East Tennessee State University students carried forward Dr. Chris Dula’s legacy of service on Saturday, Oct. 17, as 175 students filled every volunteer spot for the annual Dula Day of Service, supporting community organizations across the region.
The annual event brought students together for a day of hands-on service, supporting organizations focused on animal welfare, food security, health and wellness, and community development.
At Sleep in Heavenly Peace in Kingsport, volunteers helped build beds for children in need. The organization works to ensure that no child sleeps on the floor, providing beds to children and families throughout the community. Volunteers contributed to the organization’s largest bed-building effort to date, helping expand access to safe, comfortable sleeping spaces for local children.
“We’re always happy to see our students, faculty and staff serving our communities, and this day of service is especially meaningful as we honor Dr. Dula, a colleague and friend who cared deeply about others,” said Joy Fulkerson, director of Leadership and Civic Engagement at ETSU.
Dula Day honors the life and legacy of Dula, who served as an ETSU psychology professor from 2004 to 2019. A dedicated educator and researcher, Dula received honors including the Distinguished Faculty Award in Teaching. He also shared his musical talents with his band, Kryss Dula and Friends, and was committed to serving others.
Before his passing in 2019, Dula wrote a memoir, “Experiments in Life: One Man’s Transformation from Privilege to Pathetic, Penitent to Professor,” to inspire others and support charitable organizations.
In 2018, the ETSU Board of Trustees established the Dr. Chris Dula Day of Service, recognizing Dula as “a scholar who nobly embodies the entire mission of ETSU, from teaching to research, to public events.”
With all 175 volunteer spots filled this year, students continued a tradition that connects Dula’s legacy with ETSU’s commitment to civic engagement and service throughout the region.
