Student Research and Assessment

Student standing in front of her research poster.

Transform student experiences with research

Is there a correlation between students' grades and their involvement on campus?

How have the university's mentorship programs contributed to student success?

What are some challenges for first-generation students?

Deepen your student affairs insight into questions like these and more.

Student projects

Are you a first or second year student in the student affairs in higher education (SAHE) program?

You'll complete your research/assessment project under the supervision of Dr. Nicole West and Dr. Nate Quinn.

Explore previous students' projects Find resources to suppport your research

Research opportunities

You'll have many opportunities to study and share about topics that interest you in student affairs.

SAHE Assessment Symposium

There are no current dates for this event.

This is an annual research opportunity, held in partnership with the Division of Student Affairs.

First-year students: You'll present a poster describing your research project.
Second-year students: You'll deliver an oral presentation to share your assessment project.

Two students discuss a research poster at the Interdisciplinary Forum.

Frank Einhellig Graduate Interdisciplinary Forum

The 32nd annual forum will take place on April 25, 2025.

This is an annual event held by the Missouri State Graduate College and the Graduate Student Senate.

You'll showcase your graduate student research and creative works in student affairs through oral, poster and performance presentations.

First-year students: You'll submit an abstract and present the findings of your completed research projects.
Second-year students: You'll present the finidings of your completed assessment projects.

Learn more about the forum

Past students with outstanding projects

Get recognized for your hard work and find out more about previous project topics.

- Jemimmah Namodi
- Sayyam Hamza
- Taylor West
- Hannah Peak
- Sierra Chitwood
- Apryl Meyers
- Samuel Schrum
- Samuel Robison
- Elayna Coleman
- McKenzie Mathewson
- Aidan Williams
These SAHE students were awarded non-thesis research funding to support their projects:
- Sayyam Hamza
- Natalie Benne
These SAHE students and faculty have received national awards for their implementation of or instruction of research in student affairs:
- Mathewson, M. L. (2021). Gerald Saddlemire Masters Research Award. Association of College Personnel Administrators (ACPA).
- West, N. M. (2021). Excellence in Teaching Award. National Association of Student Personnel Administrators’ (NASPA)
The following students have had the findings of their research and/or assessment projects accepted for publication.
- Hunter, K. (2022-23). Perceptions of the campus environment and its impact on students’ enrollment decisions. Journal of Student Affairs, 30, 35-51.
- West, N. M., Payne, A. N., Smith, M. D., Alston, A. D., Bonds, N. T., Akalugwu, W. N. (2022). A collaborative autoethnography of six Black women walking tightropes in higher education. Negro Educational Review, 72(1-4), 131-163.
- West, T. L., & Fridley, A. (2021). Athletic identity and academic success: Supporting the development of student-athletes. Journal of Student-Athlete Educational Development and Success, 3, 1-25.
- Coleman, E. R. (2019-20). Breaking the silence of struggle: Experiences of students facing food insecurity. Journal of Student Affairs, 29, 29-47.
- West, N. M., & Greer, A. J. (2019). Forecasting the future success of Black American women in student affairs. Negro Educational Review, 70(1-4), 27-54.
- Mathewson, M. L. (2019-20). The impact of social media usage on Missouri State University students’ mental health. Journal of Student Affairs, 29, 146-160.
- Wagner, M. M. (2018-19). Build the pyramid: A best practices literature review for living-learning communities. Journal of Student Affairs, 28, 153-162.
The following students have had the findings of their research and/or assessment projects accepted for presentation.
- Bourgeois, N. A. (2019, October). True Colors: A tool for student supervision and advising. NASPA IV-W Regional Conference, Fargo, ND (refereed).
- Coleman, E. R. (2019, May). Experiences and perceptions of students facing food insecurity at Missouri State University. 2019 Impact Summit: College Student Mental Health Conference, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO.
- Coleman, E. R. (2019, October). Experiences and perceptions of students facing food insecurity at Missouri State University. NASPA IV-W Regional Conference, Fargo, ND (refereed).
- Hash, K. M. (2019, April). The college search process for students from low-income rural backgrounds. Missouri Association of College Admission Counseling (MOACAC) Conference, St. Charles, MO.
- LaRoue, K. R. (2019, October). Inclusion beyond academics: Disability support in student affairs. NASPA IV-W Regional Conference. Fargo, ND.
- Mathewson, M. L. (2019, May). The impact of social media usage on Missouri State University students’ mental health. 2019 Impact Summit: College Student Mental Health Conference, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO.
- Qian, Y. (2020, May). Narratives related to acculturative stress among Chinese international students. Educational session at the 2020 Impact Summit: College Student Mental Health Conference, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO.
- West, N. M., Smith, M. D., Alston, A. D., Coleman, E. R., & Williams, A. J. (2020, March). Developing an AER toolkit to make your statement in student affairs [Session/travel cancelled due to COVID-19]. Undergraduate Student Pre-conference at NASPA Annual Conference, Austin, TX (refereed).
- Williams, A. J. (2019, October). Students as the heroes of their stories: Adjusting our advising approach. NASPA IV-W Regional Conference, Fargo, ND (refereed).
- Wilson, D. (2019, May). Providing invisible accommodations: Faculty perceptions of student accessibility needs. Missouri Association of Higher Education and Disability (MO AHEAD) Conference, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO.