The College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences has an ongoing commitment to helping students access experiential learning initiatives like collaborative research and creative scholarship. Participation in active learning experiences can shape a student's intellectual and professional trajectory for a lifetime.
As an example, many of our highly motivated students engage in research projects with faculty collaborators producing impressive results. To get these students to regional and national academic conferences where they can shine, funding is required. A trip to a regional conference can cost more than $1,000—well beyond the reach of many deserving students who are already financially constrained trying to meet traditional college expenses such as tuition, room and board.
The STARS fund provides financial support for student travel to short-term experiential learning opportunities beyond the Radford campus. Through the generous support of our alumni and friends, STARS assists students with funding for expenses such as travel, registration and lodging so they can explore the world and opportunities beyond southwest Virginia.
Thank you to the generous donors—Scott Light ’91, Dr. Jeffery Aspelmeier, Cynthia Price ’87, Ed Reams ’91, Byron Chafin ’90, Denise White ’83, Jim McGuire ’89, Jeff MacKinnon ’85, John Rainbolt ’01, Amy Davis ’82 and Jim Egbert ’87—who generously offered challenge dollars to help maximize the total amount of donors and dollars raised for this fund!
Caleb Kundert, who attended the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) conference held in 2025 in Denver, Colorado, shared this about his experience:
 | “This was my first time traveling with help from the STARS fund, and I am very thankful for the opportunity. Without it, I likely would not have been able to attend a conference of this scale and its relevance to my interests and future career in I-O Psychology. While I have had limited exposure to experiential learning before, this trip stood out as especially impactful. Being at SIOP allowed me to sit in on presentations, hear about current research and connect with professionals in the field. It gave me a clear picture of different paths within I-O and a network with professionals who may become future mentors or collaborators. To the donors who made this possible: thank you! Your support provided me with an experience far beyond the classroom. Being immersed in that environment made me feel more connected to the field and more confident in my career path." |
In spring 2025, Julian Quesenberry was able to travel and present research at the College English Association conference in Philadelphia and shared this:
 | “I was able to learn from a variety of scholars about a variety of topics from iconography and multimodal pedagogies to AI integration and imagery used in film adaptations. I was also able to present my own work and receive insightful feedback from members of my panel and the audience. I was also able to make connections with academics from universities across the United States. In addition to the incredible academic opportunities afforded me at the conference, this trip allowed me to explore Philadelphia and learn experientially through the sights of the city. As a working-class, first-generation college student, these experiences would have been out of my reach if not for the support of the STARS program. I am so grateful to have been afforded this incredible opportunity.”
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Please consider a gift to help CHBS students travel to network and present their work!
