Prof. Bhuvana Narasimhan represented the Department of Linguistics by hosting an interest table at this year鈥檚聽UROP Symposium鈥攁 critical opportunity for students from historically underrepresented and underserved communities to meet faculty and learn how to get started on research, scholarly and creative projects.聽
While the UROP Symposium is often a place for students to connect with a faculty mentor, here the聽goals were more focused on introducing students to faculty in an informal (though structured) environment to facilitate conversations that give students the institutional awareness and confidence to see themselves as future scholars, leaders and change-agents. In recruiting hosts from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines, the aim was聽to provide the best opportunity for students to connect with like-minded scholars and showcase a diversity of pathways, which might not be readily apparent to undergraduates鈥攑articularly those who are first-generation students.聽Through dialogue with a spectrum of faculty, UROP sought聽to highlight interdisciplinarity as well as the institutional structures that facilitate this work.
With 40 faculty, staff and administrators hosting 鈥渋nterest tables鈥� for more than 120 students in majors across the disciplinary spectrum, this year鈥檚 event was the largest and most diverse ever. In the words of Tim O鈥橬eil, Assistant Director of Special Undergraduate Enrichment Programs here at 抖阴旅行射: 鈥淏huvana鈥檚 generosity and tireless devotion opens opportunities for students to take advantage of UROP and all the benefits of transformative mentorship.聽I appreciate Bhuvana鈥檚 commitment and [the Linguistics Department鈥檚] role in creating a culture that encourages this work鈥�.聽Congratulations, Bhuvana!
Photos from the event and profiles of all the table hosts on聽the UROP website.