Summer of Service: How CHSE Translates Research Into Results
July 13, 2026
Summer may bring a quieter campus, but across the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education, the work to increase the quality of life across the lifespan is anything but slowing down.
From middle school students learning healthy living habits through a research project-turned-free summer camp, to high school students exploring careers in education on LSU’s campus, to teachers sharpening their practice in artificial intelligence and world language literacy, to individuals living with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers seeking healthier, more connected lives, CHSE is putting research into action.
Attendance USA Research to Practice Summit
Attendance USA held its inaugural Research to Practice Summit at LSU’s College of Human Sciences & Education in Baton Rouge on June 5–7, 2026, convening national, state and local leaders in education, research, policy and community engagement to advance evidence-based solutions to chronic absenteeism and student success. Hosted in partnership with CHSE, the summit emphasized translating research into practical strategies that improve K-12 student attendance, engagement and well-being, while also highlighting the work of LSU’s Social Research & Evaluation Center in supporting Louisiana school districts through research, evaluation and technical assistance.
CHSE ChangeMakers Camp
Led by LSU School of Kinesiology professor and the Pedagogical Kinesiology Laboratory director Senlin Chen, PhD, the CHSE ChangeMakers Camp serves as an opportunity for more than 60 rising sixth and seventh graders from the greater Baton Rouge communities. The participants are randomly assigned to one of two summer camps. One camp focuses on developing knowledge and skills that promote healthy living, while the other emphasizes academic enrichment in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics. The ChangeMakers project is funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Louisiana Foundation/Our Lady of the Lake Health through its Collaboration in Action program. The camps are offered at no cost to participating families and include free lunch and snacks. This project will generate valuable research data to advance the science of childhood obesity prevention. In addition, the camp experience is expected to positively support participants' physical health, personal growth and academic learning.
Louisiana Department of Education Aspiring Educators Summer Academy
Led by Dean Roland Mitchell, PhD, and co-principal investigators, Eugene Kennedy, PhD; Allie Boquet, PhD; and Twana Hilton-Pitre, PhD, the Aspiring Educators Summer Academy will bring together high school students aspiring to become educators and enrolled in the Louisiana Pre-Educator Pathway from around the state.
Developed by the Louisiana Department of Education and staffed by a team of teachers and educator preparation students from around the state, the academy is a free, one-of-a-kind, five-day hybrid of a summer camp and a professional learning experience that propels them on their journey to becoming the next generation of highly effective educators in Louisiana.
The academy bridges educational research and classroom practice by immersing participants in professional learning activities on evidence-based instructional strategies, authentic field experiences, leadership development and professional mentoring and collaboration. Students engage in hands-on teaching experiences, collaborate with practicing educators, develop professional portfolios and reflect on their growth as emerging educators. By integrating research-supported teacher preparation practices with real-world application, the academy equips participants with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to pursue careers in education while addressing Louisiana’s critical teacher workforce needs.
The academy serves as a scalable model for strengthening educator recruitment through early exposure to high-quality preparation experiences and meaningful partnerships among higher education, PK–12 schools and the Louisiana Department of Education. Evaluation data collected throughout the program will inform future educator pipeline initiatives and contribute to the growing body of research on effective strategies for recruiting and preparing the next generation of teachers.
“As both a teacher and researcher, I believe my responsibility extends far beyond the students in my own classroom,” Boquet said. “Our work is incomplete if research remains confined to journals. As educators, we have a professional obligation to translate evidence into practice, mentor the next generation of teachers and create authentic learning experiences that prepare future educators to lead with confidence, skill and a commitment to improving outcomes for all learners. The Aspiring Educators Summer Academy is one way we fulfill that responsibility by investing in Louisiana’s future educator workforce.”
23 parishes represented
60+ high school students
26 academy coaches and advisors
LSU Research Experiences in STEM Settings NSF Teacher Scholarship Program
A research team led by the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development interim director Petra A. Robinson, PhD, and funded by a $500K National Science Foundation grant will recruit and prepare 10 middle school STEM teachers from East Baton Rouge Parish this summer. Through on-campus summer research intensive, and professional development experiences, these rural educators will gain the tools to integrate artificial intelligence literacy and cybersecurity concepts into engaging classroom practice.
“The National Science Foundation's investment affirms a simple but powerful idea: the future of AI begins in today's classrooms,” Robinson said. "Our investment is in Louisiana's teachers because they are the catalyst for preparing the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers and leaders. Every educator we empower has the potential to influence hundreds of students, strengthening the STEM classroom-to-workforce pipeline and ensuring that Louisiana is not simply adapting to the age of artificial intelligence, but helping to lead it."
“This opportunity will strengthen my knowledge of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and emerging technologies, allowing me to bring innovative learning experiences into my classroom,” Stephanie Major-Gibbs, MA, a participant in the research program, said. “As I prepare for my upcoming teaching assignment as a Computer Science and Technology teacher, I look forward to applying the research; instructional trainings, and the many lessons taught through this program to motivate my students, while promoting responsible technology use, and prepare them for future careers in STEM.”
$550K National Science Foundation Grant
Collaboration with Louisiana A+ Schools, LSU College of Science and LSU Cyber Center
30 rural teachers impacted over 3 years
Louisiana World Language Reading Conference
Organized by Margaret Piccoli, PhD, assistant professor of professional practice in world languages in the LSU Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education, Erin Fell, PhD, from Georgetown University, and Caitlin Cornell, PhD, from Michigan State University, the Louisiana World Language Reading Conference is a one-day professional development event focused on strengthening literacy instruction in world language classrooms across Louisiana. The conference addresses the need for more accessible and effective world language instruction, particularly for students with learning differences. Attendees will gain practical, research-based strategies to support student success in languages such as French and Spanish. The event will feature a keynote address from Shanna Beber, Executive Director of Literacy at the Louisiana Department of Education.
14th Annual Louisiana Parkinson's Conference
The LSU School of Kinesiology will host the 14th Annual Louisiana Parkinson’s Conference on July 25, 2026. Led by Jan Hondzinski, PhD, professor in the LSU School of Kinesiology, the annual conference brings together people with Parkinson’s disease, care partners, healthcare professionals, researchers, students, and community members for a day of education, connection, and practical resources. Attendees will hear from leading voices in Parkinson’s advocacy, clinical care, rehabilitation, and research while learning strategies to support quality of life and whole-person wellness.
More than 2,800 lifetime attendees
14 years of research to practice impact
Bryce Perry, an internationally recognized Parkinson’s advocate, keynote speaker, and founder of Doing Life Today
Through camps, conferences, institutes, and community-engaged programs, the college is translating research into real-world impact, reaching people across generations and demonstrating how a flagship research university serves communities far beyond the classrooms and laboratories.
"At the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education, our responsibility extends beyond generating new knowledge; we must ensure that knowledge improves lives," said Dean Roland Mitchell. "What excites me most about this summer is seeing our research come to life through people. Whether it's a high school student discovering a passion for teaching, an educator learning new strategies for ESL students, or a family navigating Parkinson’s disease with support from our experts, these experiences reflect the full promise of a flagship university: research that moves beyond publication and into practice, creating meaningful impact across the lifespan."
CHSE is the translational research hub for LSU, and this is how we geaux change lives!