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Last fall, Marquis Scholar Jaclyn Smith ’07 (Saugus, Calif.) got the opportunity to conduct significant research with Bianca Falbo, assistant professor of English, for The Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature.
Ever since Smith began her career as an English major, she has been interested in the scholarly side of the subject. After Smith expressed her desire to work closely with faculty, a colleague recommended her to Falbo, who knew of Smith’s effort in the College Writing Program and a seminar in literary research. Her skills and experience were just what Falbo was seeking in an assistant for a scholarly project of her own.
Falbo has been preparing a chapter-length entry on trans-Atlantic literary relations from 1700-1800 for the 2007 edition of The Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature. According to Falbo, this type of bibliographic entry will be the first of its kind to appear in the publication.
As an active participant in Falbo’s work, Smith discovered the various resources available for literary research, such as Eighteenth Century Collections Online, and has been able to apply her newfound knowledge to other research. In addition, she learned to narrow down a wealth of material into specific categories and its subsequent organization. By the end of the semester, Smith compiled a list of articles written in England and the United States during the 18th century for inclusion in Falbo’s work.
Smith and Falbo collaborated through Lafayette’s distinctive EXCEL Scholars program, in which students conduct research with faculty while earning a stipend. The program has helped to make Lafayette a national leader in undergraduate research. Many of the more than 160 students who participate each year share their work through articles in academic journals and/or conference presentations.
“It’s a great program,” says Falbo, who has worked with a number of talented, hard-working students through EXCEL. “Jaclyn has been very flexible and creative.”
“I always looked forward to meeting with Professor Falbo because of the rich discussions that we would have, the provocative topics that we raised, and the encouragement that she provided me as a student,” says Smith. “She helped guide me through my path at Lafayette. Thanks to her, I am considering routes and questions that I probably would not have otherwise.”
Smith came to Lafayette planning to attend medical school, but after her first year, she decided to follow her true passion and pursue a career in English. Her work as a writing associate enriched those feelings, and she continues to be inspired as an undergraduate through the opportunities available.
Smith is studying abroad this semester at St. Lawrence University in Madrid, Spain. She has been a McKelvy House Scholar and editor for the McKelvy Papers. She was a member of Lafayette Environmental Awareness and Protection as well as Association of Lafayette Feminists. She also participated in the Kids in Community program coordinated by Lafayette’s Landis Community Outreach Center, working with children in Easton’s public housing neighborhoods.