Lubbock Christian University

How Does Undergraduate Research Benefit Faculty Mentors?

Professional Satisfaction

Faculty mentors get a chance to develop projects within their own scholarly and professional interests, actively engaging students in research that broadens, deepens, and strengthens their academic experience.  

Investment in Students’ Futures

Professor Julie Marshall explains, “I believe undergraduate research to be at the heart of what we do at LCU; mentor students, spend one on one time with them, help them design experiments/projects, troubleshoot problems, prepare for presentation, and present the research. This process prepares students for graduate school or the work force.”

Personal Connections

Mentoring means investing in the lives of students. Faculty get to know these students very well, experiencing their strengths and their weaknesses and getting involved in their daily growth and maturation. Such personal connections are life-changing for both students and faculty.

Continuing Relationships

Well after graduation, these faculty-student relationships continue to bear fruit, whether in graduate school, the work force, alumni events, professional collaboration, or lifelong friendship.

The faculty mentor role is critical for undergraduate research, and those who get involved in mentoring student research help the university achieve its mission as a Christ-centered, academic community of learners, transforming the hearts, minds, and hands of students for lives of purpose and service.

University Life

Undergraduate research contributes to the life of the university and holds great potential to 

  • To increase retention;
  • To promote an innovation-oriented culture;
  • To enhance student learning; and
  • To assist students in increasing opportunities for graduate school or employment.

Funding

While some undergraduate research originates from course projects, the majority relies on mentors voluntarily working with students outside of their teaching and other responsibilities. Therefore, the Rhode Family Institute (RFI) periodically offers stipends to recognize mentors’ ongoing efforts and encourage new mentorship opportunities. Additionally, the RFI offers small seed grants to help offset the cost of existing projects and stimulate innovative new projects. More information can be found under Funding Opportunities or by contacting the RFI Director.

Faculty Mentor Awards, 2011-Present

Each year, the Scholars’ Colloquium committee votes to select a member of the faculty who has contributed significantly to student research. Names and photos of past recipients of this award are shown below.

Lucy Porter

Assistant Professor of Natural Science

with Bart Durham, Faculty Mentor for Webb, A. B., & Thomas, J. “Seasonal Influence of Environmental Variables and Artificial Aeration on Escherichia coli in Small Urban Lakes. Journal of Water and Health. (Forthcoming, 2017).

with Bart Durham, Faculty Mentor for Webb, A. B., & Thomas, J. “Seasonal Influence of Environmental Variables and Artificial Aeration on Escherichia coli in Small Urban Lakes. 101st Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Aug. 2016.  

with Julie Marshall, Faculty Mentor for Markese Bohanon, “Detection of Possible Pathogenicity of Enterohemolytic Escherichia coli Isolated Urban Playa Lakes and the Feces of Migratory Canada Geese, Branta canadensis, and Resident Water Fowl in Lubbock, TX.” National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Asheville, NC, Apr. 2016.

with Julie Marshall, Faculty Mentor for Logan Adams. “Detection of Possible Pathogenicity of Antibiotic Resistant Escherichia coli Isolated from Urban Playa Lakes and the Feces of Canada Geese and Resident Waterfowl in Lubbock, Texas.” Proceedings of the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA. (Apr. 2015): 657-664.

Bart Durham

Associate Professor of Resource Ecology and Conservation 

with Doug Swartz, and Andy Laughlin research mentors for Blake Thornton. 2018.  “Scope and Scale of Mentored Undergraduate Research Practices in University Fisheries, Aquatic Sciences, and Related Programs.” Project in progress.

with Lucy Porter, Faculty Mentor for Webb, A. B., & Thomas, J. “Seasonal Influence of Environmental Variables and Artificial Aeration on Escherichia coli in Small Urban Lakes. Journal of Water and Health. (Forthcoming, 2017).

with Lucy Porter, Faculty Mentor for Webb, A. B., & Thomas, J. “Seasonal Influence of Environmental Variables and Artificial Aeration on Escherichia coli in Small Urban Lakes. 101st Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Aug. 2016.  

