CUR’s volunteers are at the heart of its mission, bringing expertise, energy, and commitment to initiatives that shape the future of undergraduate research. One way CUR engages volunteers is through collaboration groups. These groups can provide governance, strategic insight, advisory expertise, and/or programmatic leadership that advance CUR’s mission, strategic priorities, and impact across the undergraduate research community. Volunteering with CUR offers opportunities for professional growth, leadership development, and collaboration across the undergraduate research community.
Standing Committees
Standing Committees are formally established by the CUR Bylaws and play a vital role in governing the organization. They provide ongoing oversight, guidance, and leadership to support CUR’s mission and long-term success.
The Executive Committee acts on behalf of the Board of Directors between board meetings, providing strategic continuity and oversight in alignment with the Board’s direction. It ensures CUR’s governance remains responsive and aligned with its mission.
National Office Staff Liaison: Pam Dodge
Chair: Karen Resendes, Westminster College  Â
The Compensation Committee supports CUR’s governance by overseeing the performance evaluation, goal setting, contract renewal, and compensation analysis for the Executive Officer and other covered individuals. The committee ensures alignment between executive performance and CUR’s strategic and operational goals, and makes related recommendations to the Board of Directors for approval.
National Office Staff Liaison: Pam Dodge
Chair: Karen Resendes, Westminster College  Â
The Finance Committee supports the Board of Directors in ensuring the financial health of CUR by monitoring the organization’s financial condition and strategy. It provides guidance, reviews financial documents, and helps align fiscal planning with CUR’s strategic priorities.
National Office Staff Liaison: Pam Dodge
Chair: Beth Cunningham, American Association of Physics Teachers
The Nominations and Leadership Development Committee strengthens CUR’s governance by identifying, vetting, and presenting a slate of qualified candidates for Board-level positions through a fair and transparent process. In collaboration with CUR leadership and the National Office, the committee assesses the evolving needs of the organization and ensures the recruitment of diverse, skilled leaders to drive CUR’s mission forward.
National Office Staff Liaison: Pam Dodge
Chair: James LaPlant, Valdosta State University Â
Board Working Groups
To explore and shape CUR’s long-term strategic positioning across our goals, these working groups will ensure alignment across the bodies of CUR with the organization’s mission and future vision.
These groups are not responsible for implementation but rather for advising on the strategic direction. It will share insights and priorities with CUR’s Executive Officer and staff leadership, who will determine how best to execute and integrate into operational plans.
This board working group supports the strategic goal of cultivating a dynamic, inclusive community of undergraduate research professionals. The group focuses on scanning the landscape for major shifts that could impact this goal, discussing the capabilities CUR needs to build for success, surfacing the strategic conversations the Board should be having, pinpointing where further research, policy development, or broader community dialogue is needed, and ensuring fiscal priorities align with the strategic plan – including recommending the continuation, adjustment, or sunsetting of initiatives as appropriate. This board working group supports the staff as they are creating pathways for participation, growth, and leadership in CUR, while fostering collaboration and professional development within a culture of belonging.
National Office Staff Liaison: Pam Dodge
Executive Committee Liaison: Karen Resendes, Westminster College Â
This board working group supports the strategic goal of promoting innovative practices and defining excellence across higher education. The group focuses on scanning the landscape for major shifts that could impact this goal, discussing the capabilities CUR needs to build for success, surfacing the strategic conversations the Board should be having, pinpointing where further research, policy development, or broader community dialogue is needed, and ensuring fiscal priorities align with the strategic plan – including recommending the continuation, adjustment, or sunsetting of initiatives as appropriate. This board working group supports the staff as they establish benchmarks for success, celebrate exemplars, and equip institutions with CUR’s resources, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and alignment with their research mission.
National Office Staff Liaison: Heather Wakefield
Executive Committee Liaison: James LaPlant, Valdosta State University  Â
This board working group supports the strategic goal of amplifying the value and transformative impact of undergraduate research. The group focuses on scanning the landscape for major shifts that could impact this goal, discussing the capabilities CUR needs to build for success, surfacing the strategic conversations the Board should be having, pinpointing where further research, policy development, or broader community dialogue is needed, and ensuring fiscal priorities align with the strategic plan – including recommending the continuation, adjustment, or sunsetting of initiatives as appropriate. This board working group supports the staff as they advocate for undergraduate research, working to ensure that its significance is recognized by stakeholders, institutions, and policymakers. Additionally, the group helps build strategic alliances and strengthens CUR’s brand as the leading authority on undergraduate research.
