Center for Research Excellence Grand Opening Keynote
Join the Center for Research Excellence Grand Opening for a Keynote Presentation given by Farrah Jacquez, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Assistant Vice President in the Office of Research at the University of Cincinnati.
Date: September 28th, 2026
Time: 3:00 – 4:30 PM
Location: Kennedy Auditorium, Conaton Learning Commons
Agenda:
3:00 PM – Light refreshments and informal conversation
3:10 PM – Welcome and remarks from CRE leadership
3:15 PM – Keynote: "Research That Matters: Creating Impact with Students, in Communities, and Across Society" — Farrah Jacquez, PhD
4:15 PM – Q&A
Light refreshments will be available before the talk. RSVP by Monday, September 21st!
The Center for Research Excellence (CRE) is Xavier's newest hub for supporting faculty research, from first idea to funded project. Launched to help faculty connect scholarship with teaching, service, and community impact, the CRE offers support for grant development, IRB and compliance guidance, undergraduate research mentorship, and more. This keynote marks the official launch of the CRE and the beginning of a expanded, university-wide commitment to research support at Xavier.
Research That Matters: Creating Impact with Students, in Communities, and Across Society
For many faculty, research can feel separate from the everyday work of teaching and service. This keynote offers a broader view of where research belongs in faculty life and what it can accomplish. Farrah Jacquez will share lessons from her role in UC's Office of Research and from her own experience partnering with communities on research shaped by real-world concerns. She will consider how faculty can bring students into the research process and how scholarly work can reach beyond academic audiences to influence communities, professional practice, and society. The talk will invite faculty to identify approaches to research that fit their roles and reflect what they value. When we start to see research as an extension of the curiosity and critical thinking skills we are hoping to engender in our students, opportunities for inquiry become apparent in many places and many forms. Furthermore, when research is connected to people and issues we care about, it can make a meaningful contribution to the world while also increasing satisfaction in our work as faculty.
What Attendees Will Walk Away With
- Practical ways to connect your existing research (or research interests) to your teaching and service, rather than treating them as separate obligations
- Strategies for involving undergraduate students meaningfully in the research process
- A framework for thinking about how your scholarship can reach beyond academic journals to influence communities, practice, or policy
- Insight into how faculty development structures could support faculty in pursuing research aligned with their own values and goals
Who Should Attend
This event is open to all Xavier faculty! All full-time, part-time, and adjunct appointments across every college and discipline, as well as staff and administrators who support faculty research. Whether you're an experienced researcher or just beginning to explore how research fits into your role, this keynote offers something for you.
About the Speaker
Farrah Jacquez, PhD, is a Professor of Psychology and Assistant Vice President in the Office of Research at the University of Cincinnati, where she has been a faculty member since 2008. She partners with communities to design and carry out research focused on the health issues that matter most to them. She has led federally and foundation-funded partnerships addressing Latino immigrant health, refugee civic leadership, early childhood wellness, and youth participation in research. She was the principal investigator of an NIH-funded program that prepared high school students from underrepresented backgrounds to conduct research for change in their communities. Dr. Jacquez is co-founder and co-editor of the Journal of Participatory Research Methods and serves as Co-Director of Community and Stakeholder Engagement for the Center of Clinical and Translational Science & Training (CCTST). In her Office of Research role, she creates faculty development programs and institutional supports that help faculty pursue research aligned with their interests, values, and roles. Her work has been recognized with the Ernest A. Lynton Award for the Scholarship of Engagement, the Governor's Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan Award, and election to the Academy of Community Engagement Scholarship.
Please RSVP
RSVP by Monday, September 21st so we can ensure enough refreshments are available. We look forward to see you there!