HomeInsightsAdvocacyCUR Releases 2025 STR Program Participants

CUR Releases 2025 STR Program Participants

The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) congratulates the following 38 teams who were accepted to be a part of the 2025-26 Scholars Transforming Through Research (STR) Program. The STR Program is a competitive application-based professional development opportunity for teams consisting of a campus representative and one to four undergraduate students. These teams will participate in a multi-month program aimed at developing their communication and advocacy skills, which will empower them to convey the power of the high-impact practices of undergraduate research and their own research experiences.

“At a time when research, innovation, and civic engagement are deeply interconnected, this new STR cohort embodies the next generation of scholar-advocates. Their commitment to advancing undergraduate research and amplifying its impact will help shape stronger institutions and more informed communities. CUR is proud to support these students and mentors as they develop the skills to champion research as both a catalyst for discovery and a cornerstone of our vision of better lives and a better future through undergraduate research.” 

Lindsay Currie, CUR executive officer

This 2025-26 class of STR participants represents 34 institutions from 15 states and consists of 38 campus representatives and 106 undergraduate researchers. 

Alabama
  • Troy University | Cora Wyrosdick, Jacqueline Jones, Jessica Hollis, Noah Atkins
California
  • Claremont McKenna College + Scripps College | Aaron Sheng, Clifford Jin, Max Rand, Yulin Zhai
  • Fresno State | Alexis Valadez, Beth Winman, Jeffrey Thibodeaux, Kellie Nakazawa
  • Pasadena City College | Emma Chua, Hyacinth Ang, Jared Ashcroft, Myra Interiano
  • University of California, Riverside | Angel Zarobinski, Gladis Herrera-Berkowitz, Janna Soliman, Logan Reynosa, Mia Alvarado, Nicole D’Souza, Sreenidhi Surineni, Stephanie Dingwall
  • University of the Pacific | Bellynda Trinh, Kaitlyn Ferreira, Quingwen Dong, Sarah Morgan, Valeria Nunez
Florida
  • University of Central Florida | Aaditya Balasubramaniyan, Carley Rich, Dylan Payne, Siva Annamalai, Sun Latt
  • University of Florida | Ariana Robinson, Corey Broersma, Karina Alvina
Georgia
  • Berry College | Carolyn Reilly, Miriam Miller
  • Clark Atlanta University | Elycia Daniel, Emery Sumberlin, Gabrielle Stevenson, Lisette Allison
  • Georgia College & State University | Emily Wright, Hasitha Mahabaduge
  • Kennesaw State University | Danica Kulibert, Devyn Woodard, Katelyn Geist
Indiana
  • Purdue University | Gaven Acosta, Jason Ware
Kentucky
  • University of Kentucky | Austin Trotter, Grant Fischer, Jessica Jones-Bowman, Julianne Sharpe
Maryland
  • Bowie State University | Clinton Harris, Isis Wright, Johanna Hinton, Mikayla Amos
  • Johns Hopkins University | Arnav Koppala, Isabelle Jouve, Jason Shumsky, Kirsten Amematsro, Lauren Reynolds
  • Montgomery College | Kathryn Monzo, Lila Wooden, Mishell Rea
  • Morgan State University | Dance Prescott, Dylan Johnson, Jamiyu Saida Olayinka, Janae Crowder, Samia Kirchner
  • Towson University | Emanuel Garcia Servellon, Liam Walker, Linh Tran, Monica Mitchel, Seth Gitter
Michigan
  • Grand Valley State University | Avri Marihugh, Leanne Kang, Melanie Avila
Minnesota
  • University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | Lorene Lanier, Sofiya Ismagilova
Nebraska
  • University of Nebraska at Omaha | Cody Friend, Justin Andersson, Mia Sanchez Rodriguez, Natalia Rodriguez Arellano
North Carolina
  • North Carolina A&T State University | Dallas Rawls, Jared Webb, Jordan Shegog, Leah Worrill, Sheila Mungai
  • University of North Carolina, Wilmington | Ally Johnston, Kallie Davis, Katie Pizlo, Michael Tift, Rianne Lee
Pennsylvania
  • Carnegie Mellon University + Penn State University | Isaiah Adu, Ningning Ying, Rachel Burcin
  • Villanova University | Adriano Duque, Aiden Li, Christopher Kilby, Kathleen Heraty
Texas
  • Rice University | Abigail Schuh, Jessica Xu, Maya Harpavat, Prasi Desai, Sammi Frey,
  • Stephen F. Austin State University | Holli Heim, Kiel Garrett, Misty Ledesma, Olivia Payne, Sarah Straub
  • University of Texas at El Paso | Angela Cole, Anna Rascon-Prieto, Karina Canaba, Luis Acosta, Roberto Garza
  • University of Texas at San Antonio | Christopher Sauceda, Darrell Balderrama, Fiona Valorz, Jibel Mendez, Oscar Reyes Parker
Virginia
  • Radford University | Abigail Craig, Alexis (Lou) O’Neil, Caleb Frankenberger, Carlee Bradbury, Daniel Berry, Jessica Handy, Jessica McCann, Kayla Fields, Lily Backus, Natalie Infante, Naveen Joseph, Nicholas Beach, Patrick Kielawa, Rhett Herman
  • University of Mary Washington | Abigail Powers, Brooke Martin, Laura Sipe, Lillian Burbulis, Tyler Downs
West Virginia
  • West Virginia University | Christopher Arnold, Madison Metrick

The STR Program will run from November 2025 through March 2026. You can find out more information about this advocacy program at www.CUR.org/STR or follow our social media channels and #CURSTR.

Founded in 1978, the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) focuses on providing high-quality and collaborative undergraduate research, scholarly, and creative activity. Among the many activities and networking opportunities that CUR provides, the organization also offers support for the professional growth of faculty and administrators through expert-designed institutes, conferences, and a wide-range of volunteer positions. The CUR community, made up of nearly 700 institutions and 13,000 individuals, continues to provide a platform for discussion and other resources related to mentoring, connecting, and creating relationships centered around undergraduate research. CUR’s advocacy efforts are also a large portion of its work as they strive to strengthen support for undergraduate research. Its continued growth in connections with representatives, private foundations, government agencies, and campuses world-wide provides value to its members and gives voice to undergraduate research. CUR is committed to inclusivity and diversity in all of its activities and our community.

CUR focuses on giving a voice to undergraduate research with learning through doing. It provides connections to a multitude of campuses and government agencies, all while promoting networking and professional growth to its community.

By Todd Waggoner

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