Download the June 16, 2024 CUR eNews here.
In this issue, you’ll find information on
- Scholars Transforming through Research (STR)
- Membership Renewal
- CUR Awards Celebration Ceremony
- AURA Award
- Advocacy Update on CHIPS and Science Act
- and more
Richmond’s Vázquez Selected as 2024 CURAH Faculty Mentor Awardee
Dr. Karina Elizabeth Vázquez, Community-Based Learning (CBL) Director in the Department of Latin America, Latino, & Iberian Studies (LALIS) at the University of Richmond, has been selected as the 2024 Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) – Arts and Humanities Faculty Mentor Awardee.
Vázquez views her mentor role as an opportunity to work with students in exciting and challenging processes of merging their intellectual interests with their life aspirations. In her current role as LALIS CBL Director, she coordinates educational initiatives and community translation and interpretation projects that support bilingualism, Hispanic/Latinx, and immigrant communities through collaborative projects to promote access to culture, education, health services, and more. She continues to see students as multifaceted individuals who want to explore and contribute on their terms and believes that her role as a mentor is to strengthen their self-positioning through process-based advising. Her success is proven through the growth of her program at the University of Richmond. Under her direction, the CBL program has become a cornerstone of the curriculum in her department, allowing her students to engage in 3-5 academic community projects each semester, complete numerous individual translation projects, write articles, give presentations, serve 12-15 community partners a semester, and her students provide approximately one thousand hours of community service/engagement each year.
According to Jennifer Jones Cavenaugh, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Richmond, “Karina’s unique approach of combining CBL with professional development clearly has resulted in positive student research outcomes such as publications. Perhaps more importantly, though, she has made her students more culturally aware, professionally prepared, empowered, and eager contributors to the bettering of our community. This is what only the best mentors can accomplish.”
“I felt elated when I got the news about the award,” explains Dr. Vázquez. “Immediately, all the experiences working as a research mentor passed through my mind, especially when students shared how conducting research had changed and helped them to better understand their communities. I am passionate about engaging students in Arts and Humanities research that seeks to respond to key questions while addressing challenges faced by local communities. Mentoring students who are passionate about social change and helping them hone their research skills to achieve a better comprehension of how representation and power intersect through social dynamics renews my commitment to the profession.”
Dr. Vázquez continues to explain, “Publishing and presenting at conferences with students have been inspiring experiences that keep me working on re-designing courses and re-thinking my pedagogical approaches. These are wonderful opportunities for listening to students present themselves with autonomy. Recently, I have enjoyed and learned from working on literary texts re-editing projects where students must write prologues for a reading audience defined by themselves. This assignment has shown them the power of literature. Research conducted for writing the prologues and presentations became a venue for students to identify and explore urgent questions and issues that surfaced as they became aware of themselves as members of an interpretative community. Researching and writing became instances for resilience, dialogue, and critical positioning/intervention. Working with these students helps me see the world through different and renewed lenses!”
Lindsay Currie, CUR’s executive officer, stated, “Dr. Vázquez’s holistic and humanistic approach to mentoring undergraduates should be celebrated. We are excited to acknowledge her vested interest in collaborating community and education to better prepare students through empowering their research. It is also humbling to see her dedication through such a wide lens that allows her to connect with her students to help them achieve personal and professional growth.”
The CUR-Arts and Humanities Faculty Mentor Award was established in 2018 through an endowed gift by 2012 CUR Fellow Joyce Kinkead (Utah State University) to nurture undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative inquiry in arts and humanities disciplines. Vázquez will be honored at the June 11, 2024, CUR Award Celebration.
CUR Names NAU’s Lee as Silvia Ronco Innovative Mentor 2024 Awardee
Dr. Naomi Lee, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Arizona University (NAU), an NIH Early-Stage Investigator, an officer in the Army Reserves, an affiliate faculty of various STEM-related professional societies, and a member of the Seneca Nation (bear clan), has been selected as the 2024 recipient of the Council on Undergraduate Research’s (CUR) Silvia Ronco Innovative Mentor Award. This award, established in February 2022 by a gift from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA), is in honor of CUR’s past president and current RCSA Senior Program Director, Silvia Ronco. The Silvia Ronco Innovative Mentor Award recognizes a tenure-track faculty member within ten years of their first faculty appointment who demonstrates success in chemical sciences and whose mentoring practices have supported undergraduate research.
