Center for Social and Cultural Research

Our mission at the Center for Social and Cultural Research (CSCR):  giving students experience in providing sociological knowledge and skills, as well as a professional identity as practicing sociologists; offering social research services for University, community and regional needs; supporting opportunities for scholarly research among the Sociology faculty.

We look forward to working with future community and university partners.

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• Department of Sociology
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Get Involved with the CSCR

 

 

The Center for Social and Cultural Research at Radford University provides students with experience through internships, independent studies and work study positions by applying sociological knowledge and skills, as well as fostering a professional identity as practicing Sociologists. 

Along with access to the CSCR computer lab, library and equipment, the CSCR can offer many benefits including applied research experience, ethics training, as well as specialized research training in the form of webinars, on campus trainings and more.

Student involvement is coordinated by the Director of the CSCR, Morgan Montañez, Ph.D.  Inquiries about working for the CSCR should be directed to Dr. Montañez.

The CSCR Staff

At the CSCR we have a team of undergraduate Research Assistants who gain hands-on experience conducting Sociological Research. These research assistants partake in a number of tasks including data management, data entry, data reports and some data analysis, transcription, basic ArcGIS mapping, and qualitative coding. Additionally, each spring we have at least one CSCR Internship. This student works closely with a faculty mentor on an existing project.

Meet the Staff: Paige Dickerhoof

Paige Dickerhoof (she/her/hers) is a second-year graduate student in the Industrial/Organizational Psychology Master's program. Paige currently serves as the CSCR Graduate Assistant and Project Manager. Prior to graduate school, Paige worked as a Community Planner, focusing on barriers to transportation in rural North Carolina. During the summer of 2026, Paige worked with the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority, assessing ways to attract and retain resident physicians to rural Southwest Virginia. This year, Paige plans to support the many initiatives happening within the CSCR Lab, including the Virginia 211 data analyses.

What CSCR means to me: I’m eager to combine my previous experiences and my current graduate program education to help lead and support the CSCR lab. I want to support students who are interested in learning, understanding, and helping more of the world around us. 

Meet the Staff: Isaiah Moore

Isaiah Moore is a lead research assistant for the CSCR for Spring 2026 and Fall 2026. Isaiah has been with the CSCR since Fall 2025 and shows great promise as a future sociologist! He has largely been focused on the Radford Housing Project—developing a codebook, writing an IRB, and presenting this work at Wicked Festival, Winter Card, and at the Southwest Social Science Association conference this spring. In Fall 2026, Isaiah is working with Dr. Julie Zimmerman of the University of Kentucky on a project regarding RSS oral history. He will also be working with Kristina Wagner on a project related to Radford/Pulaski County.

What the CSCR means to me: I am thrilled to be working with the Center for Social and Cultural Research to gain hands-on experience and enhance my research capabilities. I have gotten to work on a handful of projects, travel to conferences, and expand my professional network through the work I have done in the lab. I believe these skills and opportunities will last a lifetime.

Meet the Staff: Therese Root 

Therese Root has served as a Lead Research Assistant with the Center for Social and Cultural Research since Fall 2026 and is a junior pursuing B.S. degrees in Political Science and Sociology at Radford University. Since joining the CSCR in Fall 2025, she has gained experience in applied quantitative and qualitative research. Therese currently works on the 2-1-1 Utility Access Project and the Buchanan County Project. Her research experience includes cleaning, organizing, and coding large datasets; qualitative interviewing and coding; ArcGIS mapping and spatial analysis; literature reviews; and synthesizing findings for academic and community audiences. She has presented CSCR research at campus, statewide, regional, and national conferences and is contributing to a manuscript based on the 2-1-1 research. As a Lead Research Assistant, Therese also helps coordinate project work and support collaborative research within the lab. Beyond the CSCR, Therese is an intern with the Community Foundation of the New River Valley and a Peer Instructor for the Highlander Research Rookies Program. She anticipates graduating in Spring 2028.

Meet the Staff: Gabby Ancrum

Gabby is a senior Political Science major with a Criminal Justice minor, interning with the CSCR for Fall 2026. Since CSCR isn't in my major, this is my first time working in the lab, and I’m excited to bring a fresh perspective alongside my background in research methods, stats, qualitative coding, and bioethics. My ultimate goal is to go to graduate school for my Master's in Public Administration (MPA), and I’m looking forward to using what I learn here to support real-world public policy and community work.

What the CSCR means to me: To me, the CSCR is an awesome space to bridge political science and criminal justice theory with actual, hands-on research. Coming from a different major, I see the lab as a welcoming, collaborative community where I can build up my research skills while bringing my own background to the team. Gaining this experience is a huge stepping stone toward my future in public administration, giving me the practical tools I need to address complex social issues and make a real impact.

Meet the Staff: Faith Assalefew

Faith (she/her) is a Sociology major with minors in Health Administration and Ethics. In her sophomore year at Radford University, Faith is currently working on transcription for the National Center for Frontier Communities and will soon join our Virginia 211 project to pick up some data management experience. Faith will take the methods series next year and gain the opportunity to expand her methodological toolkit. 

What CSCR means to me: So far, being involved in research and analytics has been one of the most enriching aspects of my college experience. Being involved in CSCR has become one of the most meaningful parts of my college experience. I love getting hands-on experience with data, learning how to interpret it, and seeing how it connects to real-world social issues.

Meet the Staff: Tonya Cardwell

Tonya (they/them) is a Sociology major with minors in Environmental Studies, Wicked Problems, and Social Justice. This is their first time in research, and they will be working on the Virginia 211 Project under Paige Dickerhoof and Dr. Morgan Montañez.

About the CSCR: The opportunity to understand the practical workings of sociological research, with the additional guidance of experienced peers, was too perfect to pass by. My academic plans include an advanced degree in Environmental Sociology, likely a PhD, and an overall career goal to institute environmental stewardship positions as widely as VDOT crews. I am of the opinion that Together is humanity's greatest advantage, and am looking forward to the perspectives of the CSCR team.

Meet the Staff: Alana Kronenburg

Alana is a senior at Radford University majoring in Sociology and minoring in Legal Studies and International Studies. This is her first year working in the Center for Social and Cultural Research, where she is excited to acquire hands-on experience conducting sociological research and furthering her research skills. Her academic interest in Sociology, Legal Studies, and International Studies have sparked from her interest in understanding social issues from different perspectives, and she looks forward to applying what she is learning in the classroom to real-world research.

Meet the Staff: Adriana Patrick

Adriana Patrick is a freshman transfer student from Roanoke. She is currently studying Sociology at Radford in hopes of gaining more knowledge of cultural research and trying her best to truly understand how the world works and how she can change it. She will be working with Dr. Melinda Wagner (Professor Emeritus) with the Old Church Gallery on a number of projects over the next year in addition to providing occasional support for transcription on qualitative projects that come through the lab. 

What the CSCR means to me: After taking African American Studies and Social Inequality, I have learned so much about myself and what I want to do after I graduate in December 2028! I have learned that I want to be the change I want to see in the world. This is my first time working with the CSCR Lab, and I am excited to see what is ahead. I hope to learn more about the culture of the surrounding areas as well as get to know my peers and professors. I also hope to learn more about research and data analysis, so I am more equipped for the future!

Meet the Staff: Michael Rabideau

Michael (he/him) is a transfer senior currently working on his Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Public Health and Sociology. He earned his associate’s degree in social science at Tidewater Community College. Originating from Oak Harbor, Wash., Michael lived in Jacksonville, Fla. and Virginia Beach before arriving in Radford. Being a military child with a father in the Navy has given him experience with different cultures and the chance to meet people from various backgrounds. He is planning on graduating in Spring 2027. Michale started working with the CSCR in Spring 2026 as a research assistant, working on the Virginia 211 Project coding for utilities. In Fall 2026 he continues work on the Virginia 211 Project and now also is helping to categorize aid involving mental health and cleaning data and analyzing code.  

What the CSCR means to me: As a new student along with being a transfer to CSCR, I’m excited to increase my knowledge by doing research along with preparing me for the careers that deal with research.

