An unexpected window into collaborative research at Vanderbilt

By Sae-Eun (Grace) Lee

When I began interning for Nashville Peer, I didn't know what to expect. I assumed the work would involve tedious tasks that required my time but low levels of engagement. However, life is full of surprises, and this experience was yet another.

Nashville Peer is a research practice partnership between Metro Nashville Public Schools and Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development. Working with this organization, I was introduced to the complex world of academia: innovative research and a spirit of transdisciplinary collaboration among faculty, students and staff. Academia offers more than most of us understand, and I was excited to become a part of it.

Under the supervision of Erin Henrick, assistant professor of the practice of leadership, policy and organizations, I worked on developing Nashville Peer's Peabody Collaborative Research Resource Center, an evolving repository of Peabody faculty-led collaborative projects that bridge academic knowledge with real-world community impact. Once online, the center will be a place for scholars to learn about research-practice partnerships and to inspire them to get involved. Working on establishing the center has allowed me to peer through a window into the world of collaborative research and the profound impact it has on scholars, schools and communities.

Through developing interview protocols, speaking with faculty across departments, and drafting researcher profiles, I have gained firsthand insight into how partnerships drive various research initiatives, advance scholars' careers, and leave a lasting impact in the real world. More importantly, I have seen how Vanderbilt fosters a culture of collaboration, where research extends beyond academic walls to address systemic challenges in society.

While this work was difficult to wrap my head around initially, with encouragement from my supervisor and the opportunity to learn from experienced researchers, I gradually gained confidence in navigating complex projects and came to appreciate how collaboration can turn ideas into tangible community impact.

Learning from collaborative researchers

Speaking with faculty members committed to bettering the community has been a privilege. Jennifer Russell, professor of leadership, policy and organizations, taught me that collaborative research centers around fostering mutually beneficial relationships in which scholars and practitioners listen to each other's needs. The research is bi-directional and connects to practice, making the information more relevant and insightful.

Kayla Fike, assistant professor of human and organizational development, shared that collaborative research requires you to "wear your sincerity on your sleeve" and to consider why you're passionate about the work, what impact you hope it has on people outside of academia, and to communicate these commitments to community partners.

Maury Nation, Bob Innes Professor of Human and Organizational Development, offered another beautiful message about collaborative research: it maximizes the power sharing between researchers and community partners, creating a united group striving to fulfill a shared purpose.

A community-engaged institution

In my internship, I also explored Peabody's community-engaged scholarship through classes, projects and organizations. This experience deepened my understanding of how Vanderbilt is truly a community-engaged research institution, which showed me the university's commitment to making meaningful social change.

Faculty projects focused on education reform, public policy, and equal opportunity and access demonstrate Vanderbilt's commitment to catalyzing positive change. Vanderbilt also invests in a wide range of community-focused programs and organizations, such as Next Steps at Vanderbilt, which supports higher education for neurodiverse students, Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth, which offers evidence-based learning opportunities for gifted learners, and partnerships with Metro Nashville Public Schools to expand educational opportunities for all students.

This culture of engagement doesn't end with faculty and institutional programs. Students also apply their learning beyond the classroom through capstone courses, practicums and internships. From collaborating with local nonprofits to tutoring students in the Next Steps program, Vanderbilt students contribute to the community while deepening their academic and personal growth.

I am a direct product of this hands-on approach; as an undergraduate student majoring in human and organizational development, I was given the opportunity to help develop the Peabody Collaborative Research Resource Center, informed by the wealth of insights and real-world understanding I now carry.

A new perspective on university research

Before this internship, I primarily viewed university research as an independent or department-specific pursuit and as a vehicle for becoming a professor, rather than as an endeavor that genuinely strives to make positive changes in the community. However, my experiences have reshaped my perspective.

Sharon Shields, professor emerita of human and organizational development, said it best: "Vanderbilt strives to generate meaningful change in the world, fostering reciprocity with community partners, being intentional about its service, and improving the human condition through partnerships."

It would be unrealistic to claim that I now fully grasp every aspect of academia after just one semester of this internship-there's simply too much to learn. However, this experience has deepened my understanding of research and sparked new ways of thinking about academic work and its impact. I now deeply appreciate Vanderbilt's commitment to making innovative discoveries that foster real-world change, and I am thankful to have contributed to amplifying those efforts.

Sae-Eun (Grace) Lee is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in human and organizational development and Asian studies.