While serving at Michigan State University (MSU) as campus minister and professor, John was instrumental in the development and implementation of the Student Tutorial Education Project (STEP),a program which utilized MSU students and faculty at summer tutorial programs at Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi. In the 1970's he strove to incorporate service-learning into MSU's curriculum and helped create the National Society for Experiential Education.
As a result of this work, John is known affectionately by colleagues across the U.S. as the "Grandfather of Service-Learning". In the 1980's John founded the Greater-Lansing Housing Coalition (GLHC), a community-wide organization dedicated to supporting quality and affordable housing. In the 1990's, he led an initiative to provide low-income residents with access to computers and the Internet, thus forming Closing the Digital Gap Program. Recently he initiated the Edgewood Village/GLHC - MSU Service-Learning Tutoring Partnership.
"John is an extraordinary individual who leads a life committed to volunteerism, community engagement and positive change. He continues to be an inspiration to and stellar role model for those committed to service for the public good." states Karen McKnight Casey, Director of MSU's Center for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement.
In honor of John’s accomplishments and in the spirit of service,The John S. Duley Endowment for Service-Learning is dedicated to support all Spartans engaged in Service-Learning by providing funding to enhance the mission of the Center for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement. As part of this initiative, the endowment funds two competitive mini-grant programs, the Duley Service-Learning award and the STEP Legacy award, to annually support student driven engagement projects.
Gifts to support the The John S. Duley Endowment for Service-Learning will increase MSU"s ability to support MSU students engaged in service-learning. If you are interested in making a gift to support the endowment, please contact the Student Services Advancement Office at (517) 355-7535 or make an online donation.
While serving at Michigan State University (MSU) as campus minister and professor, John was instrumental in the development and implementation of the 
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