Courtney Littlewood
  • Social Work
  • Class of 2017
  • Mystic, CT

Eastern Student Courtney Littlewood of Mystic Presents Research Poster at CREATE Conference

2016 May 3

More than 250 talented students at Eastern Connecticut State University presented research and creative work at the university's second annual CREATE conference this past April. CREATE stands for Celebrating Research Excellence and Artistic Talent at Eastern, and is the university's premier, academic year-end showcase. At the culminating event, students of all majors presented professional posters, live music, dance performances, artwork, photography, documentaries and panel discussions.

Courtney Littlewood '17 of Mystic, who majors in Social Work, presented a research poster at the event. Littlewood's presentation, co-presented by four classmates, was titled "Effectiveness and Accessibility of on Campus Mental Health Resources."

"On college campuses across the country, there's an increase in cases of depression and anxiety amongst student populations," said the students in a joint statement. "With on?campus mental health resources such as counseling centers, it raises the question of why this is happening. This study seeks to explore the research question, "How effective and accessible are the Eastern Connecticut State University's campus mental health resources for students with symptoms of depression and anxiety?" A qualitative research design will be utilized. Researchers will conduct semi?structured interviews with six students to learn more about their perceptions of the accessibility and the effectiveness of the on?campus mental health services. Researchers will start by conducting a screening. If qualified for the study, researchers will set up a time to conduct in?depth interviews. The interview will be recorded and then transcribed. Themes will be identified and discussed in relation to this topic. The study will hopefully lead to a greater understanding of student's lived experiences around the effectiveness and accessibility of these health services on campus, which ultimately can inform best practices."

Remarking on the variety of presentations, Professor Dickson Cunningham, conference co-chair, said, "CREATE encapsulates the essence of the liberal arts in one afternoon. It is an intellectual smorgasbord."

Speaking to the value of CREATE, Eastern President Elsa Nunez said, "It takes a very strong and dedicated student to produce this quality of work, and it's important for other students to see this output." Praising the faculty, she added, "It takes a committed and skillful mentor to guide students to the work that is on display. Mentorship is such an integral part of undergraduate research."

During the one-day conference, the Student Center crawled with artistic and scholarly activity. Students in professional attire addressed their peers, faculty and family. In the cafe, ensembles performed; in the theatre, student-produced documentaries were shown; in the Betty R. Tipton Room, aisles of posters depicting scientific research were displayed; across the hall, a gallery-worth of paintings lined the walls; and on the ground floor, panel discussions and oral presentations about the humanities took place.

In celebration of students' exemplary research, experiential learning and creative activity, CREATE serves to reinforce high-impact practices such as mentored research; increases the number of students presenting their work in a professional forum; raises public awareness of Eastern's liberal arts mission and student accomplishments; and contributes to the intellectual richness of the campus community.