Through the Eyes of the Student Scholars

Through research seminars, collaborative projects, publications, and other scholarly activities, Student Scholars contribute their perspectives to research on how students learn. This page features research publications, blog posts, and reflections from CEL Student Scholars and their faculty and staff collaborators.

Peer Reviewed Articles and Chapters

CEL Student Scholars have contributed to peer-reviewed research on engaged learning, undergraduate research, student-faculty partnerships, and teaching and learning in higher education.

Blog Posts

Read reflections and research-informed writing from CEL Student Scholars and their faculty and staff partners. Posts explore topics including engaged learning, undergraduate research, student expertise, learning on location, equitable teaching and grading, and the role of students as partners in educational research.

A gradient background with a text overlay: "I felt invisible as if nobody had heard or seen me... there is nothing more powerful than a voice in the world of education."

The Power of a Voice (as a Neurodivergent Learner)

There is nothing more powerful than a voice in the world of education. I was diagnosed with a learning disability, dyslexia, when I was in first grade. I was lucky in that they spotted my dyslexia at a young age….

A woman wearing an augmented reality headset paints on a canvas while a person in the background holds a phone as a camera. A text overlay reads, "Elon University. Center for Engaged Learning. CELebrating Collaboration: Eyes of Innovation."

CELebrating Collaboration: Eyes of Innovation 

As undergraduate CEL Student Scholars working with the Center for Engaged Learning, we often are asked what our roles entail. Both in the context of the research itself, as well as in our partnerships, this collaborative leadership team was developed…

A Monarch butterfly rests on a purple flower. Text overlay reads, "Commencing as an egg, progressing through stages of a larva, pupa, and finally hatching as a butterfly, their journey parallels the transformative process I underwent as a mentor."

Fluttering into Change: A Journey of Metamorphosis through Mentorship

The life cycle of a butterfly, spanning from 30 to 200 days, often passes unnoticed by many, who focus solely on the standout moments within that time frame. While three or four memories stand out, for butterflies, each day is…

Three students sit outside on Elon's campus having a lively conversation.

The Power of Peer Mentorship for Entering Freshmen Undergraduates

In the nuanced progression of academia, the senior year of high school often sees students basking in the aura of impending graduation—confident top dogs, gazing down at the bewildered freshmen making the leap from middle school to high school. The…

Two men sit at a table together while one speaks and gestures with his hands. Text overlay reads, “Establishing precise definitions for each guidance method is paramount, enabling customized and effective mentorship relationships that benefit both the mentee and the mentor.”

The Big M.A.C of Academic Mentorship  

In the realm of crafting my culinary-inspired blog posts, a pattern seems to have emerged, one that I’ve unconsciously adhered to. So, if the title of this particular blog post conjured thoughts of the iconic Big Mac from McDonald’s, I…

Backdrop of Sorrento, Italy with picture of and quote by Gianna Smurro.

A Global Perspective: Interning While Studying Abroad 

In my previous blog post, “Interning Abroad: Work-Integrated Learning in a Global Context,” I discussed the positive impact of having an internship while studying abroad as an undergraduate student. In this post, I would like to delve deeper into my…

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Identifying Factors that Influence WIL Participants

I recently wrote a blog post highlighting the three subtopics that play a role in the overall success of a participant in an internship. In this post, I concentrated on three crucial subtopics: the type of institution, enrollment status, and…

Interning Abroad: Work-Integrated Learning in a Global Context

Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) focuses on integrating students’ course-based learning with real-world practical situations and experiences. Internships are a specific example of WIL that allow students to apply their academic studies to relevant experiences at companies, organizations, and nonprofits, small or…