Summer Research 2017

Randolph student wins award for research at regional math conference

Taylor Samuels '18 (left) and mathematics professor Jia Wan

Last weekend, Taylor Samuels ’18 earned second place in poster presentations at the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) MD-DC-VA sectional meeting, held at Washington & Lee University and the Virginia Military Institute. Her poster was one of 18 presented, and she was one of 85 students participating in the conference. Samuels presented work from a... READ MORE >>

Students present findings from Summer Research

Summer Research poster presentations in the Hampson Commons

Randolph students participating in the 2017 Summer Research program presented the results of eight weeks’ worth of lab work, cultural and sociological studies, innovative teaching strategies, and environmental research today during the Summer Research Program Symposium. Several groups have also been invited to present their work at national conferences within the next year. Participating students... READ MORE >>

Diving into Research

Physics and environmental studies professor Sarah Sojka, Tyrah Cobb-Davis '19, and Libby Exline '19 construct artificial seagrass

Earlier this summer, Tyrah Cobb-Davis ’19 and Libby Exline ’19 looked like they were going on a diving expedition. They packed wetsuits and swimming goggles into a car before loading up the most important item—a large, black mass of intertwined plastic tubes, or artificial seagrass. For their Summer Research project, the students are working with... READ MORE >>

Research in the Big City

Visiting professor of American Culture Noel Wolfe and Zach Pennix '18 at the City University of New York's Centro de Estudios Puertorriquenos (Center for Puerto Rican Studies).

During his first trip to New York City, Zach Pennix ’18 was awestruck. The city had so much to offer—culture, entertainment, great food—that the Lynchburg native struggled to take it all in during his first trip there. “I couldn’t see enough,” he said. “I just wanted to see and experience it all.” Pennix spent his... READ MORE >>

Educational Experience

Igor Ngabo '18 assists teachers in an activity during Randolph's 2017 teaching institute,

Skylar Pippin ’19 knew that teaching was a difficult profession. But after working with local elementary and middle school science teachers during an annual teaching institute at Randolph last week, she has an even stronger appreciation for the preparation that goes into each lesson. “It’s been a different viewpoint because I’m used to seeing education... READ MORE >>

Resilient Research

(From left) Sustainability coordinator Sara Woodward '16, Shataaxi Joshi '19, Arnav Upadhyay '19, and the Herzog Family Chair of Environmental Studies Karin Warren discuss their project while walking on campus.

Growing up in Nepal in the shadows of some of the world’s tallest mountains, Arnav Upadhyay ’19 endured brutally cold winters and frequent snowstorms. As he grew older, he could sense the winters getting slightly warmer and more tolerable each year. This summer, he is taking action by helping Randolph College and the City of... READ MORE >>

An App for That

Taylor Samuels '18 and mathematics professor Jia Wan

Last summer, mathematics professor Jia Wan served as a master advisor for incoming students. Frustrated by the scheduling software being used, one of her colleagues commented, “There must be an app for this.” That’s when Wan had an idea. “Because I teach programming classes, I thought it would be a perfect project for students to... READ MORE >>

Curious About Curiosity

Education professor Cheryl Lindeman and Jasmine Fowler '20 craft more blocks for their

Like Santa Claus at Christmas time, Jasmine Fowler ’20 and education professor Cheryl Lindeman have been loading up a large bag with items for children to enjoy. But instead of toys, the young students they visit this summer will receive mysterious blocks, puzzles, and other objects meant to stir their curiosity. Fowler and Lindeman have... READ MORE >>

Activism Explained

Sociology professor Danielle Currier and Lisa White ’18 discuss their research.

When Lisa White ’18 chose to major in sociology at Randolph, she did it with her 14-year-old daughter in mind. Her child was also the inspiration for a Summer Research project she is conducting about feminism and activism. “This interests me because my daughter is African American and I want to fight for her rights... READ MORE >>

Taking the virtual leap

Dung Nguyen '18 (left) and psychology professor Blair Gross watch as Avisha Shah '18 uses the Oculus virtual reality headset.

This spring, Randolph psychology professor Blair Gross took one of her classes to a virtual reality lab at the University of Virginia. Students took turns putting on the Oculus headset and walking a plank from the top of a tall building in a virtual world, but no one, including Gross, could bring themselves to find... READ MORE >>