Considering that West Chester University produces more teachers than any other college or university in Pennsylvania, it is not surprising to learn that its professors are engaged in cutting-edge research that focuses on enhancing the education of both school children and WCU’s own student teachers.

But from the helicopter’s historical role  in the Vietnam War to the physics involved in such soft-condensed matter as peanut butter and electrolyte issues for football players, WCU professors—with the help of their undergraduate research assistants—are also probing interesting questions that extend far beyond education.

These include projects focusing on art, anthropology, criminal justice and the training of costume designers and social workers. Getting that broader message out was the rationale for producing WCU’s 2013-14 “Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activities Annual Report”—the first such report the university has ever published. Intended audiences include the WCU community itself as well as research funders and such decision makers as state legislators.

Working with Gautam Pillay, the university’s associate vice president for research and sponsored programs, I interviewed and then wrote about the work of a dozen professors and four undergraduates to produce all but the introductory messages of the 20-page report. I was also responsible for obtaining copy approvals from all of the professors and students.

In addition, I got the assignment in the best way possible for a freelance writer—through a word-of-mouth referral from Ray Betzner, Temple University’s assistant vice president of university communications. He was familiar with a similar report I wrote several years ago on research efforts at Temple.

Click on WCU Research Annual Report to review a PDF.