Two Fairmont State University students have been awarded summer fellowships from the Department of Humanities to pursue original research projects.
These fellowships support the university’s vision of being a “Great Place to Learn” by offering grounded educational experiences shaped by personal relationships and holistic support. Students selected for the fellowship receive $2,400 to conduct six weeks of dedicated summer research under the guidance of faculty mentors, who receive a $1,200 stipend.
Established in 2015 by Dr. J. Robert Baker, the Summer Research Fellowship—originally housed in the Department of Language and Literature (now Department of Humanities)—was created to foster undergraduate research in the humanities. Since its inception, more than 20 students have completed projects of their design, guided by faculty mentors.
This year’s recipients are Ellie Whited, a psychology major from Morgantown, WV, and Abigail Nichols, an English major from Cairo, WV.
Whited will work with Dr. Lydia Warren, director of the Frank and Jane Gabor Folklife Center, on a project titled “Examining Folklife Events and Tourism in West Virginia.”
“As someone who would like to go into tourism one day, I feel that it is important to have a baseline understanding of folklife preservation,” Whited said. She plans to attend various cultural events and festivals across the state to observe visitor engagement and speak with community members about the support they believe is needed to ensure event success.
Nichols will partner with Dr. Robert Powers, assistant professor of English, on a research project titled “From Oscar Wilde to Matt Groening: Expressions of Group vs. Individual Morality Over 100 Years of Modern and Contemporary Drama.” Her research will explore how dramatists portray individual and collective morality in relation to gender, race, religion, and politics.
“I am excited to examine plays from recent history in order to develop more efficient ways of talking about today’s beliefs, practices and dilemmas,” Nichols said. She hopes to synthesize her findings by writing a one-act play titled The Human Trials.
“These two students demonstrate a dedication to go below the surface of their research questions and really examine key issues in society,” said Dr. Angela Schwer, chair of the Department of Humanities. “Getting to delve deeply into the research and spend dedicated time thinking about their projects outside the confines of a busy semester is a precious opportunity—and faculty members also benefit, both by sharing their expertise and by learning from the students.”
Both research projects support Fairmont State’s mission to educate engaged citizens within a community defined by opportunity, growth, and achievement—delivering a transformational impact across West Virginia and beyond.
