Mellon Research Fellows projects

In August 2022, a group of Pathways Program students from Brightpoint and J. Sargeant Reynolds Community Colleges began year-long research projects in the humanities and arts under the mentorship of a community college faculty member and a VCU faculty connection as part of the Mellon Research Fellows program.

Through weekly meetings with their mentors and peers, attendance at monthly symposia, and many hours of reading, interviewing, reflection, writing and learning, our Mellon Research Fellows have produced thirteen thoughtful, unique and creative final projects, which can be explored below. Most of these Mellon Research Fellows will be transferring to VCU in the upcoming academic year.

To learn more about our students and their projects, select their respective link below. (Links to previous year's projects are listed are the bottom of the page.)

Nardia Barnes
The Lasting Effects of Positive Energy Transfer

Manuella Escobar
The Master’s house: An Analysis of Reggaeton's Interpolation and Commodification into the U.S Mainstream Culture

Nataly Feliciano
Behind the Lack of Latinx Representation

Fabiola Filiaggi
More than Pretty: Challenging Mainstream Cultural Narratives about Venezuelan Women

Bert
Small Gestures: Variation in Cultures

Kiari Harris
Safe ? Spaces

Emily Harrison
Third Wave Coffee

Thawin Kim
Loot Boxes: Revolution or Regret?

Kristina Konwerski
The Weimar Republic, The Far-Right, and the Return of Moral Panic

Regina Mason
The Kennedy Family Scrapbook

Katia McCleaf
Cracking Birdo's Egg: Applying Clark's Stages of Representation to Transgender Visibility in Video Games

Savannah Morris
The United States of Hysteria: An Examination of 'Witch Hunts' and Their Impact Upon American History

Franco Ramos
Teach Yourself About Yourself: Using Storytelling to Re-contextualize Self-actualization

Faculty connections

Each Mellon Research Fellow worked with both a faculty mentor at the community college and a faculty connection at VCU. The VCU faculty connections not only provided feedback on students’ projects in the spring, but also discussed students’ goals, academic and professional aspirations, and VCU opportunities.

The VCU faculty connections can be found below.