Dr. Nicholas Rowland, assistant professor of sociology and psychology at Penn State Altoona, has been helping students achieve their goals in the social sciences since 2007. Through the creation of the Undergraduate Social Science Research Lab in 2009, Nick has generated rare opportunities―generally reserved only for graduate students―for numerous undergraduates to work on research projects, from conducting initial research and facilitating interviews to presenting findings at national conferences.

Nick's teaching in the classroom and the research lab has influenced Penn State in many ways. Current and former students have praised Nick for finding challenging projects that blend practical skills and theory, giving them the confidence to feel fully prepared for work in their field.

Nick has devoted his life to teaching and research. He describes himself as a “teacher-scholar” and believes that when matched carefully, the components of Penn State’s mission—teaching, research, and service—are, as he puts it, “synergistic endeavors.”