From Crafton Hills College to Stanford: Michelle Ly Takes Her Research to the Big Stage
This big-deal conference only invites a select few community college students to share their work, and Michelle was one of them.
On May 4th at Stanford University, Michelle Ly, a student from Crafton Hills College and a student trustee on the San Bernardino Community College District governing board, presented her research at the Honors Research Symposium. The symposium, known for its competitive selection process, received a record 241 proposals this year and chose just 85 students to present their work. Michelle was among this select group of community college students invited to share their research at this conference.
She talked about her study on how Crafton Hills College students perceive the college’s racial diversity efforts and how it correlates to their course success rates. After her 15-minute presentation, she answered questions from the audience, diving deeper into what her research means for students like her.
Michelle sits down with us to tell us more about her participation at the Honors Research Symposium.
Q. Can you share a little about your personal story and what led you to pursue this particular area of research?
Michelle: In August 2023, I applied for the student research scholar position as I was interested in doing research on campus and getting paid for it. At Crafton Hills’ Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Research and Planning (OIERP), I work on assignments that relate to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to promote student success.
Q: Can you describe your main findings?
Michelle: I identified student racial groups, namely Black/African American and Asian/Asian American students, that were least likely to report opportunities for racial learning and cross-racial engagement. I also identified disproportionately impacted groups, such as Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx students, and tracked their progress over multiple semesters.
Q: How did you go about collecting and analyzing the data for your study?
Michelle: I utilized data from the USC Race and Equity Center’s National Assessment of Collegiate Campus Climate (NACCC) for Crafton Hills College in Spring 2021. I also analyzed student success rate data from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Data Mart with Excel and used a Disproportionate Impact (DI) calculator.
Q: What do you hope will be the impact of your research?
Michelle: I hope my research provides a detailed insight into the racial campus climate of Crafton Hills College to strengthen the academic and social DEI commitment to our students. Presenting my research at the Bay Honors Consortium is a fantastic opportunity to start the conversation and share how institutions can better support students at other California Community Colleges.
Q: How has your involvement with the Crafton Hills College Honors Institute shaped your educational journey?
Michelle: My involvement with the College Honors Institute gave me research opportunities and a competitive edge in my transfer applications. Through this program, I learned about the student research scholar position at the Crafton Hills College Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Research and Planning and got the chance to present research at Stanford University. Furthermore, completing the Honors program helped me get into UCLA, one of my top transfer colleges.
Q: What are your academic and career aspirations following this achievement, and how has this project influenced your future plans?
Michelle: I plan to get my B.S. in Cognitive Science and minor in statistics/data science. While my career plans are everchanging, I plan to attend graduate school for data science and eventually become a data scientist. This project has made me realize that I enjoy working with data that provides insights to aid underserved populations.
Q: What advice would you give to other students interested in conducting research and presenting their findings at academic symposia?
Michelle: Find a mentor who is passionate about what they do, is an expert on your topic, and takes an interest in your project. I am grateful for the chance to work with Dean Dr. Giovanni Sosa for the past five months and have his mentorship on this research. Also, in preparation for presenting at academic symposia, practicing in front of a large audience is crucial.
