Douglas Honors College students present research at multi-state conference

The William O. Douglas Honors College (DHC) at Central Washington University offers its students a glimpse into the world of research early in their college careers, introducing them to faculty mentors and supporting their curiosity as they prepare for a lifetime of pursuing their passions.

This year, five students from the DHC had the opportunity to travel to Denver and present their research at the Western Regional Honors Council Conference (WRHC) from April 3-5. The trip proved transformative for both the students who attended and DHC Director Dr. Chris Denison, who came along for the ride.

“Going with them to the conference gave me a better sense of who they are and insight into who they are becoming,” Denison said. “I can only think optimistically of the future, knowing these students will be out there driving change.”

Digital journalism and film sophomore Brandon Mattesich joined the trip to present his research into West Coast hip-hop, inspired by his own roots in Southern California.

“My research was centered around this appreciation for the music, in which I sought to answer the question ‘how do you ethically engage with hip-hop music as an outsider to the culture that created it?’” he said. “This project was a bit of a passion project, and I learned things about Hip-Hop and higher education that I never would have if I hadn't been provided with this opportunity.”

Mattesich chose CWU based on the DHC’s reputation, and he was greeted by a learning experience from the very beginning. The DHC initially denied him admission, but he was given the opportunity to revise his application and resubmit it. This set the tone for the rest of his time with the program.

“I love that instead of a flat-out refusal, the DHC provided me with an opportunity to learn, even before I had been accepted,” he said. “Since then, the friends I have made and the opportunities I have gained through the DHC have been some of the best of my life, and I am so happy to be a member of this extraordinary program.”

Sam Coyle, a senior psychology major, has had a similarly relational experience with the DHC, finding rich discussion and empathetic membership within the program.

“I transferred from a community college last fall, and Dr. Denison worked with me to transfer my CC honors program credits to the Interdisciplinary Honors minor,” Coyle said. “I enjoy the DHC's discussion-based classes, and the courses taught by Dr. Shawn Reichert and Matt Martinson have been some of my favorites at Central.”

At WRHC, Coyle presented early results from her senior capstone project on anti-autistic bias in the language used to discuss it. She sees her experience at the conference as an important stepping stone into graduate school.

“After I graduate with my bachelor's degree this spring, I plan to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology,” she said. “Conferences like this provide valuable experience presenting and connecting with other researchers, which are necessary skills for graduate school or any future in academia.”

Undergraduate research is one of the four pillars of the DHC’s approach to preparing students for the rigors of academia. Denison knows that the benefits of participating in research as early as possible extend far beyond the bounds of the fields her students are researching.

“In the Honors College, we encourage students to engage in research to contribute to expanding our collective knowledge and build their own self-efficacy,” she said. “Through the research process, they gain confidence in their ability to tackle complex challenges, so when the next challenge comes along, they are confident in their ability to manage it.”

Mattesich has found this to be true, finding a sense of belonging through contributing to a field he loves.