At Doane College, students and faculty work together on a range of research projects. During the academic year, students work on projects connected to courses in which they are enrolled. For example, students in the American Environmental History course researched topics relating to the Audubon Spring Creek Prairie site located in Denton, NE. Their research papers are on file at Spring Creek Prairie.
Junior and Senior level students in the Writing and Research Seminar recently completed semester-long projects about the Nebraska Unicameral, Native American history, Boys and Girls Town, the Nebraska Anti-Suffrage movement, and local community studies. Many students utilized material from the Nebraska State Historical Society and Archives in Lincoln, NE for their projects.
Students also work with faculty during the summer months as part of the Summer Research Grant program. Recent research projects have included biographical work on Doane alumnus Donald Nyrop, former head of the FAA and President of Northwest Airlines. Under the direction of Dr. Orsag, students Bridget Koehler, Erin Leick, Kari Shanahan researched Nysop's life. These students presented their work, "From Elgin and Doane Skyward: The Career of Donald Nyrop," at MindExpo 2008, an event devoted to student research. Currently, Dr. Orsag and his students are working on an untitled project that will place genealogical research in historical context.
Dr. Rozum has also worked with students on summer research projects. The most recent focused on student Abby Condon's research into the archives of the Nebraska Federation of Women's Club. During her internship at the Nebraska State Historical Society in Lincoln, NE, Ms. Condon examined the records of the NEFWC and developed and wrote a project based upon the organization's work during the 1930s. She presented her research at MindExpo 2008.