Category: Office of Engaged Learning

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News Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning - Entrepreneurship Student Academic Engagement & Success

Interview with 2024-25 Big iDeas Entrepreneurship Fellow, Neha Husein

Neha Husein graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2019 with degrees in Human Rights and Marketing. Driven by a strong commitment to social impact, she founded Just Drive, a startup focused on reducing distracted driving accidents. Today, Neha is the Senior Event Producer for Vegandale, an international festival that celebrates vegan food, music, and art. In addition to her professional achievements, Neha is passionate about mentoring and supporting collegiate entrepreneurs, helping them navigate the challenges of starting and growing their own ventures. 

Tell us a little bit about your professional journey since graduating from SMU.  

“Right after I graduated, I worked full time with my start up Just Drive. It was a steep learning experience going from college to learning how to navigate working as a full-time professional. Ultimately, the covid pandemic hit and I had to pivot my business which very much served small businesses. I was then approached by another startup, ZSTACH, and their mission very much aligned with my environmental goals and passions. This was very cool starting another app from scratch. I learned how much my skills developed from when I was running my own startup and how my skills can transfer into other jobs and other industries.” 

In what ways do you think your entrepreneurship experience can enhance the E-Launch workshops for students this year? Any skills you have that stand out?

“My entrepreneurship experience allows me to provide practical, real-world insights into the startup journey, from ideation to execution. My ability to relate with and mentor students on a personal level can create a supportive and inspiring environment for them.”

What makes you most excited about being the E-Fellow at this point in your career?

“Being an E-Fellow at this point in my career excites me because it combines my passion for entrepreneurship with my desire to give back to the community that shaped me. I am thrilled to be in a position where I can challenge and support young entrepreneurs, helping them turn their ideas into viable businesses. This role allows me to leverage my experience and network to create meaningful impact and foster a culture of innovation and creativity at SMU.”

Besides being an SMU and Big iDeas alum, what makes coming back “home” to SMU so special this time around?

“Coming back to SMU is special because it feels like a full-circle moment. SMU and the Big iDeas program played a significant role in my personal and professional development, providing me with the foundation and support to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams. Returning as the E-Fellow allows me to contribute to the same ecosystem that nurtured me and to help shape the future of entrepreneurship at SMU. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with mentors, peers, and the vibrant community that has always felt like home.”

Why should an SMU student build their entrepreneurship base for their business idea while in college? What are the benefits to starting in that season of life?

“Building an entrepreneurship base while in college provides several benefits. College students have access to a wealth of resources, including mentorship, funding opportunities, and a supportive community of like-minded peers. Starting a business in college allows students to experiment and take risks in a relatively low-stakes environment. They can leverage their academic knowledge, gain practical experience, and develop a strong network that can support their entrepreneurial endeavors. Additionally, the skills and experiences gained from starting a business in college can be invaluable, regardless of whether the venture succeeds or fails, as they prepare students for future professional challenges.”

Neha will also be a panelist at the next Big iDeas Roundtable Discussion on Tuesday, October 1st, discussing “How to Build Your Brand.” To learn more information and register, visit SMU 360. 

 

 

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News Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research

Encourage students to apply for an Engaged Learning Fellowship

Since 2012, SMU has awarded 384 undergraduate students with the Engaged Learning Fellowship (ELF), a prestigious program that provides funding and support for capstone-level projects in research and the arts. Over the years, ELF recipients have conducted innovative projects in more than 20 different countries, truly embodying SMU’s motto “World Changers Shaped Here”.

Recent highlights from the ELF program include:

  • Yvonne Yang ’24 (awarded for her senior film Speculo) is directing Egg Drop Soup, an official selection for SMU Film’s Summer Film Production project. Collaborating with fellow film producers Suniti Bhikshesvaran, Tyler Chapman, and Juan Davalos—who also received ELF awards—this team has brought their vision to life. Read more about their project in this Meadows News article.
  • Anna Kelley Zielke ‘25 created a children’s book that inspires the next generation to embrace pluralism. Watch her interview with the George W. Bush Institute where she shares insights about her project.
  • Gabriella Doan ‘25 was selected to present her research, conducted under the mentorship of Dr. J.C. Chiao, at the Biomedical Engineering Society Conference in Baltimore, MD (October 23-26). Her project, Polypropylene Paper-Based Electrodes with a Voltage Response for pH Sensing, will be showcased at the undergraduate poster session.

