There is no better way to learn about a field than to engage hands-on. The College of Education and Human Development has created a new research program that allows undergraduate students to do just that, and many bilingual education undergraduates were able to experience this over the summer.

Participants included Sandra Ramirez, Silvia Garza, Brenda Herrera, Sandra Huerta, Amanda Perry, Emily Motley, Martha Cervera, and Adonay Mendoza. Ruby Luevanos-Clemente, Rebecca Macias, and Katherine Standefer completed the experience last year.

With the new CEHD Undergraduate Research Experience program underway, students will have the opportunity to be introduced to the research process, including the development of research questions, data collection and analysis, and drawing conclusions. Faculty members recruit three to five students to work on a project, in which the collaboration takes place over the course of one year. The program helps undergraduates to gain valuable research experience.

Dr. Beverly Irby, professor in the Department of Educational Administration and Human Resource Development, completed research with Luevanos-Clemente, now a senior in bilingual education.

“I loved working with Dr. Irby last year,” Luevanos-Clemente said. “I learned so much about my field and about research in general. Getting to learn from a woman with so much experience in research inspired me to continue and pursue a future in research as well.”

On September 30, Texas A&M University celebrated the research accomplishments of nearly 300 undergraduates across campus at the Undergraduate Research Expo. The expo allowed undergraduates to showcase their findings and the projects in which they participated.