with Lucy Porter, Faculty Mentor for Kalinda Wight, Chase Hittle and Taylor Bonner. “Survival of 229-mm Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus Stocked into Small Texas Lakes.” Poster. National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Spokane, WA. Apr. 2015.

with Julie Marshall, Faculty Mentor for Matthew Hutton, “Spatial Pattern and Abundance of Escherichia coli at Urban Playa Lakes.” Undergraduate Research Poster Award, LCU Scholars Colloquium, Lubbock, TX. Apr. 2015.

with Julie Marshall, Faculty Mentor for Matthew Hutton, “Spatial Pattern and Abundance of Escherichia coli at Urban Playa Lakes.” National Conference on Undergraduate Research, University of Eastern Washington, Cheney, WA. Apr. 2015.

with Julie Marshall, Faculty Mentor for Ashley Albrecht and Jase Hill, “Comparison of Escherichia coli Loads in Urban Playa Lakes During Wet and Dry Seasons.” LCU Scholars Colloquium, Lubbock, TX. Apr. 2015.

with Julie Marshall, Faculty Mentor for Ashley Albrecht and Jase Hill, “Comparison of Escherichia coli Loads in Urban Playa Lakes During Wet and Dry Seasons.” National Conference on Undergraduate Research, University of Eastern Washington, Cheney, WA. Apr. 2015.

with Julie Marshall, Faculty Mentor for Josh Thomas, Michael Sa-id, “Genetic Profiles of Escherichia coli Isolated from the Fecal Matter of Resident Water Fowl of Urban Playa Lakes.” LCU Scholars Colloquium, Lubbock, TX. Apr. 2015.

with Julie Marshall, Faculty Mentor for Josh Thomas, Michael Sa-id, “Genetic Profiles of Escherichia coli Isolated from the Fecal Matter of Resident Water Fowl of Urban Playa Lakes.” National Conference on Undergraduate Research, University of Eastern Washington, Cheney, WA. Apr. 2015.

with Julie Marshall, Faculty Mentor for Jordan Putman, “Surveying Antibiotic Resistance and Genomic Relationships in Escherichia coli Isolated from Canada Geese Fecal Matter in Urban Playa Lakes.” LCU Scholars Colloquium, Lubbock, TX. Apr. 2015.

with Julie Marshall, Faculty Mentor for Jordan Putman, “Surveying Antibiotic Resistance and Genomic Relationships in Escherichia coli Isolated from Canada Geese Fecal Matter in Urban Playa Lakes.” National Conference on Undergraduate Research, University of Eastern Washington, Cheney, WA. Apr. 2015.

with Julie Marshall, Faculty Mentor for Logan Adams, “Detection of Genes Encoding Shiga Toxin in Antibiotic Resistant E. coli Isolated from Urban Playa Lakes and the Feces of Canada Geese and Resident Waterfowl.” 2015 Undergraduate Quantitative Research of the Year Award, LCU Scholars Colloquium, Lubbock, TX. Apr. 2015.

with Julie Marshall, Faculty Mentor for Logan Adams, “Detection of Genes Encoding Shiga Toxin in Antibiotic Resistant E. coli Isolated from Urban Playa Lakes and the Feces of Canada Geese and Resident Waterfowl.” National Conference on Undergraduate Research, University of Eastern Washington, Cheney, WA. Apr. 2015.

with Julie Marshall, Faculty Mentor for Markese Bohanon, “Identification of Enzymes Produced by Pycnoporus sanguineus in the Breakdown of Peanut Agricultural Waste.” LCU Scholars Colloquium, Lubbock, TX. Apr. 2015.

with Julie Marshall, Faculty Mentor for Markese Bohanon, “Identification of Enzymes Produced by Pycnoporus sanguineus in the Breakdown of Peanut Agricultural Waste.” National Conference on Undergraduate Research, University of Eastern Washington, Cheney, WA. Apr. 2015.

Julie Marshall

Professor of Chemistry and Chair of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Faculty Mentor for Hannah Harbin, “The Intersection of Chemistry and Archeology: Analysis of Fatty Acid Residue Extracted from Early Bronze Age Pottery Found at Khirbat Iskandar, Jordan”, poster co-sponsor, 2017 National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Memphis, TN, April 5-8, 2017.

