Fall 2021 Research Marathon for Doctor of Education (EdD) A Success

On Saturday, September 25, approximately 35 students in the Doctor of Education (EdD) program at Florida Southern College gathered with the Dean of the school of education, Dr. Victoria Giordano, the Roux librarians, a dozen faculty members, and several staff members for the Fall 2021 Research Marathon. Florida Southern Provost Dr. Brad Hollingshead and Associate Provost Dr. Tracey Tedder also visited the event to provide their encouragement. It was the 7^th research marathon that the Roux Library and the EdD Program have co-hosted. The all-day, virtual event has traditionally been held in-person; in Fall 2020, when COVID precautions made large group gatherings inadvisable, the Roux Library and the EdD program moved to a virtual format.

The EdD Program Coordinator, Dr. Melanie Fowler, clarified that the event, virtual or in-person, is designed to provide opportunities that support doctoral-level study and create a space for dedicated, focused time to work. Many students attend the research marathon to hone their research skills or explore research ideas by meeting one-on-one with the Roux Librarians or faculty from diverse academic disciplines, including business, exercise science, political science, and education.

“It was great to be able to speak to some of the faculty, especially some that I had never met before,” said Nicole Tardiff, a doctoral student in her final semester of coursework.

Others are drawn to the various workshops offered throughout the day. The Fall 2021 Research Marathon offered eight workshop sessions: Basic Research Strategies with Mr. Steven Wade; Advanced Researching Strategies with Ms. Julie Hornick; APA Style Formatting, the IRB Application, and Preparing for Your First Dissertation Credit with Dr. Fowler; and Interlibrary Loan Service, Copyright, Publishing Your Dissertation with Ms. Nora Galbraith and Ms. Marina Morgan. This term, there were two new workshop sessions: David Aranda, Counseling Center, and Taylor Shook, Student Solutions, delivered the stress management workshop It’s Starts with Yourself, and Dr. Rebecca Powell invited student to Engage in a Conversation through Your Literature Review.

According to Dr. Powell, “Writing a scholarly literature review engages doctoral students in an academic conversation that demonstrates understanding about a field of study, identifies important scholars, examines various methodologies used in previous research, and synthesizes what has been learned. In the literature review, the doctoral student establishes a space where their research will add to the scholarly conversation about their particular field of study.”

The research marathons are also about connection. “I enjoyed the ability to learn more about topics of interest, but also have time to work and visit,” said Christy Taylor, a doctoral student in her second semester of coursework. For Dionna Doss, a doctoral candidate, the research marathons are events she looks forward to because they are “… good opportunities to connect with others, refresh some areas, and learn about news areas for dissertation work. It’s a very valuable experience.”

“I believe the research marathons uniquely embody the mission of Florida Southern College,” explained Dr. Fowler. “I am grateful for the ongoing support from Provost Hollingshead, Associate Provost Tedder, Dean Giordano, and the Roux librarians who help to make these events possible.”