Dr. Ragan Glover, MRADS Director

Greetings MRADS Alumni and Friends,


As we embrace the new year, I am delighted to share the exciting happenings within the MRADS community. Our journey is characterized by achievements that underscore our collective commitment to high-impact education through research.


I want to highlight two recent successes for our program. Firstly, our Alumni Weekend was a resounding success, thanks to the dedicated efforts of our staff and the unwavering support of our alumni. Special thanks to Dr. Janae’ Collier, our Associate Director, for leading this initiative. You’ll find her detailed review of the event within this newsletter. It’s inspiring to see our alumni continue to connect, creating a supportive network for both current students and recent graduates.


We are equally proud of our 30 first-year students who were accepted to present at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). This opportunity will highlight their research and hard work on a national stage. Generous contributions from our donors and the LSA Undergraduate Education Division allowed us to fully fund registration, lodging, and travel costs for 24 students, who demonstrated financial need. This support ensures that financial constraints do not limit students’ opportunities for professional development. 


Moreover, I am pleased to announce several new initiatives to better support our students. We are launching an Alumni Support Network to connect alumni and provide valuable aid to current students. Interested alumni are invited to join by filling out this form. We hope that Alumni Mentors will participate by serving as guest speakers, providing advice to MRADS students, and showcasing how research has impacted their life and career. 


We are also excited to announce that we have selected a new cohort of student leaders for the 2025-2026 Academic Year. This includes 14 peer mentors, 7 peer advisors, and 5 resident advisors. As part of the selection process, we launched the Peer Mentor Plus program, which provides returning student leaders opportunities to refine their professional and leadership skills. 


Finally, I’d like to share a few announcements about what is to come. Giving Blue Day is on the horizon, occurring Mar 19, 2025. I encourage your support through donations. These contributions directly enhance our ability to provide high-quality research opportunities and resources for our students. Additionally, please save the date for the MRADS Annual Research Symposium on April 23, 2025, where our students will present their research from this past year. 


Thank you for your steadfast support and dedication. Together, we are shaping the future of research in a vibrant academic environment.