THEME FOR THIS MONTH
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF A VIRTUAL SUMMER!
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While we are living in a time of unprecedented change, it is important to reorient, reorganize, and plan ahead--even when the future seems uncertain. This month, we'll be covering a wide range of resources, helpful tips, and encouraging words to help you make the most of this summer.
Pictured above are the 2019 Tech Fellows
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IN HONOR OF DEAN KAREN LAUGHLIN
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It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share this news about Dean Karen Laughlin's passing: https://fla.st/3cpUyAE. Dean Laughlin was such a compassionate leader for Undergraduate Studies and the entire campus community (and beyond). She has been a pillar of support for the CRE, overseeing its development and growth over our decade-plus existence, and her vision and spirit will continue to inspire all we continue to accomplish.
With Dean Laughlin's passing, the university has set up two memorial funds to honor Dean Laughlin. These memorials include the newly established Karen L. Laughlin Scholars and a Stained Glass in the Honors, Scholars, and Fellows House. Please consider contributing if you are able to do so. Use the link below to access the memorial site.
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JOE O'SHEA APPOINTED AS NEW DEAN
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Florida State University Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Sally McRorie has appointed Assistant Provost Joe O’Shea as the new dean of the Division of Undergraduate Studies, effective May 20. Joe O’Shea, who was the former director of CRE, succeeds Dean Karen Laughlin. While we are mourning the loss of Dean Laughlin, we know that Joe O'Shea will further Dean Laughlin's mission, energy, and legacy in leading the Division of Undergraduate Studies.
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WHAT DOES A VIRTUAL SUMMER LOOK LIKE?
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By now, we are all aware of the COVID-19 situation and its implications.
We hear your concerns, and we want to be there for you to support you academically and professionally during this time.
That's why in this newsletter, we are going to talk about what this summer can look like and how best to plan around and with this situation.
Before that, we really want to stress that this is a time of unprecedented change. This is not something that most of us have ever experienced before, and we know that this can be unsettling.
It is troubling at best, chaotic and life-shattering at worst. More than
likely your academic and personal plans have been pushed back or put on hold--which is incredibly frustrating and can feel like you're trapped in a limbo-esque state.
Whatever your experience has been and whatever you are feeling, remember to honor those feelings and know that they are valid. There is no one way to manage life in a global pandemic; you have to find what works for you and what will make the greatest positive impact on your life.
Given this, we think that one of the best ways to begin using this virtual summer to your advantage is to start
reflecting on what you really want out of your life. Take the time to carve out your reality and what you want it to be--even if the world seems so uncertain right now. However this happens is up to you: you might want to set some time aside to journal about the life that you envision, you might talk to your friends and family, or you might just need some time alone to sit and think. Regardless of the form this intentional thinking takes, you'll be surprised at how much you learn about yourself by just sitting down and thinking.
We also recommend reconnecting with those individuals that have helped you along your journey at FSU and beyond. Did you have a professor that really changed the way you understood your field, yourself, or your understanding of the world around you? Reach out to them and tell them about that and how much you appreciate that new perspective. Are you thinking about a friend or colleague that you haven't spoken to in a while? Send them a note saying you hope everything is okay. We are all being affected by this pandemic. Demonstrating to yourself and to others that you care will help you in strengthening your connections and in building relationships that will last a lifetime.
Above all else, remember that this is a global pandemic. Your safety and your health come first; you must remember to take care of yourself first in order to continue growing and achieving in the ways that you want to.
To our CRE students: please know that we are here for you. We are here to encourage you, to push you to grow in new ways, and to remind you that you have already accomplished so much and will continue to do so as you continue your time at FSU.
With this in mind, let's take a look at the following resources to help you make the most of a virtual summer:
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RESOURCES FOR A VIRTUAL SUMMER
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The Honors, Scholars, and Fellows (HSF) House:
HSF
wants to reassure everyone that we are open for (virtual) business during this time! Despite the circumstances, we want to provide our students the tools they need to succeed in their academic endeavors. Please view the graphic below to learn more about connecting with specific HSF programs.
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The Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement (CRE)
:
We're holding Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours for Summer 2020! We're here to answer any questions you have about getting involved in undergraduate research at FSU. Please use the flyer to find a time that works best for you; once you find a time, follow the link below to find the appropriate Zoom link for your preferred date and time. Please note that each day and time has a theme, so please plan accordingly! Once you click on the Zoom link, you will have to register with your name and email, and once you have registered, you will be in a waiting room until CRE staff starts the meeting.
Please reach out to cre@fsu.edu with any questions.
