The Office of Undergraduate Research committee singled out Professor Betsy Kalin’s endeavors for commendation for her work to give students tangible skills as well as the care she gives to each of her mentees. The Champion of Undergraduate Research: Rising Star Award recognizes faculty who have worked at the University of Central Florida full time for fewer than 7 years and who already have an extensive track record of successfully mentoring undergraduate researchers. In particular, it celebrates mentors who guide undergraduates from underrepresented backgrounds or who would not otherwise become involved in research. The committee writes, “We are thrilled to recognize Betsy Kalin, Film and Mass Media Assistant Professor, for her outstanding contributions to undergraduate research efforts.”
As a dedicated educator and mentor, Kalin has played a pivotal role in guiding students through the research process, helping them develop critical skills, and fostering a passion for academic inquiry. Her dedication and mentorship continue to inspire students to push boundaries and achieve excellence in their academic journeys.
Kalin expresses that she is honored to receive the commendation. She states that this is meaningful, “because of my dedication to helping students achieve their goals and produce outstanding work whether in the form of undergraduate theses, research, or making documentary films. It is really wonderful to be recognized for my mentorship of students as they develop their skills and find success.”
Additionally, Kalin shares that her approach to mentorship includes meeting regularly, one-on-one with students. “I strongly believe in teaching students the value of doing research as well as demystifying the process for conducting research by making research accessible to all and hopefully enjoyable too! I teach students the process of finding research questions to ask in order to develop their hypothesis and create an appropriate framework for their project,” said Kalin. Not only that, Kalin also gives specific examples of the tangible skills she teaches students. “They develop visual, experiential, and critical understanding tools together with learning how to find sources of inspiration and develop their ideas. I encourage students to take risks and assist them in finding their own path to creativity, analysis, and production through independent research and investigation. I emphasize analytic and critical thinking skills as absolutely vital to their success.”
Kalin conveyed some of her success through student testimonials as well. She served on the Honors Undergraduate Thesis Committee for Ariana Martinez. Ariana’s Honors Undergraduate Thesis, The Plight of the Beautiful People: Sexuality and Death in Less than Zero and The Doom Generation, helped them gain admission into the competitive MA Program in Film Studies at the University of Iowa. Ariana writes about Kalin:
“Beginning with the summer session that was more research-based, she provided excellent feedback on the sources I was planning to include. She helped me carve out a path in those early days when I was still determining the direction I wanted to take…I am most thankful for the meticulous detail Professor Kalin showed when reading and editing my work during this time…I’m also grateful that she sat down with me in person, allowing us to go through an entire section of the paper together in one session. This section is my favorite, and I wound up using it as my writing sample for graduate school…Most importantly, I am thankful that at every point I received her edits, she was also gracious enough to include compliments, reassurance, and note when a section I wrote was good and strong. I never felt misunderstood, disrespected, or insecure about my work after receiving her edits; instead, I felt more focused and self-assured.”
Zoe Heafner created an outstanding documentary proposal and an EMMY award-winning documentary for Fishtail: The Last Best Place in Kalin’s FIL4301C/FIL4302C courses. Zoe writes:
“Her course load was rigorous, but every assignment was designed to help us not only understand the process of filmmaking but understand the meaning of it. I learned so much about how important your story is in filmmaking and how necessary it is to make a film ethically…Professor Kalin struck a good balance between being a teacher and a mentor. It created an atmosphere where I felt comfortable sharing my struggles and questions, especially when dealing with such complex film projects…Professor Kalin has made a lasting impact on my journey, and as I continue in my filmmaking career, I’m grateful for the strong foundation she provided through her constant support.”
Kalin closes by sharing valuable insights into why it is important for students to conduct research. “I think students must understand how to undertake research to succeed in their chosen field. The process of researching isn’t about simply reading material, but about asking questions that will lead students to discover their own ideas on their topic of interest. I think this is critical for filmmakers working in documentary, experimental or fictional modes. The most important aspect of developing a career as a filmmaker is finding your specific voice and I believe that through researching film criticism, filmmakers, and related fields of study, students can figure out how they would approach a topic in their own way and create a work that is truly representative of who they are as a filmmaker.”
Written by Majdulina Hamed.
Published to Nicholson News on April 1, 2025.
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