This panel reflects on UMass faculty experience with research that actively involves community partners and students as collaborators in the production of knowledge. Panelists will discuss their models of community-engaged and student-centered research across disciplines, highlighting both the intellectual value and the ethical responsibilities of shared inquiry. Topics will include building reciprocal partnerships, mentoring students through research experiences, navigating institutional and community expectations, and assessing impact beyond traditional academic metrics. Together, the panel considers how community and student-engaged research can advance scholarship while fostering equity, experiential learning, and meaningful public engagement. ISSR Associate Director of Research Advancement and Operations, Katie Smith, PhD, will be on hand to discuss the nuts and bolts of budgeting grants for such projects.

Panelists include:

Keisha Green, Education
Susan Shaw, Public Health
Erica Scharrer, Communication