A Research Ripple Effect

As Dr. Elizabeth Sandell closed a distinguished career, former undergraduate researchers returned to celebrate a mentor whose influence continues to shape lives and careers around the world

By Joe Tougas ’86

A week before retiring in August, Minnesota State University, Mankato education professor Dr. Elizabeth Sandell marked the transition by arranging a reunion with some of the students she mentored during her 20 years as an undergraduate research advisor.

Several alumni gathered for a few events that Sandell arranged to talk about how their work as undergraduate researchers affected their careers after graduation.

Her own involvement with undergraduate research began when she wanted to create a more detailed course evaluation for her intercultural competency course. She turned to the Undergraduate Research Center for help.

“I didn't get release time to do research,” she said. “But I wanted to know how well things were going in my classes. I wanted to do some data analysis, and I also was very intrigued about the undergrad research situation at MSU.”

Sandell became the College of Education representative on the undergraduate research advisory committee and was impressed with the availability of grants and symposia for students. She recruited students from her cultural competency classes as well as students from each semester’s orientation for international students.

At the latter, “I'd say, y'all are the best, right? You're international, and you figured out how to get here. Consider being on my research team. Then students would walk up and talk to me about the research experience. It was the best,” Sandell recalled.

It was at one such orientation in 2021 that she connected with Ryuto Hashimoto, who had transferred from Century College to MSU for his third year. He found himself feeling somewhat isolated compared to others in his major who were already settled into the rhythm of MSU. He recalled Sandell asking for researchers at orientation.

“At the end of the session, she said ‘I'm looking for the research student, and if you are interested, give me your name and email address, and I'll reach back to you,’” he recalled. “I was like, well, sure, I will sign myself.”

So began a relationship that prompted Hashimoto to switch majors – from international relations to interdisciplinary studies – to continue working on research projects with Sandell. Today, he’s pursuing his Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy analysis at University of Missouri.

Sandell had a way of inspiring students that kept them comfortable with the challenge of entering the new world of research. At least six former team members continued into graduate school for master’s or doctoral degrees.

“She's a lot funnier than I think you would expect, and a lot more personable,” said Jon Arndt, another former student at the reunion. “Before I knew her, I think I viewed her as a little bit more closed off or just strictly academic, so being able to meet her on a deeper level and be able to hear some of her stories … and just some of the kindness she shows, I think, was really important.”

Arndt, now a mental health therapist in Rochester, said being involved with Sandell and undergraduate research helped him develop an appreciation for his studies and the kind of education he wanted. He completed a year and a half of college at MSU before he quit out of frustration with himself for not knowing precisely what he wanted in his college career.

“When I came back and started doing research I was like ‘Wow, it’s really fun to be on some of the academic side,’” he said. “I started to see some of the purpose of the courses I was taking, and why it's very important to get a good education. And Beth was a huge part of that.”

Highlights of Sandell’s time with the URC included serving as acting director one semester and being recognized as Mentor of the Year in 2012. She also accompanied students overseas for presentations to the World Congress on Undergraduate Research in England and Germany. After the WCUR conference in Germany, Sandell wrote a book about undergraduate research that is available for free on Cornerstone, a collection of scholarly and creative written works by MSU faculty.

“Going to WCUR in Germany and being part of research just opened up my worldview,” Arndt said. “It gave me opportunities to think in different ways.”

Her absence will be felt, said Dr. Trish Arnold, who joined the MSU faculty in 2022 and whose passion and experience is in Indigenous education. It’s an area in which Arnold and Sandell connected, given the latter’s interest in cultural competency. Last year, the two supervised students—future schoolteachers—in a semester devoted to researching new state laws requiring Indigenous education in K-12 and presenting that research at a national conference in Minneapolis.

“All of that came from conversations with her,” Arnold said of Sandell. “It came from conversations and connections about the importance of Indigenous education in Minnesota, the importance of doing research at an undergraduate level and how it's a high-impact practice.”

Now formally retired, Sandell says she’s interested in continuing to support and collaborate with University researchers.