May 7, 2026 – The Hendrix College
Committee on Engaged Learning is pleased to announce $89,013.17 in Odyssey
Program funding awarded to 21 projects. These projects involve a range of
academic, professional, and personal explorations in photography, cultural
immersions, local and global justice systems, research, and other endeavors
near and far, and much more. Since 2005, the Committee on Engaged Learning has
awarded more than $5 million — $5,521,642.20 to be exact — in competitive
Odyssey grants to support 1,668 projects by Hendrix students, faculty, and
staff.
Artistic Creativity
Reagan Crump, 2027
An Oxford Semester on Film
Project Supervisor: Margo Duvall
Reagan will practice film photography and
travel journalism skills by documenting the remainder of her time studying
abroad at the University of Oxford during Spring 2026. She will publish the
resulting portfolio as a record of her personal journey abroad and of the
sights, traditions, and people of Oxford and beyond.
Sumaiya Musfirat, 2028
Crafting a Children’s Animal Book:
Manuscript Development and Editing
Project Supervisor: Jenn Dearolf
Sumaiya will write and edit a children's
book about animals, aimed at fifth-grade readers. Through research, drafting,
and revision, her project will explore how to transform complex scientific
information into engaging and accessible storytelling for young audiences.
Global Awareness
Luna Richter, 2028
Summer Research in Japan: An NSF-funded
Cultural Immersion
Project Supervisor: Damon Spayde
Luna will spend 10 weeks in Nagoya, Japan
as a part of the NOPTREX physics research collaboration effort. Language
progression as well as cultural observations and experiences will be documented
during day-to-day life and weekly travel throughout the country.
Will Forbus, 2028, Beckett McCaslin,
2028, Madison Roberts, 2027
Observing Procedure and Discussion at the UN Human Rights Council Session in
Geneva
Project Supervisor: Daniel Edquist-Whelan
The Human Rights Council is a body within
the United Nations that is responsible for promoting and protecting human
rights globally. Madison, Will, and Beckett will be attending the Council's
summer sessions to observe how international experts address modern
humanitarian concerns.
Professional and Leadership Development
Sarah Mulhearn, 2027
Psychological Affective Neuroscience
Assistantship at the University of Denver
Project Supervisor: Dr. Lindsay Kennedy
Sarah will travel to and reside in
Denver, Colorado for part of the summer to assist faculty and graduate students
in affective neuroscience research.
Zebulon Schichtl
Learning Opportunities in Research Equipment (LORE)
The team, led by Dr. Schichtl, aims to
assemble and develop do-it-yourself electrochemical instrumentation for use in
the chemistry teaching laboratories. Team members will learn electronics
assembly, open-source software, technical communication skills, and lay the
groundwork for curriculum additions in energy-related chemistry.
Service to the World
Mabel Pederson, 2027
Citizen Archivist
Project Supervisor: Rebecca Resinski
Mabel will work with the National
Archives and Records Administration Citizen Archivist program, transcribing
historical documents from Archives.gov to improve public access to primary
sources. Drawing on her knowledge of historical handwriting, she will help make
previously difficult-to-read records more accessible to researchers and the
general public.
Special Projects
Daniel Edquist-Whelan
Model UN 2026
Dr. Edquist-Whelan and 16 students will
prepare for and attend the American Model UN (AMUN) conference in the Fall,
representing Lithuania. The Model UN experience develops students’ skills in
research, policy-oriented writing, public speaking, caucusing and negotiating,
and other professional competencies.
Max Hooten, 2027
万年青年 Mannen-Seinen: An Immersion-based Exploration of Language and
Longevity in Japan
Project Supervisor: Wenjia Liu
In August 2026, Max will spend 11 days
traveling across Japan to study regional dialects and their cultural
intersection with longevity by conducting interviews, visiting local clinics,
and participating in short homestays whilst using and developing his Japanese.
This project will culminate in the presentation of a reflective video detailing
his observations and linguistic growth.
Tannah LaRue, 2027
The Microbiome, Minds, and Markets
Project Supervisor: Andrew Schurko
Tannah will attend the Harvard T.H. Chan
School of Public Health Microbiome Symposium to learn about recent advances and
applications in microbiome science, with a focus on connections to nutrition,
well-being, and industrialization.
Sumaiya Musfirat, 2028
From Dracula to Destination: Literary
Myth, Historical Memory, and Romanian Tourism
Project Supervisor: Sasha Pfau
Sumaiya will travel to Romania and
Bulgaria to explore how the story of Dracula shapes tourism, cultural
identity, and global perceptions of the region. By visiting historic sites,
museums, and popular destinations, her project examines how myth and history
are woven into tourism experiences and how they influence the way visitors
understand these countries.
