From Concept to Creation: Uncovering the Making of Scholarly and Creative Accomplishments

Command Sergeant Major, Dr. Robert Nelson (US Army Retired) and Sergeant Major Kanessa Trent (US Army Retired) dedicated their lives to military service in the U.S. Army, rising through the ranks to become elite leaders. Along the way, they attended the prestigious Sergeants Major Academy, a rigorous program offered in partnership with Penn State World Campus. But for them, the journey was never just about earning a degree—it was about a commitment to learning, leading, and shaping the future of Army leadership and personal growth. Join us for a behind-the-scenes conversation with Rob and Kanessa about their experience as lifelong learners in the Army.

Want to share your own research story, submit a suggestion, or join the conversation? We’d love to hear from you. Contact co-hosts Jen Jarson (Head Librarian at Penn State Lehigh Valley, Interim Head Librarian at Penn State Schuylkill) and Kate Morgan (Instructional Designer at Penn State World Campus) at ⁠[email protected]⁠.

Show notes:

Guests' selected publications

• Nelson, R. (2024, December 10). An update: The Ultima Scholars cohort, two months into the SMC Education program, here’s what we’ve learned. Harding Project Substack.
• Ross, T. & Nelson, R. (2024). Rethinking the andragogical effectiveness of discussion boards in an MBA program. The American Journal of Distance Education. DOI: 10.1080/08923647.2024.2431360
• Nelson, R. (2024, August 12). The Ultima Scholars: Enhancing NCO education through scholarly research. NCO Journal.
• Nelson, R., & Russell, R. (2024, May 24). The seven deadly sins of leadership. NCO Journal.
• Nelson, R., Cole, S., & Fisher, D. (2024, February 16). Why is communication so *ing hard?NCO Journal.
• Trent, K. (2019). Motivating and educating millennials. Journal of Military Learning.

Guests' photos

• Kanessa Trent
• Rob Nelson

About the Sergeants Major Academy

• Sergeants Major Academy Fellowship Program (NCO Worldwide: The NCO Leadership Center of Excellence)
• With Penn State, Sergeants Major Academy Fellowship Program continues growth (PSU News)
• Penn State, Army extend Sergeants Major Academy Fellowship program through 2026 (PSU News)

Dr. Beth Michalec is passionate about teaching and an advocate for immersive cultural experience, not to mention a huge Dolly Parton fan. As an Assistant Professor of Corporate Communication at Penn State Lehigh Valley, she challenges her students to look at everything with a curious mind.

Her recent journey as a Fulbright Specialist took her to Croatia, where she collaborated with students and colleagues to examine communication through a cultural lens. Along the way, she not only shared her expertise but also uncovered powerful insights about herself. Dr. Michalec’s story is one you won’t want to miss.

Want to share your own research story, submit a suggestion, or join the conversation? We’d love to hear from you. Contact co-hosts Jen Jarson (Head Librarian at Penn State Lehigh Valley, Interim Head Librarian at Penn State Schuylkill) and Kate Morgan (Instructional Designer at Penn State World Campus) at ⁠[email protected]⁠.

Show notes

We’re thrilled to bring you a four-part series casting a spotlight on different sides of undergraduate research and resources that support undergrads’ journeys with research. 

In the fourth and final minisode of this series, we talk with Sarah Esslinger. When we spoke with her in Spring 2024, Sarah was just about to graduate with a double major in music education and vocal performance at the University Park campus. She was also serving as a Research Ambassador with Penn State’s Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring (URFM) office. 

It’s not often that we get to poke around under the hood of humanities research! In conversation with Sarah, we get a glimpse of the range of research opportunities in the humanities landscape and discuss navigating the freedom (or the overwhelm!) of the research path. This behind-the-scenes view of Sarah’s research journey helps us explore the different shapes research can take and how to chart your own course. 

Want to share your own research story, submit a suggestion, or join the conversation? We’d love to hear from you. Contact co-hosts Jen Jarson (Head Librarian at Penn State Lehigh Valley and Penn State Schuylkill) and Kate Morgan (Instructional Designer at Penn State World Campus) at ⁠[email protected]⁠.  

Show notes

We’re thrilled to bring you a four-part series casting a spotlight on different sides of undergraduate research and resources that support undergrads’ journeys with research. 

In the third minisode of this series, we talk with Rishika Patil. When we spoke with her in Spring 2024, Rishika was a junior majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University Park campus, as well as a Research Ambassador with Penn State’s Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring (URFM) office. 

Rishika pulls back the curtain on the habits of mind that fuel her success -- showing us not just the what, but the how and why of research, too. We know you’ll find Rishika’s reflections on the importance of mindset and attitude and the value of prioritizing process over product as inspiring as we did.

Want to share your own research story, submit a suggestion, or join the conversation? We’d love to hear from you. Contact co-hosts Jen Jarson (Head Librarian at Penn State Lehigh Valley and Penn State Schuylkill) and Kate Morgan (Instructional Designer at Penn State World Campus) at ⁠[email protected]⁠.  

