Trevor C Lane, Ed.D. (aka Dr. Change) is often asked, “What do you do for WSU?” In an interview with Kevin Weir, Action Coach director, Dr. Change shares his story of outreach and success discussing what it’s like to work with tribal and rural communities.
Community & Economic Development
The national landscape reveals gaps or a divide in key services and resources, known as the Urban/Rural/Tribal Divide. Dr. Change works across many lines to address a variety of issues. For example, the federal government demonstrates the existence of food deserts and broadband deserts or a digital divide. Nonpartisan programs and projects in our tribal and rural communities are designed to bolster small business ecosystems, technology, and agritourism for small farms and ranches with support from state and federal agencies, as well as several federally recognized tribes in Washington.
As a state specialist for Washington State University (WSU) Extension, tribal and rural communities are in great need. Trevor C Lane, Ed.D. (aka Dr. Change) leverages scholarly activity with community outreach and economic engagement to identify the unique needs, challenges, and opportunities to support leaders in their efforts to achieve success through organizational change. Youth retention efforts are pronounced by advocating for tribal and rural youth having a voice and a vote.
With extensive research and knowledge in events and tourism, the Wildrose Prairie is one of a few agritourism cooperatives supported. This experience culminated in a position as an executive board member for the Washington Festivals & Events Association (WFEA). Dr. Change was recognized by colleagues and received the National Achievement Award for his work in using technology for community narratives and storytelling.
Learn. Serve. Lead.
Trevor C Lane, Ed.D. (aka Dr. Change) subscribes to the mantra, “Learn. Serve. Lead.” This personal mantra is actually a family slogan. As an educator with more than a decade of experience in higher education, this slogan has expansive meaning. The short version is we must be devoted life learners who learn how to learn. While learning, we must simultaneously learn how to be in service to others because every situation and person is different. As we learn and serve, good leaders know how to step out in front but GREAT leaders know how to follow. Thus, at the end of the day, it is critical to lead, follow, or know when to get out of the way.
When promoting to associate professor and reflecting on the past in order to move through the future, the following vision statement guides everything done in service to others:
Vision Statement – Achieving results while seeking understanding through engagement in curriculum, programming, outreach, teaching, and research by making education and the world of work accessible through technology, empowering tomorrow’s leaders today. Providing thought leadership to support
innovation, education, and maintaining Extension’s relevance in the 21st century.