Summer Research Academy

The Summer Research Academy is a one-week, high intensity experience designed to dedicate time, resources, and collegial support for faculty to advance creative projects, grant proposals, and other scholarly endeavors that are already in progress. Through workshops, deep writing blocks, and collaboration with campus partners and presenters, faculty participants will make significant progress towards finishing their academic projects and leave the week with a submission-ready or near submission-ready product.

2026 Summer Research Academy

This summer, Academic Affairs had the privilege of welcoming 29 faculty members from across the university to participate in Sacramento State's first Summer Research Academy, held from June 22nd to June 26th.

The Academy was made possible through a collaborative infrastructure of support that brought together the expertise and resources from 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. Participants also benefited from the guidance of external facilitators, Dr. Donna Sheperis and Dr. Susan Faircloth.

Examples of projects worked on by participants

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

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

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

Application and Selection Process

The Academy’s competitive application process helps ensure a highly engaged and motivated cohort. Selectivity encourages investment in the program, establishes a shared commitment to excellence, and positions participants to make substantial progress in their research and scholarly endeavors.

Application Components

Project Description (500 words): what is the manuscript or proposal, and what stage is it in?
Deliverable Committment: what will you submit, specifically, or be ready to submit by the end of the academy week?
Readiness Statement: why is now the right time to participate?
Chair/Dean Endorsement: one-paragraph support statement

Selection Criteria

Project is in late-stage development
Faculty member has dedicated the full week to the Academy and has no teaching conflicts
Priority will be given to faculty working toward external grant submissions or high-impact publications

Applications for the 2027 Summer Research Academy will open soon. Interested faculty are encouraged to check this page regularly for updates and application deadlines.