Travel Grant Takes Faculty Research far Beyond the Island University
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – To support Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi faculty and the exceptional research they produce, the Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE) is now offering Travel Grants of up to $1,000 to aid them in presenting research or pedagogy at conferences within the United States. Completed applications are due Friday, Nov. 9, for travel requests occurring January through May 21, 2019.
“The Center for Faculty Excellence promotes a vibrant culture of lifelong learning and supporting faculty conference presentations is a key component of that learning,” said Dr. Kellie Smith, director of CFE and assistant professor of communication. “By inviting grant awardees to share their research with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi colleagues through CFE-hosted workshops, we intend to create a sustainable source of faculty-led dialogue and professional development.”
Dr. Brooke Friley, basic course director and assistant professor in the Department of Communication & Media, was the lucky recipient of two CFE travel grants. The first grant allowed her to attend the 2018 Health Communication Conference in Kentucky, where she presented her research on how transgender individuals disclose medical information to health providers. Later this fall, Friley will use the second travel grant to attend the National Communication Association Conference in Utah where she will present on the same topic.
“I have submitted more of my work to more conferences thanks to this valuable travel resource,” Friley said. “I don’t feel as though I’m limited to only presenting my research once a year. Now I can go to specialized conferences that are related to my research interests.”
Another faculty member who received multiple travel grants is Dr. Sherdeana Owens, D.D.S., MPA, assistant professor and health sciences coordinator in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Thanks to the travel grant, Owens was able to attend the 2018 Texas Public Health Association Conference in Waco. During the conference, she shared information on her oral health project, where she provides fluoride varnish application to local preschoolers and oral health training to volunteer students from the Island University and Del Mar College.
“When we travel to conferences, we meet an array of people, form collaborations with colleagues and other professionals, and become better models for our students,” Owens shared. “When we are active in professional organizations and attend conferences, we can provide better guidance and support to students who are just learning to explore all of the options in their field.”
CFE travel grant applications must include a proposal that outlines workshop content and the benefit to the campus community. Faculty can only receive one grant per academic year. Award announcements will be made within 30 days of the application due date.
