Collaborate Summer Faculty Fellows Named
April 20, 2026
Written by Kari Borne
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s School of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education (SGSCE) in partnership with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) is pleased to announce four applications that have been funded as part of the Summer 2026 Collaborative Summer Faculty Fellows (CSFF) Program.
The CSFF program provides UW-Whitewater faculty with opportunities for summer research, innovative and creative activities towards professional advancement and engagement. More than 20 proposals were submitted for this inaugural program from faculty across all colleges on the Whitewater and Rock County campuses.
“The selected proposals demonstrate a deep commitment to research, innovation, and collaboration that will benefit campus and communities,” said Matt Vick, SGSCE dean. “They all expand faculty scholarship during the summer months while engaging with students, colleagues and the greater community. There is great potential for long-term impact from all of these projects.”
The following applications were chosen for this summer’s funding cycle:
Juk Bhattacharyya (Geography, Geology & Environmental Science)
Examining critical minerals in North-Central Wisconsin is at the core of Bhattacharyya’s project. It consists of fieldwork, mapping and laboratory analysis in partnership with a minerologist and quarry owners. She also plans to collaborate with the Chemistry Department for further analysis. Results will be shared at professional conferences and submitted for publication. Work conducted this summer will allow Bhattacharyya to have undergraduate research opportunities for students at the beginning of fall semester.
Teri Frame (Art)
Frame will collaborate with three undergraduate students to investigate the relationship between direct-positive photography, analog processes, digital imaging, and AI-generated imagery through a cohesive series of pentaptychs. Resulting artworks will be exhibited on campus and presented at local and national symposiums and may be submitted for juried exhibitions. In addition, experiences from the project will be applied to curricula for the Digital Photography minor, which is currently under development.
Pengyu Qian (Finance & Business Law)
The Whitewater Financial Education Outreach initiative, proposed by Qian, will create a structured pathway for students to apply their classroom knowledge in supervised, community-centered settings. For communities, the initiative plans to provide a trusted, non-commercial source of financial education, including budgeting, credit, insurance, allowing people to make financial decisions more confidently. Qian intends to work with colleagues and community groups in both Whitewater and Janesville to make a replicable model for how universities can advance financial literacy.
Shari VanAlstine and Alena Holmes (Music)
Preparing future music educators for an AI-supported classroom is the goal of VanAlstine and Holmes’ proposal. They plan to survey in-service music educators to assess current attitudes, challenges, and existing use of AI in K-12 settings. The researchers conduct a comprehensive literature and media review to develop an ethically-grounded AI integration model. In addition, they will develop a music education AI resource guide, and their findings will be submitted to national conferences and peer-reviewed journals.
“This inaugural fellowship program demonstrated the strong and vibrant interest by UWW faculty to research, innovation and creative endeavors contributing to impactful activities, enhanced collaborations, community outreach and improvement in curriculum and teaching,” said Teshome Alemneh, ORSP Director.
The School of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education empowers those outside the traditional undergraduate classroom through accessible and flexible educational opportunities. Since 1964, the School of Graduate Studies has added dozens of master’s degree programs and master’s certificates in a wide range of subjects as well as a Doctor of Business Administration in 2014. Camps and Conferences hosts summer camps, day clinics, and competitions, allowing 10,000+ annual participants to work with award-winning coaches and directors, use state-of-the-art facilities, and experience campus life. Through hands-on, relevant and engaging programs, Continuing Education meets the evolving personal and professional needs of adult learners by connecting our talented faculty and staff with communities in the region.
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs promotes scholarly excellence and seeks to create a dynamic and vibrant environment of discovery, innovation, and entrepreneurship through support of UWW faculty, staff, and student research.