UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1137 | Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement

Submission information

Submission Number: 1137

Submission ID: 20281

Submission UUID: 032d71f4-e181-4d90-802f-9ce48adec92b

Submission URI: /urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal

Submission Update: /urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?token=NzdO9Wo7tP44_P9DJM9Oc6oAdnahrWVttA8rbnQlsRM

Created: Wed, 08/13/2025 - 06:54 PM

Completed: Wed, 08/13/2025 - 07:29 PM

Changed: Sun, 08/24/2025 - 04:12 PM

Remote IP address: 99.1.246.223

Submitted by: Anonymous

Language: English

Is draft: No

Webform: UROP Project Proposal Portal

Submitted to: UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal

Research Mentor Information

Primary Research Mentor Name Richard Waters

Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns {Empty}

When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific? {Empty}

Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) rdw22@fsu.edu

Position Title Faculty

FSU College (if applicable) Communication and Information

FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation School of Communication

Headshot (optional)

Additional Research Mentor(s)

Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above) {Empty}

Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns {Empty}

Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific? {Empty}

Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) {Empty}

Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable) Eldaneka Rolle

Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Pronouns {Empty}

Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific? {Empty}

Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) etr22b@fsu.edu

Overall Project Details

Title of the Project Exploring Philanthropy Goals of Entrepreneurs through the Smithsonian Institution's Giving Pledge Letters

Project Keywords Nonprofit, Philanthropy, Giving Back, Content Analysis

Are you currently looking for research assistants? Yes

Number of Research Assistants Needed 2

Relevant Research Assistant Major(s) Communication, social work, public administration, marketing but open to anyone interested in the project.

Project Location: On FSU Main Campus

If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation? {Empty}

Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s): Partially Remote

Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work? 5-10 hours per week

Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work? Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)

Overall Research Project Description The Smithsonian Institution’s Giving Pledge Letter Exhibit is designed to share and preserve the personal letters written by philanthropists as part of the Giving Pledge — an initiative in which wealthy individuals commit to donating the majority of their wealth to charitable causes. This research will analyze these different pledge letters to look for the personal motivations, values, and stories behind these pledges to encourage a culture of giving. The archive of the Giving Pledge Letters is located online (https://amhistory.si.edu/giving-in-america/interactive/#!/lettersLanding).

Research Tasks Students will work with the professor to create coding categories and then collect data from the online resource. If students wish to work on statistical analysis after the data has been collected, I'm more than happy to have them assist with data analysis. I will pursue publishing this research in a journal, so students may also be asked to help with developing the literature review and discussion.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Interest in the nonprofit sector is helpful, but there are no required skills needed.

Mentoring Philosophy I am looking to work with a FSU UROP student who wants to explore their creative side. I'm a former fundraiser who worked with tech executives in Silicon Valley to establish their philanthropic efforts beginning in the early 2000s. I know their interests are diverse, and I want to work with someone who is curious about their motivations and interests in giving their money to help the nonprofit sector. I am fairly open to the working situation and can work remotely or in meetings when they're needed. I imagine an ideal mentor relationship is one where we work together and each offer ideas for the project. I don't want someone who is simply wanting to carry out my project. I want someone who is interested in exploring their own ideas.

Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable): https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Richard-Waters-2

Please add any additional information here (if applicable): {Empty}

Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable? Yes

Roundtable times and Zoom links Thursday, Sept 4, from 12:30-2:30pm at https://fsu.zoom.us/my/watersfsu?omn=94699613417

Roundtable Info

Day: Thursday, September 4
Start Time: 12:30
End Time: 2:30
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/my/watersfsu?omn=94699613417

UROP Program Elements

Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication Yes

UROP Performance Evaluation Yes

Materials Grant Yes

UROP Poster Presentation Yes

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Year 2025

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