Fall 2023

Director’s Message


A research university should feel like a college


I went to a small liberal arts college in the Midwest where the close relationships I forged—with fellow students and faculty—gave me the self-confidence and support I needed to grow as a person and as a scholar.


I'm certain that the close mentorship I received as an undergraduate led me to pursue a life of the mind and, ultimately, to teach chemistry at William & Mary.


Ours is a vibrant research university, where bold questions yield remarkable research across disciplines. At the same time, W&M has always felt like that little college I graduated from, where students work alongside faculty to practice new approaches to learning, sharpen their academic interests, and better understand themselves and their passions.


In meeting the 200+ who presented at last week's Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium, I was again struck by our dual role at the Charles Center—to support rigorous, robust mentored research on campus and beyond and to facilitate the kinds of profound personal learning experiences that are typically found at much smaller, mostly private, colleges.


Situated at the heart of our research university, we're determined to strengthen what makes W&M feel like a little college, where individual relationships and close connections are valued and nurtured through the liberal arts & sciences.


Thank you for helping us do more, one student at a time.

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Charles Center Community News

Hundreds attend fall

research symposium


Students representing 45 different majors in the arts & humanities, social sciences, and STEM-related disciplines revealed their findings at the 2023 Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium on Friday, Sept. 22.


Over 200 emerging scholars, most of whom received Charles Center summer research grants, presented.


Read more

80+ share summer experiences

in new applied learning Showcase


The Charles Center partnered with the Office of Career Development & Professional Engagement Sept. 8 to showcase student applied learning summer experiences.


The showcase, to be held at least once per semester, will continue to serve as a "knowledge transfer” to get more students to think about the importance of internships and applied learning opportunities, such as research, community service, and internships connected with study abroad programs.


Read more

City Research Scholars

tackle strategic initiatives


As City Research Scholars, Sophie Workinger '24 and Hollis Bannister '24, spent the summer interning with the City of Williamsburg through an innovative program that has W&M students leading key initiatives.


View video or read more

A decade of inspiration:

Woody internship enters 10th year


Why is our Woody internship in museum studies so competitive?


Anna Wershbale '24, who spent last summer at the Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati, sees her Woody internship experience as life-changing.


“As I go on to work for museums and cultural institutions, I will definitely be inspired by my experiences at the Taft.”


Read more

Pulitzer grantee Pishko

discusses sheriffs, democracy


Independent journalist and lawyer Jessica Pishko visited campus Sept. 10-12 as the first of four visiting journalists involved in the Sharp Journalism Seminar, a year-long course that offers undergraduates hands-on opportunities to learn and practice the craft of writing nonfiction for public audiences.


Read more about Sharp Journalism Seminar

Incubator awardee Mordijck 

leads commercial fusion research


W&M Associate Professor of Physics Saskia Mordijck, a Charles Center Research Incubator awardee, is a principal investigator on an all-women-led project focusing on machine learning and AI for fusion selected for funding by the U.S. Department of Energy through the Fusion Energy Science program.


Read more

Charles Center faculty fellow

sheds light on monarch butterflies


The migratory monarch butterfly might not be as endangered as previously thought, according to a new study published in Current Biology by Charles Center Undergraduate Research Faculty Fellow and associate professor of Biology Joshua Puzey and his colleagues.


Read more

Pediatrician and poet Irène

Mathieu '09 featured on podcast


1693 Scholar Irène Mathieu '09, a pediatrician, recently published her third volume of poetry, Milk Tongue (Deep Vellum Press).


Mathieu is featured on the Poetry Foundation's "Poetry off the Shelf" podcast.


Listen to podcast

Charles Center scholars kick-off new year


Students participating in all four Charles Center scholars programs--W&M Scholars Undergraduate Research Experience (WMSURE), James Monroe Scholars, 1693 Scholars, and Sharpe Community Scholars programs--came together Sept. 7 in Sadler Center to mark the start of the new academic year.

Monroe Scholars program promotes peer mentorship


Close to 90 Monroe Scholars attended the first "Meet Your Mentee/Mentor" trivia social Sept. 12 in Sadler Center.


Learn more about Monroe Scholars

1693 Scholars program excels


The 1693 Scholars program recruits students who demonstrate both outstanding academic promise and the desire to engage with and enrich the world around them -- individuals with imagination, insight and conviction.


Read 2023 year-in-review!

Approaching Due Dates!

Semester research funding

October 16, 2023 (priority)


December 8, 2023 (if funds are still available)


The purpose of the Semester Research Funding program is to assist students with expenses directly related to conducting research that occurs during the academic year.

Apply here

Material Culture Study Fund

October 16, 2023 (priority)


December 8, 2023 (if funds are still available)


The Boswell-Caracci Material Culture Study Fund supports undergraduate and graduate student travel to the Decorative Arts Trust and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA).

Apply here

Paid summer 2024 internships

December 1, 2023


(applications open Nov. 1, 2023)


Looking to get paid to pursue your academic passion in a summer internship? Check out our internships in museum studies, nonprofit management/government, and journalism!

Learn more

Charles Center Staff Spotlight


Welcome, Lauri Dabbieri!


Lauri joins the Charles Center as our new Program and Events Coordinator. In her previous career, she was a secondary school Latin teacher.


After spending 22 years in the public school system in Northern Virginia, she finished her career in the classroom at Sidwell Friends School, in Washington D.C. Lauri earned her undergraduate degree from Sweet Briar College, a master’s degree in Education from George Mason University, and a second master’s in Classics from the University of Maryland, College Park.


Lauri has a keen interest in research and has her own research project in the works. When she is not on campus, she enjoys outdoor activities with her Boykin Spaniel puppy, and traveling in Italy, where she studied Linguistics for 3 years.


Meet the whole Charles Center team here!


Your Support Makes a Difference!


Giving to the Charles Center Fund ensures your gift will support the areas of greatest need and student impact. We pride ourselves on being at the forefront of innovative and experimental programming that fosters student and faculty creativity.



Thank you for your generosity.

Give to the Charles Center

Mentored Research

Personal learning experiences are woven into the fabric of every Charles Center program.


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Innovative Internships

Our hands-on, research-centered internships give students real-world opportunities to learn.


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Scholars Programs

We oversee the Monroe Scholars, WMSURE Scholars, 1693 Scholars, & Sharpe Scholars programs.


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Looking forward...

Check out these Charles Center events!:





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