Summer Research Academy

The Summer Research Academy (SRA) advances Sacramento State’s research and creative mission by giving faculty the dedicated time, expert guidance, and collaborative support needed to move promising scholarly projects toward completion.

During this focused, weeklong program, faculty develop manuscripts, external grant proposals, and other significant scholarly and creative work already in progress. Workshops, structured writing time, individualized feedback, and consultation with campus partners help participants leave the Academy with a submission-ready or near-submission-ready product.

By accelerating faculty scholarship, the SRA strengthens Sac State’s research capacity, expands opportunities for collaboration and external funding, and supports work with the potential to benefit students, communities, and the region.

2026 Summer Research Academy

From June 22–26, 2026, Academic Affairs convened 29 faculty members from across Sacramento State for the university’s inaugural SRA. The cohort represented disciplines throughout the university, demonstrating both the breadth of faculty expertise and the range of societal questions being addressed through Sac State scholarship.

The Academy was created through a university-wide partnership among the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development (ORIED), the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), the University Library, and the Office of the Vice Provost. External facilitators Dr. Donna Sheperis and Dr. Susan Faircloth provided additional expertise and individualized guidance.

Participants advanced projects addressing scientific discovery, compassionate behavioral practice, faculty identity and belonging, and the role of inclusive community spaces. Featured projects included:

Alexander Pettitt, Physics and Astronomy: Star Formation and Interstellar Medium Gas in Milky Way-like Galaxies
Ciobha McKeown, Psychology: How Behavior Analysts Interpret and Respond to Crying, with an Emphasis on Fostering More Compassionate and Conceptually Precise Practice
Judith Leitch, Social Work: Finding a Voice Within: Intertwining Roles and Identities, Jewish Faculty in the Face of Rising Antisemitism
Nam Kyoon Kim, Strategy and Entrepreneurship: Diversity in Coworking Spaces as Third Places: A Comparative Keyword Analysis of Online Customer Reviews

Front row, from left: VPFS Lorri Santamaria, Laura Gaeta, Monica Gonzalez, Yanira Madrigal Garcia, Dr. Lynn Tashiro, Clarissa Ibarra Rosales, Amalia Perez Martin, Itzel Aceves-Azuara, Lorena Camargo Gonzalez, Amber Gonzalez, Alexander Pettitt, Yujuan Liu, Dean Amy Kautzman, Nancy Huante-Tzintzun, Sahar Razavi, and Marco Martinez-Vasquez. Back row, from left: Ciobha McKeown, Fernanda Araujo Maciel, Nicole Fox, Lynn Hanna, Sayonita Ghosh Hajra, Caroline Keegan, Vardayani Katti, Jas Pannu, Dr. Bill DeGraffenreid, Henry Gonzalez, Nam Kyoon Kim, Judith Leitch, Sadaf Ashtari, Sarvenaz Sobhan, and David Flores.

decorative image — Main Facilitators: Dr. Lynn Tashiro, Dean Amy Kautzman, Dr. Bill DeGraffenreid, and VPFS Lorri Santamaria

Building Research Capacity

The inaugural Academy is an investment into the people and ideas that drive Sacramento State’s academic mission. Its intensive model helps faculty overcome one of the most common barriers to completing significant scholarly work: sustained, uninterrupted time supported by a community of experts and peers.

As the Academy develops, Academic Affairs seeks to strengthen its capacity to:

Support a larger and more interdisciplinary faculty cohort
Increase the number and competitiveness of external grant proposals
Accelerate high-impact publications and creative work
Connect faculty research with student learning and mentorship
Build partnerships addressing regional and societal priorities
Track the long-term scholarly and external-funding outcomes of participating projects

Application and Selection

The SRA is intended for faculty with well-developed projects that would benefit from concentrated time, structured support, and interdisciplinary engagement. Participants are selected based on project readiness, the clarity of the proposed deliverable, and their ability to participate fully throughout the week.

Application Components:

Project description: Describe the manuscript, proposal, or scholarly project and its current stage of development.
Proposed deliverable: Identify the specific product that will be completed or prepared for submission during the Academy.
Readiness statement: Explain why the project is positioned to benefit from focused support at this time.
Chair or dean endorsement: Provide a brief statement supporting the faculty member’s participation.

Selection Priorities

Priority consideration will be given to:

Projects in an advanced stage of development
Faculty able to participate for the full Academy
External grant proposals and high-impact scholarly or creative work
Projects with strong potential to advance student learning, community engagement, or regional impact

Applications for the 2027 Summer Research Academy will open soon. Application dates, eligibility information, and submission instructions will be posted on this page.