Each year, we welcome 25-30 students into the Engaged Learning Fellowship program. The deadlines to apply are: September 15, December 15, February 15, and April 15. For seniors graduating in May, September 15th is the final opportunity to apply.

If you know an undergraduate student working on an exciting project or who is ready to start one, encourage them to apply for an ELF! Students can go to smu.edu/elf for more information.

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News Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research Student Academic Engagement & Success

OEL launches pilot program First Year Research Experience (FYRE)

The Office of Engaged Learning is excited to launch a new pilot program, the First Year Research Experience (FYRE). Usually students who are interested in research get involved after getting to know professors, generally in their second or third year. FYRE is a unique opportunity for a limited number of students to get involved in research right away in their first year at SMU.
Students in FYRE will be working as Undergraduate Research Assistants all year, and taking a class this fall. The projects they will assist on include research on antibiotics for tuberculosis and leprosy with Dr. John Buynak (Chemistry); developing a Smart and Reslient Infrastructure toolkit with Dr. Janille Smith-Colin (Civil and Environmental Engineering); creating instruments and performances for a “dinosaur choir” with Dr. Courtney Brown (Creative Computation).
The FYRE course, taught by Dr. Jennifer Ebinger and Dr. Adam Scott Neal, will deconstruct the research process and environment. Students will work through exercises to understand their faculty mentor’s research, learn to develop research questions, and work on networking and communication skills.
Thank you to all the faculty involved with this pilot for taking a chance on these promising first-year students!
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News Office of Engaged Learning Student Academic Engagement & Success

OEL gets ready for Stampede

We’re excited to welcome new students and families to campus during Stampede. The OEL team will be active throughout the week, and we invite you and students to connect with us at several key events. Please stop by, say hello and guide students our way!

  • Family Fest: Wednesday 9/21 and Thursday 9/22 from 1 – 4 PM in HTSC Ballroom. Our team will be stationed at the OEL tables during Family Fest, ready to connect with new students and their families. We encourage you and new students to stop by and explore the opportunities we offer, including:
    • Undergraduate Research Assistantships
    • Engaged Learning Fellowships
    • Mustang Mentors Peer Mentoring Programs
    • Pathways to Business and Industry
    • Big iDeas pitch competition
  • Commuter and Transfer Lunch: Friday 9/23, 11:30 – 12:45 PM in HTSC Ballroom. OEL is hosting a lunch specifically for incoming commuter and transfer students, aimed at helping them get acquainted with life on the Hilltop. This event is a great chance to ensure these students feel supported and informed.
  • Academic Explorations School Meetings: Friday 9/23 from 1:30 – 3:30 PM, happening across campus. Hosted by each academic school, these sessions provide students with the opportunity to connect with faculty and discover the academic opportunities available within their chosen major. Our own program’s session – Pathways to Business & Industry – will be held in McCord Auditorium, Dallas Hall in partnership with the University Advising Center, PALs, and the Hegi Family Career Development Center.
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Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research

Dr. Chrystyna Kouros named Faculty Fellow for Undergraduate Research

Headshot of Dr. Chrystyna Kouros

The Office of Engaged Learning is excited to announce that Dr. Chrystyna Kouros (Associate Professor of Psychology) will be our new Faculty Fellow for Undergraduate Research programs. She succeeds Dr. David Son (Professor of Chemistry) in this role.

Dr. Kouros has served on the Undergraduate Research Steering Team for several years, and received OEL’s Excellence in Mentoring Award in 2019.

Before joining the SMU faculty in 2011, she completed her B.A. at the University of Chicago, M.A. and Ph.D. at the University of Notre Dame, and was a postdoctoral research fellow at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Kouros’s research focuses on learning about how and why the family environment contributes to couples’, parents’, and children’s mental health. Some of the family processes her lab studies are: marital conflict, parental psychopathology, and helicopter parenting behaviors. Her research involves both families raising typically-developing children and children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

As Faculty Fellow, Dr. Kouros will lead the Undergraduate Research Steering Team, consisting of faculty and staff from across campus: Brandi Coleman (Assistant Professor of Dance), Dr. Dustin Grabsch (Assistant Provost, General Education), Dr. Carrie Johnston (Director of Research and Scholarly Initiatives, SMU Libraries), Dr. Allison Kanny (Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor, Education Policy and Leadership), Dr. Milica Mormann (Assistant Professor of Marketing), Dr. Eli Olinick (Associate Professor, Operations Research and Engineering Management), and Dr. David Son (Professor of Chemistry).

