Austin College Scarbrough Fellows Begin Summer Research
The 2018 Lemuel Scarbrough Jr. Summer Research fellows have begun their projects in the Social Sciences and Humanities. The program was endowed by a gift from Lemuel Scarbrough ’58 in honor of former Austin College professors Clyde Hall (economics) and Paul Beardsley (theatre).
Selected students have the opportunity to build a mentoring relationship with a faculty advisor while conducting research in the areas of Humanities and Social Sciences. Students receive a stipend and funding for research expenses for their 10-week projects.
“Any student that a faculty member is willing to sponsor for a Scarbrough project has already demonstrated the qualities of intellectual curiosity and rigor in his or her coursework,” said Dr. Mindy Landeck, assistant professor of East Asian Studies and director of the Scarbrough Summer Research Program. “So, the faculty mentor’s assessment of these criteria largely guides us in the selection process when choosing from the applicants.”
An outcome of the program is the public dissemination of the research results and new knowledge. Scarbrough fellows are chosen also for their ability to articulate the ways their research matters not only to themselves but also to society.
The 2018 Scarbrough Summer Research Fellows are:
Alison Boehmer ’19 is pursuing her interest in the public response to the 2017 hurricane season which included storms Harvey, Irma, and Maria. She is developing survey-based research in hopes of learning the more about the predictors of race, nativism/nationalism, and individualism. She is completing majors in economics and political science and working this summer with Dr. Nate Bigelow, associate professor of political science, as her faculty research advisor.
Anna Centala ’19 is examining original historical documents concerning the 1930 “Industrial Bill of Rights,” which was signed by 400 notable Southerners and ignited a political controversy that continued for three years. Her faculty researcg advisor is Dr. Bart Dredge, professor of sociology and chair of the Sociology and Anthropology Department. Anna is completing a sociology major with a minor in religious studies. She will present her research at the annual meeting of the American Culture Association (SW) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in February 2019.
Nicholas Frederick ’20 is researching the voting record of Hattie Caraway, the first woman elected to the United States Senate. He’s examining her personal documents and her voting record compared to that of her male colleagues during the same timeframe. Nicholas, who is completing majors in math and history, hopes to develop a differential equation to describe how Caraway’s vote changed over time. Dr. Victoria Cummins, professor of history, History Department chair, and The A.M. Pate Jr. Chair of History, is his sponsoring faculty member.
Meredith Huff ’19 is examining Cicero’s original Latin text of De Re Publica to understand the use of metaphor as it is used to discover, clarify and argue for a specific political position. In her work she’ll aim to not only better understand Roman writing but also see how Cicero’s metaphors address issues that are still relevant in today’s political discourses. Meredith is majoring in classics and earning a minor in political science. Her sponsoring faculty member for the Scarbrough research project is Dr. Robert Cape, professor of classics and The Chase Professor in Classical Languages. She will continue her study on this topic for her upcoming honors thesis.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 40 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of approximately 1,275 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.