Supporting Students
MSERA is committed to supporting students through the collective scholarship of its members as well as through opportunities for graduate students committed to making a difference in education through research.
The purpose of the University Student Advisory Committee is to highlight the needs and accomplishments of undergraduate and graduate (university) students to the MSERA membership. The University Student Director on the Board serves as co-chair of this committee with an experienced MSERA member serving as a senior co-chair. The past University Student Director and past MSERA member also serve as volunteers for the University Student Advisory Committee in the year following their service.
Christy Hornsby and Laura Norman
2025 University Student Advisory Co-Chairs
The University Student Director (USD) represents both undergraduate and graduate students, serving a one-year term, with the possibility of re-election for a second term, provided they remain enrolled in a university. The USD is chosen by MSERA members in attendance at the Business Session during the Annual Meeting.
The primary responsibilities of the USD include attending all regular and special business meetings of the board. Additionally, the USD actively promotes MSERA within the student community by recruiting members and disseminating information about the annual call for papers and the meeting to the educational research community. The USD also co-chairs the University Student Advisory Committee, working alongside an experienced MSERA member as a fellow Co-Chair.
If you are interested in running for the USD position at this year's Annual Meeting or have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Erika at echeek@southalabama.edu
Erika Cheek, 2025 University Student Director
MSERA Mentors
The Mentors Committee offers research mentorship opportunities for graduate students and emerging scholars through its Research Mentoring Program.​
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The Research Mentoring Program is for a two-year cohort system. The mentees will be matched with a seasoned mentor to conduct collaborative research to present at the following two MSERA Conferences. The mentors and mentees will present their pending studies as the Research in Progress (RiP) in the first year. The final product will be presented at the following conference in the second year.
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To learn more about the Research Mentoring Program and how to sign up to become a mentee, click here.
Research-in-Progress Papers
RiP conference sessions are reserved for university (undergraduate and graduate) students’ presentations of their research studies. RiP sessions provide a formal presentation opportunity for university students who are engaged in research that is underway but is not sufficiently far along to submit for other MSERA submissions. The author of each accepted proposal will make either a 10-13 minute presentation in a research session or share their research within a round table RiP session. A general discussion will follow the presentation in both venues.
Proposals must include a brief working paper (maximum 1000 words) that provides an overview of the research in progress, describes the current stage of the project, and includes brief descriptions of the following elements:
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Research problem or objectives
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Theoretical or conceptual framework
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Research question(s) and relevant literature
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Methods, techniques, or modes of inquiry
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Data sources, evidence, objects, or materials
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Preliminary or anticipated findings
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Scholarly significance or anticipated contribution to the field
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Anticipated progress or next steps prior to the Annual Meeting
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For information on the Research-in-Progress Awards, click here.
Herbert M. Handley Outstanding Thesis/Dissertation Award
Each year MSERA sponsors the Herbert M. Handley Outstanding Dissertation/Thesis Award. A completed dissertation or thesis by a current member of MSERA may be considered for the award if the dissertation or thesis has been submitted in partial fulfillment of degree requirements and successfully defended in the academic year prior to the conference, including the most recent summer. The award winner receives a plaque and a $250 cash award. The dissertation director is also recognized.
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To be eligible for this award, the author must use the online submission process to submit an abstract of no more than 300 words as outlined in the Call for Papers AND the completed paper in PDF format by the deadline indicated in the Call for Papers. The abstract (i.e., proposal) must be accepted for presentation at the annual meeting before it can be considered for the award.
The paper based upon the dissertation/thesis may not exceed 25 double-spaced, typewritten pages, including narrative, tables and bibliography. No identifying information should be included in the complete paper.
Past Recipients of the Handley Award
2025: Yan Dai
2024: Caitlin Lowery
2023: Courtney Jarrell
2022: Kimberly Rogers-Davis
2021: Lisette Manuel
2020: Shannon Williams
2019: R. Stacey Fields
2018: Juania McMath
2017: Andrain Yeldell
2015: James Bridgeforth
2014: Leilya A. Pitre
2013: Debbie D. Dailey; Shane T. Warren
2012: Jeremy Ross Serson
2011: Franz H. Reneau
2009: Monica Wong-Ratcliff; Sherlyn Powell
2008: John F. Edwards
2007: Lishu Yin
2006: Susan Seay
2005: Paul Webb
2004: LaDonna K. Morris
2003: Mary Margaret Merrill
2002: Carla R. Monroe
2000: Laureen G. Mayfield
1999: Susan Dale Mason
1998: Sunya T. Collier
1997: Sue S. Minchew
1996: Rebecca McMahon
1995: Malenna A. Sumrall
1994: Jayne B. Zaharias
1993: Colleen C. Johnson
1992: Michele G. Jarrell
1991: Margaret L. Glowacki
Prior to 1991, an equivalent award, the Distinguished Dissertation/Thesis Award, was presented by the organization. Those recipients were:
1990: Kevin Hughes
1989: Gloria A. Turner
1988: Soo-Back Moon
1987: M. Nan Lintz
1986: Esther M. Howard
1985: Anne Hess