Member News

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.

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.

CUR congratulates these new and or re-elected councilors and division representatives on their new term starting on June 1, 2024. 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 CUR's 13 divisions.