Faculty Mentor for Ashley Rojas, “Antibiotic Resistance and DNA Profiling of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis in Wet and Dry Eye Makeup Applicators,” 2017 National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Memphis, TN, April 5-8, 2017.

Faculty Mentor for James Horton, “Optimization of a Gas Chromatographic Method for the Identification and Quantification of Sucralose in Solution,” 2017 National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Memphis, TN, April 5-8, 2017. 

with Lucy Porter, Faculty Mentor for Logan Adams, “Detection of Possible Pathogenicity of Antibiotic Resistant Escherichia coli Isolated from Urban Playa Lakes and the Feces of Canada Geese and Resident Waterfowl in Lubbock, Texas.” Proceedings of the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA. (Apr. 2015): 657-664.

with Lucy Porter, Faculty Mentor for Markese Bohanon, “Detection of Possible Pathogenicity of Enterohemolytic Escherichia coli Isolated Urban Playa Lakes and the Feces of Migratory Canada Geese, Branta canadensis, and Resident Water Fowl in Lubbock, TX.” National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Asheville, NC, Apr. 2016. 

with Lucy Porter, Faculty Mentor for Josh Thomas and Michael Sa-id, “Genetic Profiles of Escherichia coli Isolated from the Fecal Matter of Resident Water Fowl of Urban Playa Lakes.” National Conference on Undergraduate Research, University of Eastern Washington, Cheney, WA. Apr. 2015.

with Lucy Porter, Faculty Mentor for Jordan Putman, “Surveying Antibiotic Resistance and Genomic Relationships in Escherichia coli Isolated from Canada Geese Fecal Matter in Urban Playa Lakes.” National Conference on Undergraduate Research, University of Eastern Washington, Cheney, WA. Apr. 2015.

with Lucy Porter, Faculty Mentor for Logan Adams, “Detection of Genes Encoding Shiga Toxin in Antibiotic Resistant E. coli Isolated from Urban Playa Lakes and the Feces of Canada Geese and Resident Waterfowl.” National Conference on Undergraduate Research, University of Eastern Washington, Cheney, WA. Apr. 2015.

with Lucy Porter, Faculty Mentor for Markese Bohanon, “Identification of Enzymes Produced by Pycnoporus sanguineus in the Breakdown of Peanut Agricultural Waste.” National Conference on Undergraduate Research, University of Eastern Washington, Cheney, WA. Apr. 2015.

Cindy Ford

Professor of Nursing
Director of Undergraduate Nursing Programs

Faculty Mentor for Graduate Nursing Research Class, Integrated Research Review Poster Projects. 10-12 students each Summer, Spring and Fall Semester.

LCU/TTUHSC-SON, Research Academy Collaboration. Presenting, leading, and mentoring research projects. Monthly meetings.

LCU/Covenant Health Research Council Committee. Presenting, leading, mentoring, and supporting Research, EBP and QI projects. Monthly meetings.

Faculty Mentor for Brenda Kinning, Amanda Raymundo, and Charalene Ruble (Graduate Nursing Students), Poster Presentation: “Exploring the impact of a medical mission trip on graduate nurse practice perceptions, ideals, and practice implementation." LCU Scholars Colloquium, Lubbock, TX, Apr. 2016. 

Faculty Mentor for Brenda Kinning, Amanda Raymundo, and Charalene Ruble (Graduate Nursing Students), Poster Presentation: “Exploring the impact of a medical mission trip on graduate nurse practice  perceptions, ideals and practice implementation.” Sigma Theta Tau International Biennium Convention, Las Vegas, NV, Nov. 7-11, 2015.

JoAnn Long

Professor of Nursing
Director of Research & Development

Faculty Mentor for Wendi McNabb, “Will Goal Directed Blood Product Therapy Utilizing Thromboelastography (TEG) in the Massively Hemorrhaging Trauma Patient Decrease Blood Utilization: An Integrative Research Review.” Poster Presentation, National Council on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), University of North Carolina, Ashville, NC. Apr. 2016. 