“I am extremely honored to be selected for the Silvia Ronco Innovative Mentor awardee,” stated Lee. “One of the highlights of my career is helping students excel and reach their potential either in the classroom or laboratory. More importantly, I strive to create an inclusive environment where students feel they can express themselves in academia and research.”
Dr. Lee has expressed that her career goal is to increase the health and welfare of Native American communities through research, STEM education, and mentoring. Through her research, she found that in 2013 NSF data detailed one Native American student graduated with a doctorate degree with a focus in organic. This likely candidate was Dr. Lee herself. After seeing the data, Dr. Lee strives to change the pattern of the future. Dr. Lee mentored hundreds of high school and undergraduate students, primarily Native American or Hispanic. Within the past five years at her current institution, Dr. Lee continued pursuing her passion by securing multiple NIH grants and foundation funding, publishing peer-reviewed articles with students as co-authors, and executing one patent and numerous culturally informed materials for her lab at NAU. Through her mentoring, Dr. Lee has been recognized on various levels across the country, including the 2018 Professional of the Year by the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, named among the Top 15 Emerging Scholars in Diverse Issue in Higher Education, and listed as one of the “Visionary Women of Rochester” by the University of Rochester.
“Dr. Lee exemplifies the spirit and dedication that the Silvia Ronco Innovative Mentor Award was created to honor. As an Assistant Professor, an NIH Early-Stage Investigator, and a devoted mentor, Dr. Lee has not only excelled in the chemical sciences but has also made significant strides in fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for undergraduate research. Her commitment to increasing the health and welfare of Native American communities through research and STEM education is truly inspiring. Dr. Lee’s achievements and her tireless efforts to mentor and guide students, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds, reflect the highest ideals of the Council on Undergraduate Research. We are proud to recognize her outstanding contributions and look forward to her continued impact on the academic and research community,” detailed Lindsay Currie, CUR Executive Officer.
Lee will be recognized at CUR’s Award Celebration on June 11, 2024.
Working Students: Balancing Academic and Work Lives
UWL senior’s research reveals realities for students balancing jobs and academics
Sidney Paulson, a senior at UW-La Crosse, stumbled upon the inspiration for an undergraduate research project during her ethnographic methods class. The inability of a group of students to coordinate a time to meet outside class due to their demanding work schedules sparked Paulson’s curiosity about the challenges faced by working students in balancing their academic and work lives.
“In that initial research for class, many more questions came up for me about what people find important in college careers and the support systems that are most beneficial,” says Paulson. “I wanted to explore that more and bring more awareness to it.”
Now, Paulson is bringing awareness about working students to the national level. She’ll present the results of her research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) April 8-10, in Long Beach, California. NCUR serves as a platform for student scholars from various academic backgrounds to showcase their research endeavors. UWL has hosted NCUR twice.
Paulson’s research involved conducting an online survey targeting full-time UWL students who work at least 15 hours per week during the academic term. Subsequently, she conducted follow-up interviews with select participants to gain deeper insights into their experiences with work-life balance and their strategies for managing competing demands.
Her research comes as a growing number of students turn to working long hours during college to pay for an increasingly larger percentage of their college education. The cost of higher education has increased significantly as state support for higher education has steadily declined for decades. Add on a rising inflation rate and potentially little to no support from the FAFSA, depending on parents’ level of assistance, and students are frequently left to fill the financial gaps themselves.
Working college students make up a significant sector of the student population. About 40% of full-time students in the U.S. were employed in 2020, according to the most recent data from the federal National Center for Education Statistics. And the majority of students who work are working 15 to 35 hours per week, according to Inside Higher Ed.
“A lot of them feel isolated from the broader college community. They are only on campus for classes, so they feel isolated from peers, and there is feeling of invisibility — both in nationwide discussions about college students and at the classroom level where a lot of their peers may not realize their realities or their teacher may not realize how much they have on their plate,” says Paulson.
Elizabeth Peacock, an associate professor of anthropology at UWL, underscores the importance of shedding light on the challenges faced by student workers. These issues warrant greater attention and consideration at the classroom and national level.
“Some of academia talks about this issue, but it’s not part of mainstream discourse. We’ve pushed this burden onto the people we’re supposed to be helping,” says Peacock. “It’s been happening in many states, and we are hobbling the next generation.”
