Making College “Worth it” – Season 3, Episode 4

In this episode, we explore a first-year course that provides a foundation to inspire and foster undergraduate research. We speak with Dr. Cynthia Fair, a Professor of Public Health Studies and Human Service Studies at Elon University, and Dr. Dave Gammon, a Professor of Biology at Elon University. Together, they describe a course that scaffolds research, starting with asking effective questions, and sets up an engaging four-year research experience.

View a transcript of this episode.

Meet our Guests

Cindy Fair, LCSW, DrPH, is a professor in the Department of Public Health at Elon University, where she holds the endowed Watts-Thompson Professorship. At Elon, Dr. Fair is deeply committed to integrating research, clinical insight, and engaged learning into her courses. Dr. Fair’s research primarily focuses on adolescents and young adults living with chronic health conditions, especially those with perinatally acquired HIV and the transition from pediatric to adult health care. Dr. Fair’s dual identity as clinician-researcher and educator enables her to bridge rigorous scholarship with student mentorship and real-world relevance.

Dave Gammon is an integrative scientist who builds bridges beyond traditional scientific communities. These communities include professionals and students in disciplines outside of the natural sciences such as the social sciences, business, and the arts and humanities, and citizens outside of academia. He builds bridges through the courses he teaches (mostly courses for non-science majors), through his science outreach activities, and through his interdisciplinary scholarship and other professional activity. Dr. Gammon is the T.E. Powell Professor, Jr. Professor and Professor of Biology at Elon University. His website is dgammonelon.wordpress.com 

Episode Credits

This episode is co-hosted by Jessie L. Moore, Director of Elon University’s Center for Engaged Learning, and Nolan Schultheis, a third-year student at Elon University, studying Psychology with an interest in law. Nolan Schultheis also edited the episode. Making College “Worth It” is produced by Elon University’s Center for Engaged Learning. 

Episode art was created by Nolan Schultheis and Jennie Goforth. 

Funky Percussions is by Denys Kyshchuk (@audiocoffeemusic) – https://www.audiocoffee.net/. Soft Beat is by ComaStudio. 

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