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The Honors Program
:
Stay up-to-date on all things Honors this summer by visiting the Honors website below! For information and help about the Honors Program, including admissions, the Honors Program Experience, and other student involvement, please contact Associate Director Jeff Badger at jbadger@fsu.edu.
For more information on the Honors in the Major Program, please contact Michael Franklin at mdfranklin@fsu.edu. A quick note about HITM: they have extended the application deadline for working in Fall 2020 until August 1, 2020.
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The Office of National Fellowships (ONF)
:
ONF is conducting virtual advising appointments and is ready to help you with your applications! In addition, ONF will be hosting a variety of virtual workshops and speaker series this summer. The first event is a Q&A with Jesse Marks, who will be speaking about his Boren and Fulbright experience and how that translated into his current work with the Department of Defense. This event is open to all students.
For scheduling an appointment with the Office of National Fellowships (ONF), which provides help on writing fellowship, scholarship, and graduate school applications, please contact Associate Director Josh Stanek at jstanek@fsu.edu.
Visit the ONF website below.
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SAA Speaker Series:
The Student Alumni Association (SAA) & Friends of HSF are hosting a chat with Daniela Wojtalewicz (B.S. ’15) on Monday June 1 at 3pm.
Hear from Alumna Daniela Wojtalewicz as she talks about her experiences with the Peace Corps and answers your questions! Our discussion will be moderated by FSU Student Sneha Kapil. Please see the flyer to the left for more details. You can register for the event here:
https://bit.ly/2XFBice
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The Career Center:
FSU's Career Center is partnering with 11 other career centers across the state of Florida to create the Florida Career Centers Virtual Statewide Career Fair on June 17, 2020. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet potential employers and network in a virtual format. You can learn more about the event, including logistical information and how to register,
here
.
In addition, the Career Center is also hosting virtual drop-in hours, both for general consultations and with specific career liaisons. These appointments are useful for planning and learning about future opportunities. Please visit the link below to learn more and to find the Zoom links for these advising appointments.
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The University Counseling Center (UCC):
The UCC is hosting daily virtual Zoom workshops throughout this summer! Use this graphic to find a workshop of your interest. This is a really great resource to utilize this summer if you're feeling particularly stressed or worried. You can also visit
the UCC website to learn more about the services that UCC offers.
Current workshop themes that are being offered include: Real Talk at the UCC, Where's My Motivation, Mindful Studio, Bored in the House, and Resilient Mind.
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The ACT House:
The ACT House, based in Tallahassee, is hosting Build Day X in partnership with REACH starting June 10th through June 14th. For a few hours over the course of 5 days, students will get a chance to elevate their daily routine, connect with other like-minded individuals and top industry experts, acquire new skills, and build digital products that solve real problems. Orientation for these build days starts on June 6th from 6:00pm-7:00pm. You can RSVP for Build Day X by following the link below.
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INSPIRATION DURING THIS TIME
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What follows are some campus publications, productions, exhibitions, and more that can help serve as inspiration for future planning during a virtual summer.
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Check out the awesome creative projects below that BFA students at FSU completed for their thesis.
"The Department of Art at Florida State University recognizes the BFA candidates with an an annual capstone thesis exhibition. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year the exhibition is online." Please view the exhibition below.
Pictured is Claudia Guerra's "Frida y Yo, Un Amor Eterno"
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The 2020 SIX Magazine, which is published by The College Leadership Council and features undergraduate creative work, has officially been published. Follow the link below to look at all their awesome work. Congratulations to those students featured in the magazine!
The Department of Art at Florida State University website mentions that "The College Leadership Council (CLC) was founded in 2010 to promote collaboration and communication between students across the College of Fine Arts. Made up of graduate and undergraduate representatives from each academic unit, the CLC hosts student-focused events which are social, informative, and collaborative-based.
One of its largest annual endeavors is the magazine SIX, which takes its name from the six academic departments within the College – Art, Art Education, Art History, Dance, Interior Architecture & Design, and Theatre."
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The CRE would like to introduce this year's Tech Fellows cohort! From left to right in the banner above, these are the 2020 Tech Fellows and their internship locations: Nohemi Soza-Acevedo (Starter Studios), Chris Lormeus (Domi Station), Alex Jeannite (Tampa Bay Wave), Adel Bebe (Domi Station), and Alex Blanchette (Starter Studios). This past week, the Fellows started the first week of their remote internships. Each week during summer, the Tech Fellows will be blogging about their internships and qualitative research projects. To read about who the Tech Fellows are, the projects they will be working on, and what they hope to learn along the way, please visit their blogs below.
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What follows are some upcoming events and opportunities to help you stay engaged this summer! Check out each opportunity below and contact CRE with any questions you may have.
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2020 Virtual Summer Research Day
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The CRE is pleased to announce that the 2020 Virtual Summer Research Day application is officially open! This event will take place on Wednesday, July 22, 2020. The event is interdisciplinary, and we welcome applications from all majors (STEM, Social Science, Humanities, Creative/Arts). The Virtual Summer Research Day is primarily intended for seniors graduating at the end of Summer or Fall 2020, Honors in the Major students presenting their thesis research, or students who need to culminate the research engagement area for Garnet and Gold Scholars Society.
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Transfer Students: Apply to be a part of the 2020-2021 Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP)
(Transfer student deadline: Wednesday, July 1, 2020)
*This program is for first- and second-year students (you must be a current high school senior, a current first-year at FSU, or an incoming transfer student to FSU in order to apply). The deadline for first- and second-year students has already passed.
Learn more about UROP by following this link.
Program Components:
- Conduct research 5-10 hours per week assisting a faculty member, graduate student, or campus or community partner
- Meet bi-weekly with a UROP Leader and fellow UROP students in a colloquium, where you receive personalized guidance about conducting undergraduate research and campus resources
- Present at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium
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UROP Research Mentor Project Proposal Application
Deadline to submit UROP project proposal: Monday, August 17, 2020
The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) is an initiative by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement (CRE) to engage high-achieving undergraduates in the academic culture of research and to offer help to faculty members. Open to all departments, the program is three-fold:
- Students participate in a UROP colloquium class that introduces them to the practice of research, provides guest faculty speakers, and offers continuous support and training
- Students work as research assistants to faculty members, post-docs, or advanced graduate students
- Students present their Research Mentors’ projects and their contribution to those projects at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium
As UROP Research Mentors, faculty members, post-docs, graduate students, and campus partners can be partnered with student research assistants for a year-long period at no cost. There is no obligation to take a UROP student if you submit a project; you select the UROP student with whom you would like to work at the beginning of fall semester.
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UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES UROP EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH INITIATIVE
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On Wednesday April 15, the CRE and University Libraries hosted the Virtual University Libraries UROP Excellence in Research Initiative Awards Ceremony. Our 2020 Faculty UROP Research Mentor Award Winner, Dr. Elizabeth Coggeshall in the Department of Modern Languages, gave encouraging remarks during this unprecedented time. These remarks are particularly relevant to a virtual summer, so watch her remarks below!
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CRE Director, Latika Young:
As much as we all want to keep up the appearance that everything is under control, this pandemic has been really hard. Having family members and friends get really sick and waiting 14 days for results, to the overwhelming grief of trying to grasp 100,000+ deaths nationally and millions more unemployed, I have felt a lot of anxiety and deep sadness. At the same time, I feel incredibly lucky to have a great team at CRE and important work supporting really great students to help keep me centered.
On a more positive note, sheltering in place is turning me into quite the homesteader, between gardening, fermenting, and trying out new cooking and baking recipes. (If you need a good curtido or tibicos recipe, hit me up!) I have also found that kayaking and biking in the more isolated areas surrounding Tallahassee (thumbs up to the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and the Apalachicola National Forest) provide miles and miles of space to be actively socially-distanced. Although we look forward to planning some Zoom social events this summer, Team CRE misses seeing our students in-person, and we cannot wait until we can safely bestow high fives once again!
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Senior Associate Director, Alicia Batailles:
I hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. To be honest, I am scared of the COVID-19 pandemic right now. I have two young children and am worried that they will get the virus. Information about this virus is constantly changing. At first, COVID-19 didn’t seem to affect children as much as adults, and now it seems to cause an inflammatory syndrome in kids. I worry if any of my loved ones are hospitalized, I won’t be able to visit them regardless of their COVID-19 status. Local businesses that I love have been struggling and closing since social distancing started, people are losing their jobs, and the economy seems very unstable. With everything going on, sometimes it just feels like too much to deal with, and I want to ignore the outside world. I am sure some of you feel this way too.
When I am beyond stressed about our current situation, I try to unplug from social media and read or do something creative. One thing that can be very beneficial for your mental health is doing something active. I prefer to go outside when I can, as I love seeing nature in my neighborhood. A free online resource I took advantage of recently was "The Science of Well-Being" course on Coursera, and while it can be hard to find the time to participate in the class, it has been very interesting so far and has helped me think about well-being in a different way.