When work becomes a burden
While working in college has been shown to have its benefits, like the ability to earn more after graduation and even perform better academically, a tipping point exists where too much work becomes detrimental. Previous research has found that 15 hours per week or more is the threshold where grades start to be negatively impacted by work, notes Paulson. Also, not all work is created equal. Low-income students are more likely to have jobs simply to pay the bills, while higher income students are more likely to find college work aligned with their passions and interests.
Paulson says while working students may feel invisible in their college community, they also struggle with speaking up to make their situation more visible because of cultural norms.
“There is the thought that you need to put your nose to the grindstone… People don’t talk about it because they think it is seen as complaining or that they are not taking advantage of the opportunities they do have,” she says.
Yet, these students are footing an increasingly larger college bill than previous generations as tuition has increased, meaning longer work hours and less time experiencing college life.
“There needs to be more discussion around how not everyone has the same resources. Through this maybe we can find solutions for these students who are falling through the cracks,” says Paulson.
Students surveyed suggested various strategies for meaningful change such as more competitive pay for on-campus jobs or more community partners offering paid internship opportunities, allowing students to work in areas more closely aligned with their degree path.
Paulson is grateful for this research opportunity that aligns with her future goals to go to graduate school. Her undergraduate research experience has solidified her interest in research, helped her connect with others and gain confidence in her abilities. Moreover, it helped her find her place in the UWL community as a working student.
“It opened my eyes to the fact that a lot of other students are in a similar boat as me,” she says noting her working student status. “I feel like in a lot of the national discussion around college students, they are depicted as lazy and asking for handouts. My research has shown me quite the opposite. These students are working hard and working a lot … They want to contribute something to society and are willing to put in astronomical effort to try and do so.”
“She really put in some amazing work, and it shows.”
Written by: The University of Wisconsin – La Crosse; used with permission. Find the original article here
CUR eNews: Exploring Undergraduate Research: Join Our June Award Celebration and ConnectUR Conference
Download the June 2, 2024 CUR eNews here.
In this issue, you’ll find information on
- CUR Award Celebration Ceremony
- CUR-Goldwater Scholars Faculty Mentor Awardee
- Membership Renewal
- ConnectUR 2024
- AURA Award
- Characteristics of Excellence Update
- Advocacy Update on CHIPS and Science Act
- and more
CoA’s Anderson Selected as 2024 CUR-Goldwater Scholars Faculty Mentor Awardee
Dr. John Anderson, W.H. Drury Professor of Ecology and Natural History at College of the Atlantic (COA) in Bar Harbor, ME, has been selected as the 2024 Council on Undergraduate Research – Goldwater Scholars Faculty Mentor Awardee. The award gifts $5,000 for the awardee’s undergraduate research program.
Dr. Anderson attributes his career to his mentors and good fortune. As he sees it, he wasn’t an exceptional student, but with luck, he was taken under the wings of mentors who listened to and valued him, saw his potential, and guided him when he most needed it. These formative experiences shaped his philosophy of teaching and mentoring.
Although humble about calling himself a mentor, Dr. Anderson has indeed mentored many successful students and Goldwater Scholars throughout his career. “Listening,” Dr. Anderson said, is critical. Of the more than 100 students he has mentored and listened to, 16 have been recognized by the Goldwater Scholarship Foundation, while many more have gone on to pursue careers in research, academic administration, and public policy.
“I am enormously touched and grateful to receive the award, but honestly I feel that in reality it goes to the amazing students—both past Goldwater awardees and oh so many others—who I have been privileged to work with over these many years,” Dr. Anderson said. “I have been so very lucky that these remarkable young people saw something in what I had to offer and for a brief time allowed me to call myself their teacher.”
According to his students, Dr. Anderson is a committed mentor who inspires excellence, diligence, and confidence. With his experiential approaches in the field and continued listening from start to finish, Dr. Anderson gives all he has to his students, reminding himself that he is not the “main event”— they are. He inspires them to learn from their mistakes and helps them gain the knowledge and confidence to overcome all that is put in their path.
“The CUR-Goldwater Scholars Faculty Mentor Award needed to be created to enable our community to recognize exceptional mentors like John Anderson,” said John Mateja, President of the Goldwater Scholarship Foundation. “John’s mentoring is not about John or his research, it is about helping his students find their passions and career interests.”
