| University | Semester | Year | Course | Department | Instructor(s) | Students Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulane University | Fall | 2015 | Philanthropy & Social Change | School of Liberal Arts Management Minor | Michele Adams | 23 students |
| Tulane University | Fall | 2016 | Philanthropy & Social Change | School of Liberal Arts Management Minor | Michele Adams | 26 students |
| Tulane University | Fall | 2017 | Philanthropy & Social Change | School of Liberal Arts Management Minor | Michele Adams | 24 students |
| Tulane University | Fall | 2018 | Philanthropy & Social Change | School of Liberal Arts Management Minor | Michele Adams | 24 students |
| Tulane University | Fall | 2019 | Philanthropy & Social Change | Department of Sociology | Michele Adams | 31 students |
Philanthropy & Social Change
Taught by Michele Adams
Department of Sociology, School of Liberal Arts Management Minor
Michele Adams is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology. In addition to “Philanthropy & Social Change”, Michele has also taught courses like “Social Theory” and “Issues in Sociology of Family”. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Riverside. Currently, she is working on two main research projects. The first is a book project that examines the socio-historical construction of “family values” over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, addressing how movements for women’s rights in each century inadvertently drive competing counter movements promoting marriage and family. The second main research focus is a study of the trajectory of relationships formed through online dating venues, in which she examines changes in gender attitudes and practice as those relationships transition off-line and into long-term face-to-face romantic unions. Her research interests include family, gender, and culture, particularly relating to gender arrangements in families, cultural “family values” wars, relationship formation, marriage, and divorce. Other research interests include parental alienation syndrome and family promotion movements.
Class split into 2 “components”
- Academic – theory (lectures, readings, etc.)
- Experiential – practice (group work, analyzing NPOs, site visits, grant making, etc.)
Philanthropic Autobiography #1 and #2
- A “before and after” of each students’ philanthropic philosophy
- Autobiography #1 – Students address their current philosophy and experience of giving, drawing on times that they have donated/volunteered. Students also explain values and beliefs about giving and what motivates them.
- Autobiography #2 – Students then “update” their philosophy and goals, drawing from experiences in the class. Students are also asked to give their opinions on many big questions/debate in philanthropy.
Philanthropy Fridays every Friday for 50 mins
- Used for guest speakers and group work
- This satisfies the university-wide “service learning” requirement
Each group determines criteria/important factors and creates decision matrix to evaluate the NPOs
Comprehensive briefing book (30% of grade)
Each group creates a problem statement, mission statement, and values statement
Multiple guest speakers (on topics of fundraising and site visits)