MTSU undergrads level up communication, advocacy skills as part of national research program

Jamie Burriss, left, director of the Undergraduate Research Center at Middle Tennessee State University, traveled to Washington, D.C., in November 2023 with MTSU undergraduate researchers Brooke Busbee, center, and Mina Abdulkareem to participate in the conference event for the larger, six-month Scholars Transforming Through Research: Council on Undergraduate Research’s Advocacy Program. (Submitted photo)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn., — Middle Tennessee State University’s Undergraduate Research Center is sending undergraduates to participate in a national research program for the second straight year to collaborate with other undergrads from across the country, to advocate for undergraduate research with government stakeholders and more.

The Scholars Transforming Through Research: Council on Undergraduate Research’s Advocacy Program, more commonly known as STR, is a six-month professional development program that involves on-the-ground and online conferences, trainings and workshops to help develop participants’ communication and advocacy skills.

Dr. Jamie Burriss

MTSU Undergraduate Research Center Director Jamie Burriss coordinated the participation of undergraduates Mina Abdulkareem and Brooke Busbee in the program and traveled to Washington, D.C., with them last fall for the program’s multiday conference and is working with them through the program’s wrap up next month.

“This opportunity is unique in that it encourages students to develop communication and advocacy skills, so they can convey their research experience stories to stakeholder groups such as funding agencies, elected officials and future employers,” Burriss said. “Knowing the impact that undergrad research has on our students at MTSU, we thought this would be a great opportunity to expand our skills and knowledge in advocacy.”

With the U.S. Capitol in the background, Middle Tennessee State University undergraduate researchers Brooke Busbee, left, and Mina Abdulkareem pose for a photo during their travels to Washington in November 2023 for a conference as part of the larger, six-month Scholars Transforming Through Research: Council on Undergraduate Research’s Advocacy Program the young women have been participating in and will complete next month. (Submitted photo)

In addition to being undergraduate researchers, Busbee and Abdulkareem are ambassadors in the URC’s READY to SOAR high school outreach program, an offshoot of the center’s Student Organization for the Advancement of Research, or SOAR. Burriss said it made the two students ideal candidates for STR as the young women will soon be applying their newly honed skills at the READY to SOAR research immersion event hosted on campus Friday, March 15.

Busbee and Abdulkareem organized and will host the full day of activities for 83 local high schoolers, part of the universitywide Scholars Week celebration of MTSU’s research and creative activity happening next week.

“This experience is giving me the tools I need to connect with others, discuss research, communicate with media and governing bodies and be a leader in my field,” said Busbee, a Murfreesboro, Tennessee, native. “From workshops on how to land and conduct a media interview, to lessons on how to connect with different levels of government, STR has taught me how to give my work a broader impact in a way not taught in traditional classrooms or campus organizations.”

Burriss said a major highlight of the conference was connecting with their colleagues from Tennessee.

“Lipscomb University, the University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University and Milligan University all have teams participating so we were able to work together as a cohort to advocate for continued funding of undergraduate research programs when meeting with our Tennessee senators and representatives while in D.C.,” she said. “While each team is supported by a mentor, the students were empowered to lead the conversations and share how their research experience and our programs are impacting our university, the surrounding community and preparing them as future leaders.”

Middle Tennessee State University undergraduate researchers Mina Abdulkareem, left, and Brooke Busbee, center, meet with Lindsey Keller, legislative assistant for Congressman Scott DesJarlais from Tennessee, at the U.S. Capitol in November 2023 as part of the larger, six-month Scholars Transforming Through Research: Council on Undergraduate Research’s Advocacy Program the young women have been participating in and will complete next month. (Submitted photo)

Busbee, who graduated in December with a degree in psychology, said interacting with area stakeholders was her highlight.

“Getting to speak with our congressional offices was definitely the highlight of the trip,” said Busbee. “It made me feel that my work was important and worth listening to. Having the opportunity to speak to them gave me a great sense of confidence in my own ability to communicate my research.”

Busbee added that this and the many other hands-on experiences provided through the URC and the larger Office of Research and Sponsored Programs have taken her skills to the next level, crediting this with her gaining admittance to Vanderbilt University to begin a master’s program at the Peabody College of Education and Human Development this fall.

Learn more about the Undergraduate Research Center at https://mtsu.edu/urc/ and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at https://mtsu.edu/research/.

— Stephanie Wagner (Stephanie.Wagner@mtsu.edu)