Campus Compact is pleased to announce that Dr. Julie Grossman, associate dean of Undergraduate Programs and professor at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, has been awarded Campus Compact’s Thomas Ehrlich Civically Engaged Faculty Award. The award, presented in partnership with Brown University’s Swearer Center for Public Service, recognizes senior faculty who practice exemplary engaged scholarship through teaching and research. Recipients are selected on the basis of their collaboration with communities, institutional impact, and high-quality academic work.
Grossman is recognized for her work in the Department of Horticultural Science, where her research explores plant-soil-microbe relationships in organic agriculture. In her role as associate dean, she provides collaborative leadership for initiatives that support and enhance the undergraduate experience within the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences (CFANS), including admissions, recruitment, international programs, and development of innovative programs that promote student engagement and create a welcoming and inclusive undergraduate community. She has received the Outstanding Mentor Award from the Soil Science Society of America, the Organic Achievement Award from the Agronomy Society of America and has been a Fulbright Scholar in Mexico and Colombia.
“Over the past decade, I have had the privilege of collaborating closely with Dr. Grossman in numerous capacities—through community-based research, student partnerships, and farmer education initiatives—and I can say without hesitation that she represents the very best of what civically engaged scholarship should be,” said KaZoua Berry, Farm Director, Big River Farms of The Food Group of Minnesota in a letter supporting Grossman’s nomination for the award. “Her dedication to advancing community-engaged scholarship, her tireless advocacy for diverse and emerging farmers, and her remarkable ability to bridge the worlds of academia and practice make her a truly deserving candidate for this honor.”
“Dr. Grossman has served the University of Minnesota for over twenty years, and throughout her career—as a faculty member, researcher, and academic leader—she has exemplified the highest standards of community-engaged scholarship,” said Laurie Van Egeren, Vice Provost for Public Engagement at the University of Minnesota, in a letter supporting Grossman’s nomination for the award. “Her projects advance science while generating measurable community benefits, from improved soil health to stronger cultural competency among future scientists. Through her teaching, research, and mentorship, she demonstrates how universities can serve as authentic partners in building sustainable and just food systems.”
“As a researcher, educator, and community connector, Dr. Grossman’s work is firmly rooted at the intersection of academia, mentorship, and real-world impact,” said Bobbie Laur, Campus Compact president. “The Ehrlich award recognizes individuals like Dr. Grossman who have a unique ability to extend their work in a university setting out into the world and deliver on the promise of higher education to advance the public good.”
The Thomas Ehrlich Civically Engaged Faculty Award is presented as part of Campus Compact's Impact Awards, which recognize shining examples of meaningful, impactful civic and community engagement work. Read more about the other awards and this year's recipients here.
The recipients of these awards will be recognized at Compact26, Campus Compact’s annual conference, which will be held in Chicago, Illinois, from March 16th-18th, 2026.