WGS 195A: Fieldwork in Women's & Gender Studies

Reflection on Integrating Community Engagement into Academic Career: 3-stage Action Plan

The Women's & Gender Studies internship course (WGS 195A) aims to bridge academic study with real-world practice. I'm redesigning this course to build sustainable partnerships with organizations in the Sacramento area such as the Rape Crisis Center, WEAVE, and the Sacramento Women's Center. I also hope to explore new connections through the Community Engagement Center. By revitalizing this class and expanding our partnership offerings, students will be able to develop professional networks and practical skills while putting their learning into action in the community.

My plan for the next three semesters focuses on three key goals. First, I'll collaborate with campus partners to identify and build relationships with 2-3 new community organizations by meeting with my department chair, Noel Mora at the CEC, and Abraham Mendoza, the Internship Coordinator. After my sabbatical in Fall 2025, I'll work with departmental colleagues in Spring 2026 to explore curriculum restructuring to potentially make this internship a requirement, scheduled in either students' junior or senior year. Finally, in Fall 2026, I'll develop a comprehensive template syllabus with clear assignments that any faculty member can use. I imagine that the syllabus will include items such as weekly timelogs, reflective biweekly journals, and professionalization sessions that will prepare students for work beyond graduation.

The outcomes of this initiative will strengthen both student learning and community impact. I'll begin to develop a strong network of partners offering internship experiences while establishing WGS 195A as a cornerstone of our curriculum. The new course materials will ensure consistency in student experiences, and by Fall 2026, the redesigned course will be ready to be implemented. This work enriches students' professional development and community engagement, which will help them develop the skills they need in their future careers. It will also strengthen our department's community connections and provide valuable support to organizations addressing gender equity issues throughout Sacramento.

Here is my 3-stage Community-Engaged Action Plan.

Action Plan Examples
Gender Health Center	Curriculum
Caption: Logo for the Gender Health Center, a nonprofit organization in Sacramento that the WGS department plans to strengthen its connection to.	My biggest takeaway is that we need to clearly define the Internship class's specific purpose within our curriculum. We also need to resolve several practical and logistical questions about how this class will operate going forward.

Moving Forward

The Faculty Learning Community has supported my interest in transforming WGS 195A into a meaningful internship experience for our students. Through our discussions and activities this semester, I've developed a deeper understanding of how to create community partnerships that genuinely serve both our students and local organizations. The structured action planning process has helped me turn what initially felt like an overwhelming course redesign into a clear roadmap with achievable milestones, giving me confidence that we can successfully implement changes to our curriculum by Fall 2026.

The connections I've made through the FLC have been particularly valuable. Meeting contacts such as Ann Moylan, Noel Mora, and Abraham Mendoza and accessing the comprehensive community partner database have helped me feel supported in undertaking this task. Learning from faculty such as Jaime Jackson has provided practical models I can adapt for our Women's & Gender Studies students.

Moving forward, the support I received in the FLC will keep my work grounded in both student needs and community priorities. The assignment examples and syllabus templates shared by colleagues inspired my course development. Beyond just redesigning one course, this FLC has reinforced my commitment to connect classroom learning with real-world action. My hope is that the seeds planted in this learning community will continue to grow, potentially reshaping not just WGS 195A, but our entire departmental approach to community engagement.

Faculty Biography

Cara E. Jones is an Associate Professor of Women's & Gender Studies, who specializes in feminist disability studies and feminist health studies. Cara has published in Disability and the Academic Job Market, the Journal of Lesbian Studies, Radical Teacher, Hypatia: A Journal of Feminist Philosophy, Feminist Formations, and Women's Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal. Her book Adhesions: Endometriosis as Gendered Disability is currently under contract with Routledge.

Funding
This work was supported by	Logos
The Community Engagement Center, the Career Center, and the Anchor/Community-Engaged University Collaborative

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