About

Our Vision

The Office of Undergraduate Education- Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry will enable undergraduates to stand at the center of creation and dissemination of knowledge.

Our Mission

The Office of Undergraduate Education- Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry strives to nurture and support mentored research pursuits of all undergraduate students to proactively transform and enrich their academic experience by providing inclusive and innovative research engagement opportunities and fostering collaborative partnerships in the world beyond the classroom.

Shared Values

As a unit of the Office of Undergraduate Education, we are committed to the core values of excellence and innovation, collaboration, community service, teamwork, inclusion and respect for diversity, integrity and personal accountability, openness, and trust.

Claire Sweigart, JD

Program Director

sweigart.10@osu.edu

Claire Sweigart has worked in advocacy and education since graduating from The Ohio State University in 2007 with a B.S. in Environmental Education. She completed a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 2010, focusing on public interest law. After a fellowship with the Natural Resources Defense Council, Claire combined her experience in education and policy and transitioned to working in higher education at the University of Cincinnati where she served as Sustainability Coordinator. In this role, Claire led initiatives with students, faculty, staff, and community partners to advance environmental and social sustainability programs and create a campus culture of engagement. She has also taught environmental law and policy as an adjunct instructor. Claire returned to Ohio State in 2015 as the Program Manager for the Office of Service-Learning and has served as Program Director since 2019. In 2020, the Program Director role expanded to include Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry within the Office of Academic Enrichment. Claire’s approach is informed by experiential education and high impact practices literature. She is particularly interested in the ethics of community-engaged learning and research as well as the power of experiential education and reflection practices to help students find purpose and meaning in their academics and life.

Caitlin Fagan

Program Specialist

fagan.112@osu.edu

Caitlin Fagan is a graduate of the Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in Russian and International Studies. During her time as a student, she worked in front-facing roles as a resident advisor and conference assistant. Currently, she is responsible for student-facing activities within the office. She presents "How to Get Started in Research", hosts workshops related to research activities and meets with campus partners to get students more engaged in undergraduate research. Caitlin is passionate about local issues and being an advocate for members the Ohio State community. She is in the Master of Social Work program at Ohio State and is expected to graduate in Spring 2025.