175 students, every single spot filled: a professor's legacy, measured in beds built and meals served

Dr Chris Dula taught psychology at East Tennessee State University for 15 years and was, by every account, the colleague who showed up for everyone. Since his death in 2019, the university has honoured him the way he would have wanted: with work. On October 17, all 175 volunteer spots for the annual Dula Day of Service filled, sending students out across the region to organisations working on animal welfare, food security, health and community development. In Kingsport, volunteers joined Sleep in Heavenly Peace — whose mission is that no child sleeps on the floor — for its largest bed-building effort to date. 'This day of service is especially meaningful as we honor Dr. Dula, a colleague and friend who cared deeply about others,' said Joy Fulkerson, the university's director of Leadership and Civic Engagement.

SDG 11 · Sustainable cities and communities — Mechanism: community action