Lori Gardinier has been director of Northeastern’s Human Services Program since 2005. In that time, she has not only seen the university evolve — she’s played a major part in expanding its global mission. As a professor in Northeastern’s College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Gardinier focuses her research primarily on antipoverty and social issues. One of her proudest accomplishments is her work with the Dialogue of Civilizations program that allows students to take four- to six-week classes abroad focused on promoting “global engagement.”
Through her work, she has helped students build connections with various nonprofit organizations locally and around the world, including in Benin, Mexico, Costa Rica, India, the U.K. and Zambia. Service is at the heart of these relationships, she explains. Her students have tackled various projects designed to help improve conditions for these communities — from providing legal aid workshops for widows in India to planting community gardens to create more food sources for the people of Zambia.