Dr. Anderson’s Goldwater nominees, students like Nicole Cabana ’99, the current deputy director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Woods Hole Lab and a Knauss Fellow, have been bright and dedicated, he said. Students who come early, stay late, ask for extra readings, and come to his office waiving a paper wanting to know why the editor missed an important point. He said he tries not to smile to show his glee as they talk.
“They’ve been willing to take chances, both in terms of intellect and in terms of surf, snow, rain, fog, desert sands, guano, and gull vomit, and somehow they kept their tempers, enhanced their curiosity, and maintained a sense of humor,” Dr. Anderson said.
“Dr. Anderson has modelled exemplary dedication to advancing undergraduate research through mentoring,” said Lindsay Currie, executive officer of CUR. “With his continued listening, his mentoring style, and his overall outlook on mentorship, Dr. Anderson is the definition of a Goldwater Scholars Faculty Mentor, and we are excited to honor him as the 2024 recipient.”
Dr. Anderson credits COA’s embrace of community and place-based, experiential approach to education the successes that so many of his mentees have had. “At COA there is no one mentor for a student, here many faculty contribute to a student’s education and development as a human ecologist,” Dr. Anderson said. “It has been a privilege to be part of all this.”
CUR eNews: Celebrating What’s Next for CUR and for Undergraduate Research
Download the May 19, 2024 CUR eNews here.
In this issue, you’ll find information on
- CUR Election News
- AURA Award
- CUR Award Celebration Ceremony
- ConnectUR 2024
- Proposal Writing Institute
- Membership Renewal
- and more
Valdosta State University’s LaPlant Elected as 2025-2026 Council on Undergraduate Research President
Dr. James T. LaPlant, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences for Valdosta State University (VSU) (Valdosta, GA), has been elected to serve as president of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) for the membership year 2025-2026. LaPlant will become president-elect on June 1, 2024, taking a seat on CUR’s Board of Directors, and succeeding 2024-2025 CUR president Maria Iacullo-Bird (Pace University) in the summer of 2025.
LaPlant states, “I have been a member of CUR for almost 25 years, and it is a great honor to be a part of the CUR Board of Directors. Mentoring undergraduate research has been the most rewarding part of my career, and my service with CUR has been the most beneficial element of my professional development. I am excited to work with a great team to not only maintain CUR as the national voice of undergraduate research but also to ensure CUR’s leadership in the dynamically changing landscape of higher education.”
LaPlant’s long-term dedication to CUR is evident through his engagement with CUR’s Social Sciences division since its founding, his various leadership roles including chair of the Social Sciences Division from 2012-2014, and Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of the CUR Quarterly (2014-2017) and Scholarship and Practice of Undergraduate Research Journal (SPUR) (2017-2021). His guidance has helped raise the profile of CUR’s journal, expanding its reach by increasing the databases in which the journal was indexed, its inclusion of all disciplines and international perspectives, and its continued technological transformation.
Outside of CUR, LaPlant’s academic career consists of various experiences that will be applied to his position as president-elect in 2024. Mentoring over 100 undergraduate research students, his prior experience serving as a board member of the Georgia Political Science Association (GPSA) from 2003-2010, and his various professional experience as dean and professor, will contribute to his goal of overcoming the challenges of developing and growing undergraduate research programs with shrinking resources. His overall embodiment of the changing landscape will continue to help excel CUR membership now and in the future.
“Having Dr. LaPlant on the CUR Board of Directors is extremely positive for our students and faculty,” explains Dr. Sheri Noviello, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs for VSU. “Undergraduate research has been a vital part of the VSU campus for many years. Dr. LaPlant has been instrumental in helping to establish this focus across the campus and in creating the annual VSU Undergraduate Research Symposium. He is a continuous voice of support for experiential learning which contributes to a quality educational experience for our students.”
Lindsay Currie, CUR executive officer, explains: “Having collaborated with Dr. LaPlant for over a decade, I’ve witnessed firsthand his unwavering dedication to the undergraduate research community. His forward-thinking approach and commitment to excellence have been instrumental in shaping CUR’s evolution as a leader in the field. As an experienced administrator, James has demonstrated a unique ability to innovate programs and services, ensuring their relevance and effectiveness for students. I am excited to continue our partnership and confident that under James’s leadership, CUR will continue to thrive and inspire positive change in the undergraduate research landscape.”
