Summer Scholars Extend Learning Beyond the Campus
Jessica Myers ’11, spent her summer traveling the country—to Arizona, Seattle, Georgia,
Connecticut, Illinois—photographing interiors of
homes. She is interested in examining what makes
a house a home and how the personality of the homeowner is displayed in the home. “You can always
find little traces of what the person does in the home, who they are, what point of life they are
in,” she explains. “You can see the little remnants of their lives. The photographs are portraits
of people—without the people.”
As one of three Undergraduate Summer Scholars, Myers was chosen to receive a $2,000 stipend to conduct academic research over the summer. She is studying photography at Dominican and plans to display an exhibit of her photographs on campus in the fall. Working alongside a faculty mentor, she says that without the scholarship to help pay for the cost of travel and supplies, this opportunity wouldn’t have been possible.
“It has been a phenomenal experience and is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Myers says. “ And, it is exciting and encouraging to know that others are interested in my project as well.”
Dominican students now have more and more opportunities to complete independent research or to work side by side with a professor on a project. When Rebecca Pliske, PhD, professor of psychology, was named director of the new office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Investigations (URCI) two years ago, there was little funding available for student research. By contrast, more than 150 students from 20 different departments participated in the second annual URCI Exposition on April 1; more courses now include independent research components; and the Undergraduate Research Support Award program helps defray the costs of independent student projects and travel to professional conferences.
With a broad range of new opportunities, students are excited to delve into their own projects outside of the classroom. “Studies suggests that students who engage in these kinds of research opportunities achieve increased intellectual growth and self-confidence,” Pliske explains.
Another summer scholar, Brigitte Bell ’10, is interested in 19th century British literature and is now focusing her research on 19th century art critic John Ruskin, who wrote critical essays on the aesthetic movement. Bell is using her scholarship to do research at the Rebecca Crown Library, the Newberry Library and the Ryerson Library at the Art Institute of Chicago. Throughout the academic year, she is hoping to apply Ruskin’s theories to issues in contemporary art and to examine what defines art.
“It’s great having the funds and time to immerse myself in research,” Bell says. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do and having the university’s support is really helpful.”
Other research presentations at the URCI Expo included investigations into U.S. foreign relations, attention deficit disorder, experiential learning in the Mississippi Delta and El Salvador, rock critic Richard Meltzer, and sexual stereotypes in the Canterbury Tales. Sandra Alvarez ’10, is hoping that her research project on gender stereotypes will give her an edge when she applies to graduate school. “I want to study clinical or community psychology, and it’s important to have research experience,” she says.
Alvarez is the first Jared-Beach Undergraduate Scholar, a special summer scholarship award for students in psychology or neuroscience. A donation from Daniel Beach, PhD, chair and professor of psychology, and his wife, Cynthia Jared, a partner with the international law firm Reed, Smith LTD, will fund these scholars for four years. Looking to the future, “we hope to involve more students and faculty from a wide variety of disciplines in undergraduate research,” Pliske says. “ With additional gifts, we can achieve this goal.”
As one of three Undergraduate Summer Scholars, Myers was chosen to receive a $2,000 stipend to conduct academic research over the summer. She is studying photography at Dominican and plans to display an exhibit of her photographs on campus in the fall. Working alongside a faculty mentor, she says that without the scholarship to help pay for the cost of travel and supplies, this opportunity wouldn’t have been possible.
“It has been a phenomenal experience and is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Myers says. “ And, it is exciting and encouraging to know that others are interested in my project as well.”
Dominican students now have more and more opportunities to complete independent research or to work side by side with a professor on a project. When Rebecca Pliske, PhD, professor of psychology, was named director of the new office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Investigations (URCI) two years ago, there was little funding available for student research. By contrast, more than 150 students from 20 different departments participated in the second annual URCI Exposition on April 1; more courses now include independent research components; and the Undergraduate Research Support Award program helps defray the costs of independent student projects and travel to professional conferences.
With a broad range of new opportunities, students are excited to delve into their own projects outside of the classroom. “Studies suggests that students who engage in these kinds of research opportunities achieve increased intellectual growth and self-confidence,” Pliske explains.
Another summer scholar, Brigitte Bell ’10, is interested in 19th century British literature and is now focusing her research on 19th century art critic John Ruskin, who wrote critical essays on the aesthetic movement. Bell is using her scholarship to do research at the Rebecca Crown Library, the Newberry Library and the Ryerson Library at the Art Institute of Chicago. Throughout the academic year, she is hoping to apply Ruskin’s theories to issues in contemporary art and to examine what defines art.
“It’s great having the funds and time to immerse myself in research,” Bell says. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do and having the university’s support is really helpful.”
Other research presentations at the URCI Expo included investigations into U.S. foreign relations, attention deficit disorder, experiential learning in the Mississippi Delta and El Salvador, rock critic Richard Meltzer, and sexual stereotypes in the Canterbury Tales. Sandra Alvarez ’10, is hoping that her research project on gender stereotypes will give her an edge when she applies to graduate school. “I want to study clinical or community psychology, and it’s important to have research experience,” she says.
Alvarez is the first Jared-Beach Undergraduate Scholar, a special summer scholarship award for students in psychology or neuroscience. A donation from Daniel Beach, PhD, chair and professor of psychology, and his wife, Cynthia Jared, a partner with the international law firm Reed, Smith LTD, will fund these scholars for four years. Looking to the future, “we hope to involve more students and faculty from a wide variety of disciplines in undergraduate research,” Pliske says. “ With additional gifts, we can achieve this goal.”
