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At Mount Saint Mary’s University, summer is a time of exploration. While most classrooms are quiet, a group of undergraduate students spent the past two months diving deeply into original research projects through the 2025 CAIC Summer Research Program. Their work culminated in a virtual showcase on July 23, where students presented their findings to faculty, staff and members of the Mount community.

Organized by the Center for Academic Innovation and Creativity (CAIC), the program offers undergraduates in the arts, humanities and social sciences an immersive research experience. Paired with dedicated faculty mentors, students are encouraged to ask bold questions, investigate ideas that matter to them, and develop projects that bridge theory and practice.

“One-on-one mentorship is a cornerstone of this program and a key driver of student success and professional development,” said Andrée Leighton, PhD, CAIC academic director. “Undergraduate research is a high-impact practice that strengthens critical thinking, fosters curiosity and collaboration, and builds students’ confidence as emerging scholars."

Faculty mentors, in turn, find the experience equally rewarding, as they help shape the next generation of scholars and changemakers. “Working with students on this project was about more than just teaching research methods and continuing an ongoing research project; it was about helping students see the strengths that exist in overlooked communities while building skills in themselves like creativity, judgment, and communication. It was incredibly rewarding to watch them grow as researchers and as people,” said Stephen Inrig, PhD, professor in the Department of History and Political Science, who oversaw one of the research projects.

The program is made possible through funding from the Fletcher Jones Foundation and the support of the Office of the Provost, which together ensure that students and faculty have the resources and guidance needed to pursue meaningful academic work.

This summer’s projects explored a range of topics, from informal networks of health and care in Los Angeles to the emotional impact of gentle parenting. For many students, the opportunity to conduct independent research was transformative. 

"As a first-generation college student, this research experience has been very meaningful. It not only strengthened my confidence in pursuing a PhD, but also helped me discover my passion for studying parenting, parent-child interaction, and emotional regulation. Along the way, I gained valuable skills in collaboration, creative writing, and academic research," said scholar Elizabeth Arroyo ’26, a psychology major.

Throughout the summer, students met regularly with faculty, developed research questions, analyzed data, and prepared to present their work to the campus community. The final showcase gave them the chance to share not just results, but the process of discovery.

The CAIC Summer Research Program is one of several initiatives at Mount Saint Mary’s that foster experiential learning and faculty-student mentorship.