Meet the Staff: Leona Ramona

Leona Ramona is a junior majoring in Psychology with a minor in African American Studies and Spanish. Her research interests focus on cultural neurology, social theory, and the relationship between cultural identity and mental health. She is interested in creating research initiatives to help support the Black undergraduate experience at Radford. After graduation, Leona hopes to pursue graduate school in Psychology or Sociology on her way to becoming a university professor. Outside of academics, she enjoys photography and DJing. 

What the CSCR means to me: After conducting numerous research initiatives, I have realized the importance and necessity of undergraduate research opportunities and how they help you prepare for graduate programs. I hope to develop a comprehensive view of what social research is and get familiarized with numerous methodologies of social science. As a future social psychology professor, I strive to develop a teaching style to influence critical thinking among future college student and thus, society as a whole.

Meet the Staff: Kristina Wagner

Kristina (she/they) is a senior Sociology major, double minoring in Math and Education. They have worked on the Virginia 211 project from Spring 2025 to Spring 2026. Working on 211, Kristina has cleaned and coded quantitative data, analyzed it, and produced statistics based on needs-based call data. This group-effort project has been presented at Southwest Social Science Association and Rural Sociological Society conferences, as well as at Wicked, WinterCARD, and the Student Engagement Forum at Radford University! This year, she is working on the Radford City/Pulaski County project, a qualitative interview project about cost of living and access to aid. Kristina is the secretary and co-founder of Nourish at Radford, a student food bank that distributes in Radford biweekly. After graduation, they hope to attend a funded graduate program, and further their academic career! 

What the CSCR means to me: Since joining the Center for Social and Cultural Research, I have been blown away by the amount of support for my academics by my fellow peers and the director, Dr. Morgan Montañez. I love how here, I can have real practice conducting and analyzing research and gaining experience that I will use for my entire academic and professional career. I aim to learn more about the professional world and build meaningful relationships with my peers!

Meet the Staff: Kiersten Williams

Kiersten Williams is a senior at Radford University double majoring in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations and Sociology. She is involved across campus through several leadership roles, including Student Government Association, Highlander Guides, Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honor Society, and Delta Zeta. Her experiences in communication, leadership, and advocacy have strengthened her interest in understanding social issues and the ways research can be used to create meaningful change. Through her work with the Center for Social and Cultural Research, Kiersten hopes to gain hands-on experience with sociological research, strengthen her research and analytical skills, and learn more about how research can be communicated to broader audiences. She looks forward to applying her background in both Sociology and Communication to the CSCR’s work and gaining experience that will support her future career.

Incoming Staff:

Azlynn Coates (incoming freshman)
Isabella Deel (incoming freshman and Research Rookie Mentee)
Louis Juidici (incoming junior)
Ariana Holmes (incoming senior)

Former CSCR Staff:

• Jodi Allen, 2026 (highly talented in higher education undergraduate success and retention, on the market)
• Amelia Binns, 2026 (current Social Work student; one of the founders of Nourish Food Pantry at Radford Univ.)
• Rebecca Ford, 2026 (preparing to apply to graduate progams in Psychology)
• Samantha Nowels, 2026 (West Virginia Univ., MA Clinical Psychology, Class of 2029, two years fully funded)
• Beatrice Souza, 2026 (Radford Univ., MA Strategic Communications, Class of 2029, fully funded)
• Alivia Turner, 2026 (Radford Univ., MSW Social Work, Class of 2029, funded)
• Julius Bradley, 2025 (preparing to apply to law school)
• Aidan Bridge, 2025 (Univ. of Oregon, PhD Sociology, Class of 2031, five years fully funded)
• Olivia Houck, 2025 (George Mason Univ., MA Sociology and Women andn Gender Studies, Class of 2031, tuition covered via full-time employment)
• Hannah Lucas, 2025 (Univ. of Michigan, MS Human-Centered Engineering Design, Class of 2029, fully funded)
• Haley Whorley, 2025 (School Counselor in Pulaski County)
• Shay Turner, 2024 (practicing Social Worker)