WSU Graduate to Travel to Capitol Hill to Present Research
OGDEN, Utah — One Weber State University graduate will present research to members of congress during Posters on the Hill in Washington D.C., April 17-18.
Madelaine Tesori will share her research on the policy implications of barriers to health care that African Americans face. Tesori spent a year and a half working on this project with the hopes it would encourage discussions about change and inspire solutions. Now, she’ll have the chance to show her research directly to those most capable of implementing changes.
While in Washington D.C., Tesori and other participating students from around the nation will showcase their research to congressional members. Posters on the Hill, sponsored by the Council on Undergraduate Research, gives students the opportunity to meet with representatives and learn about advocacy for undergraduate research.
Madelaine Tesori at Fall 2017 Commencement
“This is the kind of thing researchers dream of,” Tesori said. “I understand the impact that policy has on people’s lives, especially when it comes to health care; it can literally be a matter of life or death. This is such an amazing opportunity, not just for me, but also, hopefully, for all the people who can be helped if changes are made.”
Tesori completed her research with WSU’s Center for Community Engaged Learning Community Research Team, led by criminal justice assistant professor Monica Williams and child and family studies assistant professor Pamela Payne. The research team provides opportunities for students to conduct research with and for community partners.
Tesori and Williams collaborated with Project Success Coalition, a non-profit organization that works with African American communities in Utah, to examine longstanding disparities in health care access. They conducted four focus groups with residents young and old to help explain how different generations encounter barriers to health care.
“Through her collaboration with Project Success, Madelaine’s work will show policymakers the value of supporting and funding undergraduate, community-based research,” Williams said. “Her study underscores how policymakers can use information from research to inform their decisions on health care.”
Tesori said her work on this project has made her more eager to continue research. She graduated from WSU in Fall 2017 with a double major in political science and communications, and her next goal is to work as a research assistant while pursuing a Ph.D. in political science.
Posters on the Hill typically selects just one student per state among hundreds of applicants from universities throughout the country. WSU students have a strong record of being selected to present their research. Since 2005, nine WSU students have traveled to the nation’s capital to share their work with members of Congress.
This event highlights a small sampling of the research that occurs at WSU. Both the Center for Community Engaged Learning and the Office of Undergraduate Research provide year-round support and opportunities for students to conduct all forms of research.
“Research projects can provide students with an opportunity to develop in-depth knowledge in a particular discipline, hone their research skills and become independent, self-motivated scholars,” said Erin Kendall, undergraduate research administrative professional. “There are numerous benefits for undergraduate students who get involved in research. They will establish meaningful relationships with the faculty, deepen their academic experience, develop marketable career skills and prepare themselves for competitive graduate and professional schools.”
To learn more about the research being done with community partners through the Center for Community Engaged Learning, visit weber.edu/ccel/celeaders. For more information about the Office of Undergraduate Research, visit weber.edu/OUR.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
Rachel Badali, Office of Marketing & Communications
801-626-7295 • rachelbadali@weber.edu- Contact:
John Cavitt, director of undergraduate research
801-626-6172 • jcavitt@weber.eduErin Kendall, Office of Undergraduate Research administrative professional
801-626-8541 • erinkendall@weber.edu