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Office of Engaged Learning Student Academic Engagement & Success

Exciting Summer Updates: Launching the Mustang Mentors Peer-Mentoring Program

logo of SMU Mustang Mentors program

We are thrilled to share exciting updates about the new Mustang Mentors peer-mentoring program. Set to fully launch this fall, the program has made significant strides in recruiting both mentors and mentees over the summer. Thanks to the assistance from our dedicated partners and technology platform Mentor Collective, along with our invaluable campus colleagues, we are well on our way to creating a vibrant and supportive mentoring network for our students.

Since the launch of our summer recruitment plan, we have seen our mentor registration increase from 39 to 67 students! We’ve witnessed an enthusiastic response from mentors eager to share their knowledge and experiences, as well as from first-year students looking for guidance and a sense of belonging at SMU.

We are also pleased to report an increase in our mentee registration from 18 to 27 first-year students. This is a good start, and we look forward to engaging more first-year students at Family Fest during STAMPEDE. As part of your continued support, please direct students not affiliated with a group (e.g., scholars, Greek) to our table to sign up.

Thank you once again to everyone who has contributed to this initiative with a special thank you to our partners in Student Affairs, Transfer Advising, First-Generation, and RLSH. Your support has been vital to building such positive momentum with this new initiative.

We look forward to sharing more updates as we move forward. If you would like to learn more please visit our website at smu.edu/mustangmentors for more information.

Pony Up!

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Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research

A behind-the-scenes look at an SMU psychology lab

headshot of Morgan Schield
Morgan Schield, Undergraduate Research Assistant in Psychology

Written by Morgan Schield ’25

This summer I worked as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Health Behavior Lab in SMU’s Department of Psychology. In this lab, we explore various aspects of mental and physical health to see how they affect public health.

My job was to coordinate a study analyzing the effects of guided thinking tasks on physical activity. Dr. Austin Baldwin’s leadership helped me navigate the logistics of the study, and prepared me for future work in a clinical psychology setting. As an undergraduate studying psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, and biomedical anthropology, as well as a competitive swimmer, I value the benefits of physical activity on brain health. I believe this study is significant to psychology research regarding brain health awareness.

My summer position was funded through the Office of Engaged Learning’s Summer Research Intensive. Through that program, I also attended weekly workshops and lectures. I learned how to generate a research question, conduct a literature review, create an elevator pitch, develop visual representations of data, and perfect resumes and CVs. I am going to be applying for graduate school for a Master’s in clinical psychology soon. These workshops helped me feel much more prepared for the application process. Moreover, hearing from experienced speakers who have undergone the research process, as well as engaging with students conducting research in various fields, enhanced my ability to communicate fascinating concepts in an academic setting.

As a research assistant, I help recruit individuals who will come to our office and do the following: walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes, listen to audio recordings intended to promote physical activity, and fill out questionnaires. The questionnaires assess how well futuristic and imagery tasks improve their motivation. For example, the audio recording asks them to visualize themselves at an event in the future. This hopefully motivates them to exercise now!

After analyzing participants’ data and feedback, we will identify better ways to foster active lifestyles. I am excited to be part of a study that advocates for the wellbeing of society.

My role as an undergraduate psychology research assistant has been inspiring because I have received hands-on experience in groundbreaking research. In a rapidly evolving world, the importance of brain health in relation to physical health is constantly increasing. SMU is dedicated to discovering methods to enhance scientific discovery in all realms. Dr. Baldwin’s research lab and the SRI program helped me be part of something bigger than myself and certainly prepared me for my future career.

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Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research

Three Minute “Thesis” caps SRI & REU programs

Group photo of participants and judges at 2024 SRI Three Minute Thesis

Last Thursday, July 25, the Office of Engaged Learning hosted a Three Minute “Thesis” competition. 25 presentations in under 2 hours! This was the culminating event of the Summer Research Intensive and Data Science for Social Good programs.

Along with their research and other activities, students in the programs participated in a 7-week professional development workshop series with Dr. Adam Scott Neal (Program Manager, OEL). They worked through various ways of presenting their research, their experience, and their stories (e.g., presentations, resumes, and elevator pitches).

Students in these programs are all working on faculty research projects, so their presentations needed to give an overview of the project as well as their individual role—and why the research matters.

