Council on Undergraduate Research Acknowledges USU Professor
Thursday, Jul. 05, 2012
Elizabeth Ambos, executive director of CUR, with Joyce Kinkead at the award presentation.
The Council on Undergraduate Research presented a CUR Fellows Award to Joyce Kinkead, professor of English and former associate vice president for research at Utah State University at the 2012 CUR Conference June 24 at The College of New Jersey.
The awards are presented biannually to two CUR members who have developed nationally respected research programs involving undergraduate students. The other honoree was Kerry K. Karukstis, professor of chemistry and chair of the faculty at Harvey Mudd College.
CUR Fellows are also awarded a CUR Student Research Fellowship to give to a deserving undergraduate at their respective institutions.
“This award is yet another signal of the strength of USU’s undergraduate research program,” said Mark McLellan, vice president for research and dean of the School of Graduate Studies at USU. “Over the past decade, the program has risen to national prominence, and it is continuing to grow new programs for students.”
According to CUR, Fellows Award recipients have published research findings with undergraduate co-authors. They reach out to students of all backgrounds, incorporate research activities into the courses they teach and lead efforts to institutionalize research on their campuses and across the nation. In sum, they are leaders and role models for faculty and students.
“The CUR Fellows Award is the highest honor CUR can bestow,” said CUR President William Campbell. “Joyce has earned it by providing research, scholarship and creative opportunities for undergraduate students; serving as an inspiration and mentor for colleagues; and encouraging all of us to engage and improve our undergraduate research programs.”
Kinkead oversaw and enhanced undergraduate research at Utah State University for more than a decade. She stepped down from the position in 2011 and psychology associate professor Scott Bates assumed the role of associate vice president for both graduate and undergraduate research.
As director of Utah State University’s undergraduate research program, Kinkead worked to create access to and information about undergraduate research opportunities. She founded the Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research and created the annual undergraduate research day at the state capitol.
“We are expanding the success of the undergraduate research program established over the past several years to reach new undergraduate students, and also lay the groundwork for similar programs for our graduate students,” said Bates.
Kinkead’s work with students extended beyond research.
“While Joyce was at the helm, undergraduate research made it possible for USU to have a Rhodes Scholar (and several finalists), about a dozen NSF Graduate Fellowships, more than twenty Goldwater Scholars and many other national recognitions,” said David Peak, professor of physics. “That trend continued in 2012, with four USU Goldwater Scholars last year alone.”
During Kinkead’s tenure, undergraduate research support was extended to USU’s regional campuses.
“Joyce’s commitment to undergraduate research is unbounded, and through her efforts, students and faculty throughout the USU system have discovered the rewards of undergraduate research,” said Nathan Straight, assistant professor of English at the USU Brigham City campus.
“Joyce is a transformative leader of undergraduate research in Utah,” said Lisa Berreau, chair of USU’s undergraduate research advisory board. “Her vision and drive have been at the core of statewide efforts such as UCUR. She is a unique, creative leader who thinks and acts broadly to enhance opportunities for students.”
Kinkead worked to include undergraduates in collaborative research.
“I am one of many students who graduated with a bachelor’s from Utah State University with a legitimate academic publication on my curriculum vitae because of her,” said Leslie Hadfield, now an assistant professor of history at BYU. “She was an important figure to putting me on a path to graduate school and then a faculty appointment.”
Kinkead is the author or editor of a number of books that focus on undergraduate research, including “Undergraduate Research Offices & Programs: Models and Practices” (with Linda Blockus) that has just been published; “Advancing Undergraduate Research: Marketing, Communications, and Fundraising” (2011); “Undergraduate Research in English Studies” (with Laurie Grobman in 2010); and “Valuing and Supporting Undergraduate Research” (2003).
Four articles on undergraduate research have appeared in the past year during Kinkead’s sabbatical leave, and she is at work on a textbook on research methods in writing studies.
“My personal and professional goal as a professor has been to ensure that students with whom I work have the opportunity to engage in authentic inquiry and research,” said Kinkead. “It is a fabulous honor to be named a CUR Fellow.”
Kinkead is the first humanist to be awarded the prestigious CUR Fellow award. She is a member of the Conference on College Communication and Composition’s undergraduate research task force and committee and served as councilor in CUR’s division of undergraduate research program directors.
At the CUR National Conference, Kinkead delivered one of the two CUR Fellows’ talks.
The CUR Fellows is funded through the sponsorship of Li-Cor Biosciences.
Writer: Anna McEntire, 435-797-7680, anna.mcentire@usu.edu
Contact: Joyce Kinkead, 435-797-1706, joyce.kinkead@usu.edu