Sarah Shook, 2027
Exploring Conservation in Costa Rica
Project Supervisor: J.D. Gantz
This summer, Sarah will spend six weeks
in Monteverde, Costa Rica taking conservation classes and gaining field
experience in environmental education and ecological research as part of a CIEE
program. During this time, she will learn skills that relate to her career
interests.
Candice Thomas
Rooted on Campus: Building the Permanent
Hendrix Food Forest
Over the summer, Dr. Thomas and student
Yumi Robben will oversee the transition of the Hendrix Food Forest from its
temporary location to a permanent location on campus. This move will put the Hendrix Food Forest in
a more central location for the Hendrix community to enjoy as a place of
learning, relaxation, and a readily available source of fresh produce.
Niya Chunn, 2028, Marlena Davis, 2028,
Asia Mackey, 2027, Bianca Thomas, 2028, Enaiya Thompson, 2027, Sofia Syed, 2027
Bridging Language & Care: A Medical
Brigade Experience in Guatemala
Project Supervisor: Dr. Peter Kett
Through the combination of a medical
brigade in Guatemala and Spanish immersion, students will support local clinics
and engage with community health initiatives. By working alongside local
professionals, participants examine how language and culture influence
healthcare access and patient outcomes.
Storm Dugas, 2027, Emily Morgan, 2027,
Sarah Starnes, 2027, Rowan Williams, 2027
Hendrix at 150: Archival and Timeline Display
Project Supervisor: Sasha Pfau
Over the course of the summer of 2026, a
team of four students will organize materials from the Hendrix College
Archives, visit local museums, and interview influential Hendrix figures from
the past half-century. These efforts will culminate in a 3D timeline exhibit,
set to be unveiled during the 2026 Fall Alumni Weekend.
Undergraduate Research
J.D. Gantz
Ecotoxicological and human health effects of PFAS contamination in US
waterways
Two students, Pippy Newell and Alfadl
Fadah, will travel to Purdue University in the summer of 2026 to spend 8 weeks
working with Dr. Marisol Sepulveda and Dr. Tyler Hoskins examining the effects
of PFAS exposure in ecological systems. PFAS, a class of chemicals used in that
has been used widely in manufacturing since the 1970s, is present in nearly all
waterways around the world and has significant health effects on humans and
other animals.
Luke Garrett, 2028
Determining the mechanism of Rev1
interacting with G-quadruplex DNA
Project Supervisor: Julie Gunderson
During the summer of 2026, Luke will work
with Dr. Julie Gunderson and Dr. Robert Eoff at UAMS through the Summer
Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. He will do single-molecule
fluorescence experiments to learn more about G-quadruplex regions of DNA.
Lilly Lewis, 2027
Project Title: Antibody-Based Identification of Fast-Twitch Muscle Fiber
Subtypes in Melon-Headed Whales
Project Supervisor: Jenn Dearolf
This project examines how the muscle
composition of melon-headed whales changes from infancy to adulthood, focusing
on fast-twitch fibers that power quick and forceful movements. By identifying
and comparing these muscle fibers across age groups, the study aims to better
understand how young whales’ physical limitations may affect their ability to
swim and stay close to their mothers.
Georgia Liu, 2027
Investigating Bone Metabolism Health and Related Disease
Project Supervisor: Julie Gunderson
As a summer research student in Dr.
Bellido's lab this summer, Georgia will gain hands-on experience in a lab
setting investigating the facets of bone health and metabolism. She will work
with several different models and perform data analysis as needed.
Delphia Shanks
Policy Analysis of Faulkner County
District Court Fines and Fees
Hendrix students have attended district
court weekly and gathered data on judges’ behavior, their use of fines and
fees, and court accessibility for several years through Faulkner County Court
Watch. To make this collected data publicly available to the community and to
help voters make informed voting choices, Dr. Shanks will work with a group of
students to analyze the data, create a public facing dashboard, and present
their findings through both presentations and reports to interested community
stakeholders.
Alexis Vega-Aguilar, 2028
Plant and Soil Organic Matter Responses to the Extended Drawdown of Lake
Conway
Project Supervisor: Matthew Reid
Alexis will examine how soil organic
matter changes as Lake Conway drains and previously submerged lakebed soils are
exposed to air. By collecting soil cores and analyzing plant, fungal, and
microbial activity, he will explore how the ecosystem responds to this rapid
environmental change.
About
Hendrix College
Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is
featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 45 Schools That Will Change the Way You
Think About Colleges and celebrated among the country’s leading liberal arts
colleges for academic quality, engaged learning opportunities and career
preparation, vibrant campus life, and value. The Hendrix College Warriors
compete in 21 NCAA Division III sports. Hendrix has been affiliated with the
United Methodist Church since 1884. Learn more at www.hendrix.edu.
“… Through engagement that links the
classroom with the world, and a commitment to diversity, inclusion, justice,
and sustainable living, the Hendrix community inspires students to lead lives
of accomplishment, integrity, service, and joy.” –Hendrix College Statement of
Purpose