Student research focus of Colonial Academic Alliance

Representing UD at the Colonial Academic Association conference are (from left): Stephen Stolte, Amanda Strickland, Donald Scott, Sally Mikhail, Amanda Leonard, Christopher Hamilton, Julia Parmley, Marielle Alexis Newman, Catherine Singley and (not pictured) Candice Tolud.

The 12 member schools of the Colonial Academic Alliance, which includes the University of Delaware, highlighted student scholarship during the fifth annual Undergraduate Research Conference held April 20-21, at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

The academic alliance was developed by the presidents and provosts of the 12 member schools of the Colonial Athletic Association to develop collaborative academic programs that benefit faculty and students. During the weekend events, nearly 70 of the CAA's best and brightest celebrated the academic strength of the conference.

Undergraduates from each CAA school presented their research in poster and oral presentation sessions on Saturday. Representing UD were Amanda Leonard, a senior anthropology major from Stony Brook, N.Y.; Sally Mikhail, a senior biological sciences major; Candice Tolud, a senior biological sciences major from Piscataway, N.J.; Marielle Alexis Newman, a senior chemical engineering major from New Rochelle, N.Y.; Christopher Hamilton, a senior computer science major; Donald Scott, a senior computer science major from Laurel; Julia Parmley, a senior English major from Washington, D.C.,; Amanda Strickland a senior English major from Dover; Catherine Singley, a senior geography major from Belle Mead, N.J.; and Stephen Stolte,a senior geography major from Delran, N.J.

Student research is a major area of focus for the CAA schools. Involving undergraduate students in research and scholarship provides them with invaluable experience as they work as colleagues with faculty. The research experience gives students greater academic confidence, builds connections with future mentors and academic collaborators and prepares them to meet the challenges of graduate school and professional life.

Alliance Director Mary Frances Forcier noted that bringing the institutions of the CAA together creates a strong academic resource that benefits every member school and its students. “Collectively, they comprise more than 200,000 students and nearly 10,000 full-time faculty, including four Nobel Prize-winning professors,” she said. “Through the Alliance, we can leverage these strengths by developing innovative, collaborative programs that improve the quality of teaching, learning and research at each of our member institutions.”

In addition to undergraduate research, other areas of collaboration include student life, Study Abroad, foreign language study, and assessment of student learning.

Media contact: Martin Mbugua, (302) 831-8749, [mbugua@udel.edu]
April 24, 2007