The Office of Student Research is proud to feature Annalise Crawford in this week’s “Scholar Story”.

Annalise Crawford is a junior at Longwood University. She is majoring in Sociology with a concentration in Family Studies and she also has a minor in Psychology. In fall 2022, Annalise participated in the Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program where she worked with her faculty mentors, Dr. JoEllen Pederson and Dr. Lee Bidwell, to perform a qualitative study of Sociology Alumni from Longwood University. The aim of her research was to find out how the Sociology department could improve its curriculum and ensure inclusivity among first-generation students and students of color. Annalise worked with student collaborators, Gracie Hess and Macesin Smith, to complete this research project.

Annalise says that her favorite part of the research experience was “conducting focus-group interviews with Sociology alumni. It was rewarding and encouraging to hear what alumni were doing. I also enjoyed the fun little side stories they would tell us about being in college.”

Participating in this independent research project had a positive impact on Annalise because “it challenged me to have to make decisions and implement those decisions quickly. My research included focus group interviews which positively impacted my communication and interview skills as an undergraduate student.”

After graduation, Annalise plans to have a career in family counseling.

Congratulations to Annalise on her successful research!

Annalise (left) presenting her research at the Fall 2022 Student Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry.

Annalise with her student research partners and faculty mentors. Left to right- Dr. Lee Bidwell, Gracie Hess, Annalise Crawford, Macesin Smith, and Dr. JoEllen Pederson.

If you would like to have your research featured in a “Scholar Story”, or if you would like to learn more about getting involved in research at Longwood University, please visit Longwood’s Office of Student Research website http://www.longwood.edu/office-of-student-research/

or contact Amorette Barber, Director of the Office of Student Research (osr@longwood.edu or barberar@longwood.edu)