Eleni Karelis World CUR 2023 Spotlight
Eleni Karelis
Senior, English major, Appalachian Studies minor
Research Mentor: Carol Street
Research Project Title
"“We Give Our Sweat, Not Our Blood” The Many Voices of Rural Appalachian Activism in the 20th Century"
Brief Project Description
"Research manifests in the form of a small book of poetry detailing the diverse existence of the Appalachian Mountains in the twentieth century. "
I enjoy research because... "I enjoy research because, as a creative, research provides new avenues for interacting and understanding historical manuscripts in an effort to bring stories to light that are often left out of the larger conversation."
What excites you most about attending World CUR?
"For the first time, I have the opportunity to engage with other students who are passionate for their own research across the entire world. I am most excited to learn from international researchers like me, with interests similar to my own, who have lived in vastly different places and cultures from my own. Seeing where the identity of a scholar intersects among all paths of life is the chance of a lifetime."
What has been the most interesting aspect of your research experience so far?
"The Special Collections Research Center has altered my creative process and left an impression far deeper than my collection could provide on its own. As a writer, previously I would gather inspiration from first-hand experiences or by word of mouth through conversations and interviews. Through archival research, I have learned to interpret the past as a tool to inform our future, something that I had not considered before I began working with my collection. "
How has undergraduate research impacted your college experience?
"My undergraduate research has helped me forge stronger relationships with my own interests and make decisions towards future research projects. Research can seem incredibly daunting when a student first begins their undergraduate journey, but the right project can completely change the student's point-of-view. That's how it went for me; I was offered the opportunity to study a topic towards which I already had a passion, and the amount I learned through my undergraduate research only excited me for the things I still have to learn. "
List 2 fun facts about you:
"1) I have a rescue cat named for Boo Radley from Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird."
2) I know how to tap dance."