Students who have completed 2 semesters of the Duffy Community Partnerships are selected each year to implement and analyze summer research which builds on their previous academic and field work with the program.  Faculty work closely with students, and the research is designed in conjunction with the field site and supervisors to benefit the community.

Researchers, Areas of Research and Field Sites

2012

• Rachel McCarty, "Food Procurement in the Emergency Food System," Caritas 
• Joe Caldwell, "An Investigation of Financial Barriers in Preventing Hispanic Women from Seeking Adequate Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening," Beloit Area Community Health Clinic 

2011

• Clara Baker, “Farm Stories: Narratives and Agritourism,” The Learning Center at Angelic Organics 
• Adriana Terrones, “Doing Community Art With Teen Mothers: Creating a Mural for the Day Care Center,”  Community Action, Inc. Teen Parent Program

2010

• Ashley Lanham, "Do Civic Organizations Play a Role in Contemporary Society? A Case Study of Rock County 4-H," Rock County 4-H
• Stephanie Previc, "An Investigation of the Barriers to Health Literacy and Patient Advocacy in a Community Health Setting," Beloit Area Community Health Center
• Brian Shobe, "'The Community Garden Is a Good Thing.' So Why Don't More People Participate? Cultural Framing and Recruitment in the Blackhawk Community Garden," Roots & Wings
• Danica Slavish, "Assessing Efficacy of After-School Programming at Wright Elementary," Wright Reading Club

2009

• Sarah Chodorow, "Effects of Unemployment on Mental Health," Caritas
• Dan O'Brien, "Recruiting, Motivating and Retaining Volunteer, Non-Profit Board Members," Welty Environmental Center

2008

• Emily Clary designed and implement a sixteen session summer bilingual reading program in conjunction with the Clinton Public Library for students at Shady Hills Trailer Park. She also designed and completed a survey to improve communication between the school district and Spanish speaking families. This project was made possible by a grant from the Society for Learning Unlimited and a generous in kind donation of room and board by an anonymous donor.
• Emily Knapp, "Youth Nutrition Analysis Through Photography: A Pilot Study," The Learning Center at Angelic Organics Farm
• Rebecca Kathleen Stanton, "Elderly Parents and Their Grown Children: A Study of Interactions and Caregiving," Beloit Home Companion Care, (Funded in part by the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges, AGE grant)

2007

• Mary Dempsey, "Perceptions of People With Disabilities: The Effect of Regular Contact and Extended Exposure", SMILES (a therapeutic equestrian program) 
• Ashley Vancil, "Thanks, But No Thanks: A Study of Potential Food Stamp Recipients and Why They Decline Benefits", Caritas, Recipient of Second Place in the Midwest Sociological Society Student Research Award

2006

• K. Haley Cobb, "Homeless Teen Mothers: Hopes, Stories and Perceptions," Helping Urban Beloit, Transitional Living Program
• Sarah Lyon-Hill, "Legitimation of Alternative Energy Policies," Welty Environmental Center

2005

• Mary Dowd, "Connections Between Foster Care and Future Homelessness," Hands of Faith Shelter
• Kim Pernell, "Immigrants' Perceptions of the American Dream," Stateline Literacy Council
• Matt Van Eseltine, "Barriers to Employment for Ex-convicts," the Job Center
• Sonja Whipp, "Education for Compliance in Low Income Diabetic Patients," Beloit Area Community Health Center
• Megan Willan, "Deviance and Volunteer Motivation," SMILES, (equestrian therapy for disabled children and adults)