About SISR

Dr. Megan A. Norcia teaches classes in children’s and young adult literatures, career preparation for humanities students, composition, surveys in Victorian and long nineteenth-century British literature, and introduction to the humanities. Her interdisciplinary research has appeared in children’s literature, Victorian, and nineteenth-century journals, and two scholarly monographs (X Marks the Spot: Women Writers Map the Empire for British Children, 1790-1895, Ohio UP; Gaming Empire in Children's British Board Games, 1836-1860, Routledge). After 16 years in the SUNY system, she joined FGCU’s Roots of Compassion and Kindness (ROCK) Center where she taught classes in kindness, compassion, and empathy, designing programs to engage community partners in schools, afterschool programs, libraries, and healthcare settings. A faculty member in the Language and Literature department, Dr. Norcia is the Director of the Office of Scholarly Innovation and Student Research where she connects faculty and students to the resources for research and travel.

Santiago's area of study is in wildlife biology, earning a B.S. in Biology followed by an M.S. in Environmental Science. His research has focused on the population ecology of the Florida Burrowing Owl and the effects of urbanization on their distribution. He is currently working on his Doctorate of Education degree from FGCU, focusing on issues of equity in undergraduate research and he hopes to continue helping students engage in the joys of research.

Research and scholarship is the true expression of what you are most passionate about. It is an opportunity to delve into the topics that spark the most joy in you, and be the first person to discover something new about them. In other words, you become the expert of your passions!

David Blikstad graduated from FGCU in 2022 with a B.A. in History and a Minor in Medieval and Early Modern Studies. He also has served as an editorial assistant for monograph projects in Medieval Legal History.

Research is a core skill that is enhanced through the disciplines of higher education. Research builds paths toward empowerment through the topics that we study. The paths are ours to take, and we take joy in finding our way. The research and scholarship in which we partake are enhanced by the teachings and demonstrations of those who chose to mentor us. Institutions that create and expand programs to strengthen and improve student research amplify scholars, who in turn give back to the educational community through the dissemination of their research.