This summer, the Colin Powell School is actively participating in the college-wide ORCA (Opportunities in Research and Creative Arts) program, an initiative that aims to promote Undergraduate Academic Research by immersing 25 undergraduate student fellows in hands-on research across disciplines under the guidance of 23 faculty mentors. The 10-week program supports students with both a stipend and a supply budget, while fostering meaningful collaborations with full-time City College faculty.
This year’s ORCA cohort includes 25 student fellows and 23 faculty mentors, who began their work earlier in June. The program runs through August 23rd and will culminate in a symposium on October 9th, where fellows and mentors will present their research projects and share key lessons learned.
Colin Powell School Professor of Psychology Adriana Espinosa is among the faculty members contributing to this important work. “I am part of the ORCA leadership and also serve as a mentor to one of the fellows,” she shared. “This week the fellows presented project updates, while highlighting the significance of their work and lessons or skills acquired so far. In doing so, the fellows learn how to communicate the relevance of their work to broader audiences, which is a skill that will benefit them well beyond their ORCA experience. These presentations also allow us (mentors and ORCA leadership) to assess the fellows’ growth in research sophistication and skills, which in turn helps us tailor our teaching/mentorship approaches accordingly.”
We have built upon the successes of the summer ORCA program to continue supporting undergraduate academic research throughout the semester as well, and proudly recognize the participating students who have gone on to pursue graduate study as an achievement of the program.
