91´«Ã½

Shepherd Program

Professor Eastwood teaching a class

Shepherd Program

The Shepherd Program for the Interdisciplinary Study of Poverty and Human Capability incorporates a spirit of engagement and service into 91´«Ã½’ extra-curricular and academic lives. Shepherd 91´«Ã½ learn how to understand and address the causes and consequences of poverty and inequality in ways that respect the dignity of every person, through community engagement and academic offerings, including a minor and internship opportunities.

Students weave poverty-related courses across disciplines (economics, education, law, philosophy, politics, sociology, and more) with hands-on service and internship experiences to supplement their major areas of study. Those pursuing a minor in poverty studies undertake capstone research projects that connect their concerns about poverty and inequality with their future civic and professional lives.

For over 25 years, The Shepherd Program has supported student leadership and service opportunities in the local Rockbridge area and beyond. Understanding the causes and consequences of poverty requires direct collaboration with community partners.

Shepherd in the News

Students and graduates of the Shepherd Program are involved all over campus and all over the world.

Stories


The associate professor of sociology received an honorable mention citation for the Premio Iberoamericano Book Award.

The story focuses on the Bonner Program’s collaborative work with the Street Medicine Institute.

Akinkugbe’s goal of becoming a pediatric oncologist has been reinforced by her research lab work.

The March 20 webinar will focus on the challenges in addressing childhood obesity.

This year’s event raised more than $11,000 to support the Campus Kitchen’s hunger-fighting project.

Lex Thompson ’27 serves soup to two Lexington community members at the Souper Bowl in Evans Dining Hall.

All proceeds from the Feb. 2 event will support the Campus Kitchen at W&L’s Backpack Program.

The Jan. 27 webinar will focus on food relief efforts in Rockbridge County and Western Virginia.

Alina de Zoysa ’25 and P Barnes ’25, president of the Campus Kitchen Leadership Team, show their spirit at the Turkeypalooza Pumpkin Pieve-K. Photo by Cecelia Schweitzer ’26

The community is encouraged to participate and donate to support Campus Kitchen’s programming, which kicks off Nov. 10.

Adhip Adhikari ’27 spent much of his summer creating a library at a secondary school near his family’s home in Katmandu, Nepal.

The annual event series examines the ways in which food systems interact with issues of social justice.

W&L 91´«Ã½ share their experiences getting to know the larger Lexington and Rockbridge community during the summer months.

Through the Davis Projects for Peace Grant and a Fulbright ETA, Allie Stankewich ’23 is building relationships with the communities she serves in East Africa.