Westminster College’s Resendes Elected as 2024-2025 Council on Undergraduate Research Treasurer
Dr. Karen K. Resendes, Associate Dean of Assessment and the First Year Experience, Professor of Biology at Westminster College (New Wilmington, PA), has been elected to serve as the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Board of Directors’ Treasurer for the membership year 2024-2025. Resendes then will enter a 3-year cycle through the President ladder, serving as CUR Board of Directors’ President for the 2026-2027 membership year. Resendes will become treasurer on June 1, 2024.
Resendes states, “Since my time as an Assistant Professor, being involved with CUR has provided me with resources, collaborations, professional development, and a community of support and innovation outside of my home institution. As I have watched CUR grow and evolve through my various roles with the organization over the past ten years, I have seen the amazing impact and potential we can have on undergraduates and faculty alike. I am thrilled to take my commitment to CUR to the next level with this leadership role on the Board of Directors in order to help shepherd the organization as we navigate the future of higher education to achieve CUR’s vision of enriching and advancing society through undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative inquiry.”
Resendes has held various leadership roles within CUR including Biology Councilor (2012-2023), Biology Division Representative (2023-present), Faculty Workload, Evaluation, Promotion, and Tenure Task Force member (2017-2023), and Foresight Guidance, and Resource Development Advisory Group Committee Chair (2023-2024) in addition to holding a spot on CUR’s previous Executive Board (2017-2023). She states her proudest accomplishment took place when she held the CUR Biology Division Chair role (2017-2020), in which she was able to provide support and resources to help develop the Mentoring Integration of Research into the Curriculum (MIRIC) program, a successful initiative still ran by the CUR Biology Division. From her many supportive mentors and various held roles, Resendes is a proven passionate equipped leader with skills in futures thinking, budget awareness and understanding, and a vision that will employ the highest level of CUR leadership through her role as treasurer and president.
“As a national leader in undergraduate research, CUR sets a high standard for experiential learning in higher education,” states Dr. Jamie McMinn, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College, Professor of Psychology at Westminster College. “I am pleased that Dr. Resendes has been selected to serve on the CUR Board, knowing that she brings a strong commitment to undergraduate research and student success to all that she does. Dr. Resendes’ selection further recognizes the great work that Westminster has accomplished in the area of undergraduate research, and we look forward to sharing our successes with and learning from other board members and CUR membership.”
Lindsay Currie, CUR executive officer, explains: “Dr. Resendes embodies the essence of leadership, dedication, and vision within the Council on Undergraduate Research. Her tireless commitment to CUR and undergraduate research for over a decade is a testament to her unwavering passion and devotion. As our newly elected Treasurer, Karen brings not only her expertise but also her boundless energy and collaborative spirit to the role. She is a true visionary and team lead, respected by her peers for her integrity, insight, and ability to inspire positive change. We are honored to have Karen as part of our CUR leadership, and we look forward to the remarkable contributions she will continue to make in advancing our mission”
Newly Elected 2024-2025 Councilors and Division Representatives
In addition to the Board of Directors, the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) has a governance structure that includes Councilors and Division Representatives who serve to further the mission of the organization. These individuals are highly engaged volunteers who have a passion for undergraduate research and contribute as thought leaders. Councilors and Division Representatives are charged from the 13 divisions, including Arts and Humanities, At-Large, Biology, Chemistry, Education, Engineering, Geosciences, Health Sciences, Mathematical, Computing, and Statistical Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Psychology, Social Sciences, and Undergraduate Research Programs.
CUR congratulates these new and or re-elected councilors and division representatives on their new term starting on June 1, 2024.
The following CUR members have been elected as CUR Councilors. These individuals will serve as an advisory body to the Board of Directors and in a communication capacity, bridging the insight of the Divisions to the work of CUR as a whole by encouraging meaningful sharing of trends, challenges, and opportunities from the divisional level.