National Office Staff Liaison: Lindsay Currie
Executive Committee Liaison: Maria Iacullo-Bird, Pace UniversityÂ
Strategic Working + Advisory Groups
These groups play an important role in advancing CUR’s strategic plan by providing guidance, insight, and support to leadership. They help ensure CUR remains responsive to community needs and positioned for future growth.
This working group serves as a conduit for engaging the CUR community and external audiences in communicating the importance and impact of undergraduate research. Through strategic advocacy and ambassadorial outreach, the group champions CUR’s mission by actively engaging in efforts such as encouraging federal and local outreach, participating in direct advocacy initiatives, and using storytelling and social media to amplify impact. This working group also supports their divisions by sharing tools and resources that guide members in their own advocacy efforts.
National Office Staff Liaison: Heather Wakefield
Chair: Della Cronin, Bose Public Affairs Group
This working group supports the implementation of CUR’s culture and values as documented in the CUR strategic plan. The group helps build an empowered and engaged community.
National Office Staff Liaison: Heather Wakefield
Co-Chairs: Tim O’Neil, University of Colorado at Boulder & Sharon Newport, Sharon Newport LLC
This advisory group helps CUR navigate change and prepare for the future by monitoring trends and identifying drivers of change that inform strategic decision-making. The group collaborates with CUR leadership bodies to integrate these insights into their work and partners with the National Office and Executive Committee to guide and educate CUR on leveraging foresight to adapt and thrive in a dynamic environment.
National Office Staff Liaison: Lindsay Currie
Chair: Sean Fox, Carleton College
The CUR Member Mentoring Program Task Force is charged with recommending a pilot plan for a CUR-wide mentoring initiative with the goal of strengthening member engagement and professional growth across disciplines and position types by supporting the UR practitioner. The group will take a listening-first approach to ensure the program reflects the real needs of the CUR community and builds on existing successes.
National Office Staff Liaison: Lindsay Currie
Chair: Ashley Fricks-Gleason, Creighton University
Content Working + Advisory Groups
These groups support CUR in developing content, programming, and resources that advance the organization’s mission and strategic goals. Comprised of both working groups and advisory groups, they collaborate to ensure that CUR’s offerings reflect the evolving needs of the undergraduate research community.
This advisory group ensures that the CUR Annual Conference fosters meaningful learning, professional development, and community building. It guides the development of themes, tracks, and programming that reflect CUR’s strategic priorities and the evolving needs of the undergraduate research community.
National Office Staff Liaison: Heather Wakefield
Chair: Kevin Kaufmann, Loyola University of Chicago
This task force advances the integration of undergraduate research into national conversations on career readiness. It develops resources that help students, faculty, and mentors articulate the career-relevant skills gained through undergraduate research in ways that resonate with employers and diverse stakeholders.
National Office Staff Liaison: Heather Wakefield
Chair: Jeanne Mekolichick, Radford University
This working group develops guidelines that define characteristics of excellence in student scholarship and research presentations across formats. It also creates practical resources, models, and examples to help students showcase the quality, clarity, and impact of their work.
National Office Staff Liaison: Heather Wakefield
Chair: Billy Gunnels, Florida Gulf Coast University
Award Committees
These committees are charged with soliciting nominations or applications, conducting thorough and impartial reviews, and selecting recipients for CUR’s prestigious awards. Each committee is dedicated to upholding a fair, confidential, and ethical process that recognizes outstanding contributions to undergraduate research across a range of disciplines and roles.
This committee reviews nominations and selects recipients who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and mentorship in guiding undergraduate researchers within the arts and humanities. The committee ensures a fair and thorough process for recognizing faculty who inspire, support, and serve as role models for students engaged in undergraduate research.
This committee reviews applications and selects institutions that have demonstrated outstanding implementation of CUR’s Characteristics of Excellence in Undergraduate Research (COEUR). The committee ensures a fair and thorough process for recognizing higher education institutions that provide high-quality, impactful research experiences for undergraduates and evaluates the success of these programs.
This committee reviews nominations and selects a distinguished CUR member whose leadership and career exemplify the values and ideals outlined in CUR’s Characteristics of Excellence in Undergraduate Research (COEUR). The committee ensures a fair and thorough process for recognizing individuals who serve as role models and make significant contributions to the advancement of undergraduate research.
This committee collaborates with the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation and the CUR National Office to solicit nominations and select outstanding faculty mentors in STEM disciplines. The committee recognizes a faculty member whose mentorship has made a significant impact on the academic and professional development of Goldwater Scholars, fostering excellence in STEM research and student achievement.
This committee reviews nominations and selects a young investigator whose original and impactful research with undergraduate students has significantly advanced the field of chemistry and contributed to the STEM careers of those involved. The committee ensures a fair and thorough process for recognizing mentorship that fosters innovation and excellence in both research and student development.