience with service-learning has changed how I see the youth of today — they were incredible to work with and I was extremely impressed with their listening, communication, and expertise.” — Story Story Night
Another organization highlighted the strength of the partnership itself:
“The MBFC had an excellent partnership with Jinho Joo and the media students, resulting in an outstanding campaign proposal.” — Marie Blanchard Friendship Clinic
Through his leadership, Dr. Joo continued the meaningful opportunity service-learning provides students and community partners. His willingness to embrace new ways of teaching and to invest in meaningful partnerships provided students with invaluable professional experience while helping local organizations advance their missions. In doing so, he exemplifies the power of teaching that connects classroom learning with community engagement.