University of Missouri–Columbia’s Undergraduate Research Director Will Serve as a Council Representative
Linda Blockus—director of the Office of Undergraduate Research at the University of Missouri–Columbia—has been elected to the Executive Board of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR). Representing CUR’s Undergraduate Research Programs Division (URP), Blockus will begin a three-year term on the board in summer 2021.
Blockus earned her AB in biology from Dartmouth College, her EdM in educational leadership from Boston University, and her PhD in educational leadership and policy analysis at University of Missouri–Columbia. She also was a visiting student at The Ohio State University (as an undergraduate student) and Stanford University (as a graduate student), as well as a fellow at the Center for Advancing Science & Engineering Capacity at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Blockus served on the CUR Executive Board in 2009–2011 and as a Councilor in CUR’s At-Large Division in 2002–2005, as well as assisted in founding URP in 2005.
Said Lindsay Currie, CUR’s executive officer, “Dr. Blockus’s invaluable experience as an undergraduate research administrator has been of great benefit to CUR in areas such as student and faculty programming and the production of CUR’s important publication Characteristics of Excellence in Undergraduate Research. Her promotion of interdisciplinary and interassociational collaborations, advocacy for undergraduate research on local and national levels, and long service to CUR will provide distinct strengths to the board.”
Founded in 1978, the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) focuses on providing high-quality and collaborative undergraduate research, scholarly, and creative activity. Among the many activities and networking opportunities that CUR provides, the organization also offers support for the professional growth of faculty and administrators through expert-designed institutes, conferences, and a wide-range of volunteer positions. The CUR community, made up of nearly 700 institutions and 13,000 individuals, continues to provide a platform for discussion and other resources related to mentoring, connecting, and creating relationships centered around undergraduate research. CUR’s advocacy efforts are also a large portion of its work as they strive to strengthen support for undergraduate research. Its continued growth in connections with representatives, private foundations, government agencies, and campuses world-wide provides value to its members and gives voice to undergraduate research. CUR is committed to inclusivity and diversity in all of its activities and our community.
CUR focuses on giving a voice to undergraduate research with learning through doing. It provides connections to a multitude of campuses and government agencies, all while promoting networking and professional growth to its community.
University of Missouri–Columbia: The University of Missouri–Columbia enrolls approximately 31,000 students and offers more than 300 degree programs.