Try to keep in mind that this is temporary and FSU is trying to help you as much as possible. Please reach-out to us and/or the
Department of Student Support and Transitions
if you need anything; there are a lot of resources at FSU that we can direct you to. #weareinthistogether
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Leah Singleton
UROP Student, Global Scholar
"As a freshman, Singleton conducted research under Professor David Berlan as part of the
Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program
(UROP). The project focused on examining the way nonprofit leaders conceptualize their mission.
'Dr. Berlan really taught me everything I know about research,' Singleton said. 'He opened my eyes to all the things you can do with qualitative research and how research expands beyond the STEM fields.'
After completing UROP, Singleton wanted to do more and applied to the
Global Scholars Program
to conduct research in Ghana the summer after her freshman year. FSU’s Global Scholars program aims to help students utilize research and critical thinking skills to engage with different cultural perspectives and make a positive impact in the global community.
Singleton was selected for the program and decided to take on an independent research project with a research partner that was beyond the scope of Global Scholars. She traveled to Ghana to complete a three-month internship where, by interviewing Ghanaians, she helped investigate the potential connection between local attitudes on contraception and the factors that lead to child labor."
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IDEA GRANT STUDENT
SPOTLIGHT
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Amber Hedquist
2020 IDEA Grant Recipient, UROP Student
Amber Hedquist, from Nashua, New Hampshire, is a senior majoring in English (Literature, Media, and Culture) with a Communications minor. She is currently conducting her Honors in the Major Thesis titled "Investigating Perceptions of Space within the Tallahassee Community."
Amber recently was awarded one of CRE's 2020 IDEA Grants. In describing her project, she writes, "I am analyzing the impact of the railroad between FSU and FAMU through the lens of spatial rhetoric to examine the rhetorical impacts of space on community and cross-institutional identification. My research consists of three primary components: a historical literature review, an empirical study which is currently moving to its second stage of interviews, and a connection to existing spatial theorists and rhetoricians." In identifying the particular conversation that Amber wishes to contribute to, she notes that her "research will contribute to the growing literature on spatial rhetoric and provide insight on the individual and institutional perceptions in the Tallahassee community." Pictured below and to the right is Amber's mailbox filled with outgoing surveys to participants in her project.
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In addition to her IDEA Grant and Honors in the Major work, Amber is actively involved at FSU. She completed her first year abroad in Valencia, Spain through FSU's First Year Abroad Program. She volunteers with T-Ogio Allies in English, which pairs hearing-impaired children in Spain with an English mentor. In addition, Amber is the Editorial and Public Affairs Manager at the DeVoe L. Moore Center in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. This coming fall, Amber is applying to graduate school in the Fall to pursue a PhD in English with a rhetoric specialization.
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With all her success, Amber would like to close by saying: "I would like to earnestly thank Dr. Tarez Graban who is serving as my PI for my IDEA Grant research and HITM thesis; her intellect and passion for research in our field is contagious, and her mentorship is at the core of my achievements. I am also grateful for the CRE community! Thanks to my fantastic UROP leaders (Elias Larralde, Sergio Tamez, Emma Masters, and Selina Nevin), the CRE is a community of intellectual engagement and support that will define my FSU career and professional future."
Congratulations, Amber! We are so impressed with your accomplishments and eagerly look forward to your presentation at the President's Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence.
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We are excited to start featuring some of our newest alumni. Shout out to Sabrina Mato (B.A. '20), Maiya Hinton (B.S. '20), and Amanda Harris (B.S. '20). We are so proud of each of you; welcome to the Friends of HSF alumni network! New 2020 graduates, if you would like to be featured, submit your graduation or virtual celebration pictures here:
https://bit.ly/HSFGradPics
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Submit Your Successes to HSF "Class Notes"
In a time where we could use a positive story, we invite you to share yours through our Class Notes submission! If anyone has exciting or positive news to share, Friends of HSF and the CRE will share them with our students, readers, and community.
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CRE VIRTUAL ADVISING
Please set up a meeting through Campus Connect, use the instructions on the “
Getting Started
” page, and we will respond to you with a link to a Zoom appointment.
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CRE Spotlights wants to feature your news!
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We are constantly amazed by what our current students and alumni are working on, so share your success stories with us to be featured in our monthly newsletter and weekly social media posts. Fill out this form to share your news!
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Engaging students in research, innovation, and scholarship is the hallmark of a great research university. Through this engagement, students become better thinkers, innovators, and problem solvers, cultivating a depth of understanding needed to make a positive difference in the world.
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