Faculty Mentor for Morgana Posada (Undergraduate), “Literature Review on Harmful Effects of Synthetic Marijuana and Needed Public Health Education.” Sigma Theta Tau InternationalSan Juan, Puerto Rico. July 2015.

Faculty Mentor for Erin Whitley (Graduate Student), “Recognizing Sepsis using a Modified Early Warning Scoring (MEWS) Tool.” Poster Presentation, Sigma Theta Tau InternationalSan Juan, Puerto Rico. July 2015.

Faculty Mentor for Stephanie Dunkle (Graduate Student), “Reliability Testing of a Modified Early Warning Scoring (MEWS) System.” Poster Presentation, Sigma Theta Tau InternationalSan Juan, Puerto Rico. July 2015.

Faculty Mentor for Crystal Pellam (Graduate Student), “Effectiveness of a KUDOS Program in Increasing Nursing Job Satisfaction.” Poster Presentation, Sigma Theta Tau InternationalSan Juan, Puerto Rico. July 2015.

Kathy Crockett

Professor of Business Administration and Leadership

Faculty Mentor for Justin Brown, Colby Crisp, Cedric Omoregie, Fabior Rodriguez, and Justin Waddell, “Mercedes Automotive Consumer Behavior Techniques.” LCU Scholars’ Colloquium, Lubbock, TX. Apr. 2016.

Faculty Mentor for Brent Bezio, Brennan Johnson, Luke McKay, Nikki Valarde, Glen Warrick, “How Nike Influences Consumer Behavior through Marketing Messages.” LCU Scholars’ Colloquium, Lubbock, TX. Apr. 2016.

Faculty Mentor for Savanna Luke, Katlin Reed, Haley Hardison, Kelsey Hoppel, Antoinette Irko, “Chick-fil-A use of Consumer Behavior in Marketing.” LCU Scholars’ Colloquium, Lubbock, TX. Apr. 2016.

Faculty Mentor for Kyleigh Lucia, Kyler Marshall, Aubrie Hood, and Marcos Schuster, “How The North Face Affects and Influences Consumer Behavior Through Marketing Messages and Social Media.” LCU Scholars’ Colloquium, Lubbock, TX. Apr. 2016.

Faculty Mentor, LCU Scholars’ Colloquium. Lubbock, TX. Apr. 2015.

  • Guillaume Blanchette, “Steps to Leadership.”
  • Braden L. Byars, “Self-Leadership.”
  • Beau Durham, “Take the Lead.”
  • Dusty Fleming, “Leadership.”
  • Jarred Jeter, “Leading Teams, Leading Life.”
  • Jessica Montgomery. “Leading Myself.”

Faculty Mentor, Leadership Summit. 20 Undergraduate and Graduate Students.

Annually since 2010. Short course/leadership conference that focuses on Christian perspectives in Leadership. Featured speakers are Christian professionals, many leading corporate companies or non-profit organizations.

Faculty Mentor, New York City Experiential Learning Trip.

Annually since 2009. Students travel to New York and visit companies like Ernst & Young, CNN, New York Stock Exchange, Federal Reserve, and the Manhattan Church, engaging in presentations by professionals from multiple industries.

Founder, Women in Leadership Conferences.

This biannual conference hosted by LCU offers faith based perspectives on leadership. Speakers have come from all over the country to offer training to local professionals. Proceeds from this event created an endowed scholarship for student leaders.

Faculty Mentor, China Experiential Learning Trip, with 9 Master in Leadership Graduate Students.

The trip included presenting at a business seminar on best leadership practices and serving as consultants at a variety of companies, including a large factory producing machine parts, automotive sales, language school, and a high end/elite bakery that has many franchise locations throughout China.

Faculty Mentor, Pedro’s Tamales Market Research Project. 

Students interviewed customers in supermarkets to get feedback on a new food product Pedro’s had introduced. The consumer data led to Pedro’s making changes to the product to better meet consumer preferences.

Author, Courageous Women of Faith book series.

Collaborate with student editors to create books that highlight female professionals who have overcome significant obstacles in their lives. The first book was published in 2014 and the second in 2016. All proceeds go to the Pure Hope Foundation.