Winners:

  • 1st place: Sana Omar & Simran Waraich (faculty mentor: Dr. Peng Tao, Chemistry)
  • 2nd place: Paul Rowe (faculty mentor: Dr. Austin Baldwin, Psychology)
  • 3rd place: Ritney Coleman & Jacob Gareis (faculty mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Wheaton-Páramo, Economics)

Judges:

  • Alisha Bailey (Assistant Director, OEL)
  • Adreana Julander (Director, Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center)
  • Stephen Fashoro (Media Relations Manager, Development and External Affairs)
  • Ramón García (Undergraduate Success Librarian)
  • Matthew Nadler (Associate Director, Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility)
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News Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research Pathways to Industry Student Academic Engagement & Success

Pathways to Success: Student Spotlight on Ritney Coleman

Ritney Colment presenting to research team
Ritney presenting weekly updates of human trafficking research to the team during teh Summer Research Intensive.

Ritney Coleman is a rising senior pursuing a B.S. in Economics with Financial Applications. A military veteran, he initially aimed to major in accounting and become a CPA, but decided on a different career path where he felt he could make more of a societal impact. Ritney found the Non-Profit Organization and Concept Primer course (offered through the Economics department) to be “one of the most impactful courses and added to my understanding of non-profits and how they are managed.” This course provided the theoretical concepts needed to thrive in the non-profit sector, while Ritney’s internships and volunteering brought classroom concepts to life.  

Ritney credits SMU’s vast resources with helping him focus on his passion for research and non-profit leadership. During his junior year, Dr. Wendelin Donahue, SMU Director of Community Engagement, helped Ritney gain practical experience by collaborating with local non-profits through community events. Ritney’s goal is to develop a non-profit that serves disadvantaged youth by providing various opportunities through field trips, seminars, sports programs, and college access support.   

Ritney emphasizes the importance of networking and engaged actively with professors to uncover learning opportunities. This summer, he is a research assistant for Dr. Elizabeth Wheaton-Páramo, Research Associate Professor in Economics through the Office of Engaged Learning’s Summer Research Intensive. In his work with Dr. Wheaton-Páramo, Ritney is using the SMU human trafficking data warehouse to gather data on organized crime groups transition between smuggling and human trafficking. Sometimes it’s difficult to relate the theoretical course work to practical experiences, but Ritney noted that the knowledge obtained in his Introductory Econometrics class has helped him “feel confident analyzing data” in his summer research project.  

When asked about his advice for incoming first-year students, Ritney said, “the opportunities are available, but students need to be active, not passive, in their networking pursuits. I was able to get an internship by simply asking my professor.” Ritney recommends first and second year undergraduate students schedule an appointment with the Hegi Family Career Development Center early for resume prep and to build their LinkedIn profile. He also credits his peers in the Economics department for providing him with useful resources.  

For students interested in data analysis and practical skills development, Ritney suggests exploring the Bloomberg Terminals in the Business Library, where he is currently pursuing the Bloomberg Market Concepts Certificate. 

To find out more information about the SMU Pathways to Business and Industry, please contact pbi@smu.edu.  

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News Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning - Entrepreneurship Student Academic Engagement & Success

The Office of Engaged Learning welcomes Neha Husein as Entrepreneurship Fellow

We are thrilled to welcome Neha Husein as the 2024-2025 Entrepreneurship Fellow in the Office of Engaged Learning. Neha’s journey as a Big iDeas alumna to successful entrepreneur and mentor embodies the spirit of innovation and social impact that we strive to cultivate in our community. 

Neha graduated from SMU in 2019 with degrees in Human Rights and Marketing. Her academic background laid the foundation for her commitment to making a positive difference in the world. Recognizing the growing issue of distracted driving after being rear-ended by a distracted driver, Neha channeled her passion for social entrepreneurship into creating Just Drive, an app dedicated to rewarding undistracted drivers with coupons good for local businesses.  

Today, Neha serves as the Senior Event Producer for Vegandale, an international festival that celebrates vegan food, music, and art. In addition to her professional achievements, Neha is deeply passionate about mentoring and supporting collegiate entrepreneurs. As a former student herself, she understands the unique challenges that come with starting and growing a venture in college and is dedicated to helping students navigate these hurdles. Neha’s mentorship provides invaluable guidance, inspiration, and practical advice, empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs to achieve their goals. 

As the new Entrepreneurship Fellow, Neha will play a pivotal role in enhancing our programs and initiatives aimed at fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and increasing women entrepreneurs. We believe that her experience and insights will undoubtedly inspire and encourage more women to develop their entrepreneurial skills. 

We are excited to have Neha Husein join the Office of Engaged Learning team and look forward to the positive impact she will have on our Big iDeas community. Please join us in welcoming Neha!