UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1137

Submission information
Submission Number: 1137
Submission ID: 20281
Submission UUID: 032d71f4-e181-4d90-802f-9ce48adec92b

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
Primary Research Mentor Name Richard Waters
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific?
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) IMG_4628.jpg
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above)
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated)
Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable) Eldaneka Rolle
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Pronouns
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific?
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) etr22b@fsu.edu
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?
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):
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
Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation Yes
Materials Grant Yes
UROP Poster Presentation Yes
Year 2025
update url https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?element_parents=elements/research_mentor_information/headshot_optional_&ajax_form=1&_wrapper_format=drupal_ajax&token=NzdO9Wo7tP44_P9DJM9Oc6oAdnahrWVttA8rbnQlsRM