Show notes

We’re thrilled to bring you a four-part series casting a spotlight on different sides of undergraduate research and resources that support undergrads’ journeys with research. 

In the second minisode of this series, we talk with Mia Peifer. When we spoke with Mia in Spring 2024, she was a senior majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University Park campus, as well as a Research Ambassador with Penn State’s Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring (URFM) office. 

Mia gives us a peek into the inner workings of her lab experience -- and how fun it can be along the way, too. You don’t want to miss Mia’s insights about connecting with a community around research, developing persistence through research, and navigating the challenges inherent in the process. 

Want to share your own research story, submit a suggestion, or join the conversation? We’d love to hear from you. Contact co-hosts Jen Jarson (Head Librarian at Penn State Lehigh Valley and Penn State Schuylkill) and Kate Morgan (Instructional Designer at Penn State World Campus) at ⁠[email protected]⁠.  

Show notes

We’re thrilled to bring you a four-part series casting a spotlight on different sides of undergraduate research and resources that support undergrads’ journeys with research. 

In the first minisode of this series, we talk with Tineka Lebrun, Director of Penn State’s Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring (URFM) office. Are you an undergrad looking for some help getting started with research? Or are you an undergrad looking to share your research experience with fellow students? Perhaps you’re a faculty member or research mentor looking for an undergrad experienced in research to talk with your class? This episode is for you! Join us to learn about how the URFM and the Research Ambassadors program can help you.

Want to share your own research story, submit a suggestion, or join the conversation? We’d love to hear from you. Contact co-hosts Jen Jarson (Head Librarian at Penn State Lehigh Valley and Penn State Schuylkill) and Kate Morgan (Instructional Designer at Penn State World Campus) at ⁠[email protected]⁠.  

Show notes

It’s that time of year when the air gets cooler, the moon feels fuller, and you always feel like you are being…ummm…watched? Let’s face it, we are all afraid of things that haunt the woods, but what does that fear tell you about human life and culture? Well, today’s guest, Jack Daly, is a Ph.D. candidate in American Studies at Penn State Harrisburg. In this conversation, Jack shares insights about his own research process as he explores folkore and the supernatural and, in so doing, explores how to study culture and belief. So light a candle, lock the door, and join us as we take a peek behind the veil. 

Want to share your own research story, submit a suggestion, or join the conversation? We’d love to hear from you. Contact co-hosts Jen Jarson (Head Librarian at Penn State Lehigh Valley and Penn State Schuylkill) and Kate Morgan (Instructional Designer at Penn State World Campus) at ⁠[email protected]⁠.

Show notes:

We can’t wait for you to meet Dr. Linda Treviño, Distinguished Professor of Organizational Behavior and Ethics in the Department of Management and Organization in the Smeal College of Business at Penn State.

A true leader in her field, Dr. Treviño talks with us about what it means to be curious and how to turn that curiosity into action -- and how to persist in the face of pushback, too. Join us for an inspiring conversation about curiosity, motivation, open-mindedness, and mentoring. 

Want to share your own research story, submit a suggestion, or join the conversation? We’d love to hear from you. Contact co-hosts Jen Jarson (Head Librarian at Penn State Lehigh Valley, Interim Head Librarian at Penn State Schuylkill) and Kate Morgan (Instructional Designer at Penn State World Campus) at [email protected].

Show notes:

Do you love unique inquiry projects that engage and empower students? Do you want to learn about experiential and experimental teaching and learning in the humanities? We thought so!

Join us as we learn from our three guests about their work with undergraduates around transcribing and researching historical recipes. Dr. Marissa Nicosia is an Associate Professor of Renaissance Literature at Penn State Abington. Christina Riehman-Murphy is the Open and Affordable Educational Resources Librarian for Penn State University Libraries based at the Abington campus. Dr. Heather Froehlich was the Literary Informatics Librarian for Penn State University Libraries based at the University Park campus before moving to the University of Arizona Libraries.

Want to share your own research story, submit a suggestion, or join the conversation? We’d love to hear from you. Contact co-hosts Jen Jarson (Head Librarian at Penn State Lehigh Valley) and Kate Morgan (Instructional Designer at Penn State World Campus) at [email protected].

Show notes:

Just wait until you hear Dr. Pauline Milwood, associate professor of hospitality management at Penn State Berks, talk about teaching, research, and her own path into academia. It’s a roller coaster in the best possible way. In one semester, she guides students through the opening of a pop-up restaurant that serves more than 100 patrons! Her work is engaging and transformative and she shares all of it through an open resource that is continually updated.

Want to share your own research story, submit a suggestion, or join the conversation? We’d love to hear from you. Contact co-hosts Jen Jarson (Head Librarian at Penn State Lehigh Valley) and Kate Morgan (Instructional Designer at Penn State World Campus) at [email protected].  

Show notes: