Dec. 16, 2022
The University of Missouri School of Journalism recently announced the inaugural cohort of Gregory Scholars, a program that pairs students seeking research experience with doctoral students engaged in research projects.
The six scholars — two graduate students and four undergraduates — hail from schools and colleges all over campus and will receive paid positions assisting with strategic communication research over the course of an academic year.
“The School of Journalism was founded on the Missouri Method of hands-on learning, and it’s exciting to see students across the university come together to apply that method to high-impact research,” said David Kurpius, dean of the school.
The program is spearheaded by Shelly Rodgers, the Maxine Wilson Gregory Chair in Journalism Research, and the Gregory Scholars will be paired with Rodgers’ three doctoral students — known as graduate research assistants — to help conduct research within the realms of socially conscious advertising and health communication.
A particular focus for the scholars will be conducting and analyzing an online survey of Missourians to learn about needs and challenges in underserved populations, contributing to a more detailed understanding of communities that need more or different representation in advertising and other forms of public messaging. Rodgers’ hope is that the survey will become an annual tradition with a national scale after its pilot launch in Missouri this winter.
Meet the scholars
- Owen Bazigian; junior, College of Arts and Science
- Sophie Carite; junior, Missouri School of Journalism
- Krutika Deshpande; graduate student, College of Engineering
- Cate Enrooth; graduate student, Harry S. Truman School of Government and Public Affairs
- Nahomi Gonzalez; junior, College of Arts and Science
- DaVonna Nickerson; junior, College of Arts and Science