- Arts + Humanities Division
- Jamie Gilbert, Valdosta State University
- Ian McInnes, Albion College
- At-Large Division
- Brandi Gilbert, Indiana University Indianapolis
- Kimberly Schneider, University of Central Florida
- Biology Division
- Joyce Fernandes, Miami University
- Karen Lee, George Mason University
- Chemistry Division
- Kraig Wheeler, Whitworth University
- Rebecca Jones, George Mason University
- Education Division
- Tina Zecher, Northern Arizona University
- Jacob English, The George Washington University
- Engineering Division
- Valentin Soloiu, Georgia Southern University
- Geosciences Division
- Lydia Fox, University of the Pacific
- Jeffrey Ryan, University of South Florida
- Health Sciences Division
- Zacharias Papadakis, Barry University
- Kim Davey, Samford University
- Mathematical, Computing, and Statistical Sciences Division
- Vinodh Kumar Chellamuthu, Utah Tech University
- Kumer Das, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- Physics and Astronomy Division
- Hasitha Mahabaduge, Georgia College & State University
- Psychology Division
- Sarah Johnson, Moravian College
- Tsu-Ming Chiang, Georgia College & State University
- Social Sciences Division
- Jeanetta Sims, University of Central Oklahoma
- Undergraduate Research Programs Division
- Dominique Galli, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
- Susan Mendoza, Grand Valley State University
The following CUR members have been elected as Division Representatives. These individuals will serve as a crucial link between the organization and its members, helping to advance undergraduate research through programmatic resource development, networking, and mentor development opportunities, advocacy at their home institution, and other activities and events throughout their term.
- Arts + Humanities Division
- Chia-Ling Lynn Ho, Valdosta State University
- David Gaer, Lone Star College
- Jesse Guessford, George Mason University
- Julia Gossard, Utah State University
- Kevin Kaufmann, Loyola University Chicago
- At-Large Division
- Jennifer Thorington Springer, Indiana University, Indianapolis (IUI)
- Laura Cruz, The Pennsylvania State University
- Prajukti Bhattacharyya, University of Wisconsin – Whitewater
- Susan Lynne Beckwith, Oakland University
- Biology Division
- Daniel Strahs, Pace University
- Abdullah Salim, University of Tennessee – Knoxville
- Jinjie Liu – Michigan State University
- Jonathan Fitz Gerald, Rhodes College
- Joshua Owens, Lipscomb University
- Maryann Herman, St. John Fisher College
- Nicole Najor, University of Detroit Mercy
- Samantha Giordano-Mooga, University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Susan Klinedinst, Schreiner University
- Tessa Durham Brooks, Doane University
- Chemistry Division
- Aimee Tomlinson, University of North Georgia
- Arun Sharma, California State University, Monterey Bay
- Catherine Mauck, Kenyon College
- Geneive Henry, Susquehanna University
- Hector Palencia, University of Nebraska at Kearney
- Jeremy K. Klosterman, University of California San Diego
- Joseph Baker, The College of New Jersey
- Vanessa McCaffrey, Albion College
- Education Division
- Holly Hansen-Thomas, Texas Woman’s University
- Ruth J Palmer, The College of New Jersey (emeritus)
- Sarah Straub, Stephen F. Austin State University
- Engineering Division
- Christina Ivler, University of PortlandIrene Reizman, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
- Timothy Kane, The Pennsylvania State University
- Geosciences Division
- Elizabeth Heise, Cal State University Los Angeles
- Health Sciences Division
- Huda Makhlu, National University
- Leann Laubach, University of Central Oklahoma
- Terri Breeden, The University of Central Oklahoma
- Mathematical, Computing, and Statistical Sciences Division
- Alain Togbe, Purdue University Northwest
- Charlotte Simmons, University of Central Oklahoma
- Haseeb Kazi, Trine University
- Yunus Zeytuncu, University of Michigan-Dearborn
- Physics and Astronomy Division
- Chris Hughes, James Madison University
- Christopher Fasano, Monmouth College
- Psychology Division
- Amy Buddie, Kennesaw State University
- Christopher Dabbs, Valparaiso University
- Chrysalis Wright, University of Central Florida
- James Mantell, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
- Patricia Xi, Knox College
- Sara Goodman, St. John Fisher University
- Social Sciences Division
- Brian Lagotte, University of Kansas
- Carol Strong, University of Arkansas – Monticello
- Christopher Josey, University of Missouri
- Doreen (Dee) Sams, Georgia College & State University, Retired
- Ethan Ankrum, University of Washington
- James LaPlant, Valdosta State University
- Matthew Fails, Oakland University
- Tiffanie Turner-Henderson, Wingate University
- Undergraduate Research Programs Division
- David Salomon, Christopher Newport University
- Donna Chamely-Wiik, Florida Atlantic University
- Jordan Cofer, Georgia College
- Kevin Walden, George Washington University
- Marie Sheneman, University of California San Diego
- Sarah Ferstel, Louisiana State University
- Sarah Humfeld, University of Missouri
- Margaret Cassidy, Adelphi University