Retired MU faculty members support scholarships through book | University of Missouri Extension
Retired MU faculty members support scholarships through book
Doris Littrell's book covers
the ethical and practical aspects of community development using examples of
people coming together and working through challenges.
Doris Littrell and her late husband Don spent 40 years working with people
in communities, nurturing the process of community development. Before Don died,
they had started a book together about their work in Missouri and around the
world. Doris finished the book, Practicing Community Development after
Don's death in 2005.
Proceeds from the book, available through MU Extension, will benefit the
Doris P. Littrell Scholarship for returning adult students enrolled at
the University and the Littrell-Timmons Fund that provides scholarships
for citizens to attend the Community Development Academy, which the
Littrells helped establish.
Doris, who retired after 10 years as director of MU
Direct: Continuing and Distance Education and also worked with adults returning to school at Stephens
College, collaborated with her husband as a consultant, teacher and trainer.
Based on those experiences, she worked with the University to tailor her financial
gifts to Extension for this special population of students who often need a
boost to get a career started, or re-started. An endowment from a charitable
remainder trust provides the foundation for the scholarships.
"I was a returning student myself once, and I know how much encouragement
meant to me along the way," said Doris. "I wanted to share with
others to help make the University more accessible to this group, which represents
a growing percentage of students."
Because the need is so great in this area, the University is seeking additional
funding to expand the endowment.
"Doris' support for these scholarships honors her long involvement,
with Don, in Extension, and their faith in the value of helping people learn
to control their own future," said Mary Leuci, assistant dean for community
development at the University of Missouri. She notes that the Littrells are
widely known for their commitment to human rights and advocating for disenfranchised
groups, in the United States and abroad. Their leadership, which continued into
retirement, was recognized in 2004 with the Faculty Diversity Enhancement Award.