Hi again...ok I'll start with the introductions.

My name is Drew Stelljes. I was born and raised on Long Island. I lived in a small town (smaller than Williamsburg) on the east end of LI. With about 200 kids in my graduating class (all of whom I went to school with for 12 years) I was ready for smeothing different. I was really into art in HS so I applied to art schools and accepted Alfred U. in upstate NY. I did a last minute switch after realizing that I didn't want to be an artist and ended up at JMU. I loved it. I majored in Sociology and Org. Communication. I received a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology at JMU and it's at that time that I fell in love with service, more sepcifically how people change as a result of involvement in service. Upon graduating I got married and moved to Williamsburg to work at W&M.

I've been working here for 10 years now and I've loved it. In that time I have been witness to a rapid and dramatic increase in student involvement in service and as important a revolution in the manner in which we consider service and citizenship.

I earned my PhD in Educational Policy from W&M and have written on service-learning and commitment to service quite a bit. I have a book coming out in August on the topic.

My wife Amy and I have two children. Emma is 3 and Braden is 1. We live in Williamsburg and feel blessed to have wonderful friends. We have a terrific church community - St. Martin's - check it out sometime :) - and we have a sweet dog named Sadie.

I love SLC because it unites community leaders with motivated students to discuss important topics. We learn best when we discuss - in big group and outside of SLC during AND beyond the 10 week program.

I will write a lot more later but for now let the fun begin!