Thinking About SIS Honors? An Alum on What to Expect

For Elizabeth Sherwin, SIS/BA ‘26, SPA/MPA ‘27, the SIS Honors Program offered an opportunity to turn her interest in research into a year-long project exploring maternal health in post-communist Europe. Her research compared maternal health care systems in Estonia and Hungary as the two countries transitioned from communism to European Union membership. Although her project evolved significantly throughout the year, Sherwin embraced the process. Here, she reflects on independent research, faculty mentorship, and the connections she made with fellow Honors students.

Applications for the SIS Honors Program close Monday, October 19.

What drew you to the SIS Honors Program?

I was drawn to SIS Honors because I loved my sophomore-year research courses, and I am particularly interested in research. My 206 (Introduction to Research) class was taught by Dr. Robert Adcock, who was absolutely amazing. Having grown up seeing my mom conducting research for her job, it was fascinating to learn the particularities of research design. After SISU-206, I knew I wanted to take every opportunity to conduct research. SIS Honors was the perfect opportunity.

What was the most impactful part of the program for you?

The most impactful part of the program was the friends I found within my cohort. Over the course of the three semesters, I took Honors courses (colloquia and the project) with the same people, getting to know them, their interests, and their expertise well. It felt like both friendship and a professional network.

Honors students complete a year-long research project on a topic of their choice. Can you tell us about your research topic and share the experience of completing your project?

My project was entitled, “European Funding, Community Systems: How Transitions from Communism to the European Union Impacted Maternal Healthcare in Estonia and Hungary.” It was a comparative case study about the maternal health systems in post-communist countries, particularly between formally Soviet and other communist systems, as they moved into the European Union. Over the course of the year, my project changed drastically. I originally wanted to include more case studies, but language barriers made it difficult. Early in my project, I also wanted to do archival research or interviews, never considering quantitative research. I eventually ended up using time-series data for a significant amount of my case studies. My research experience was defined by change, with my final project being completely different from what I imagined on the first day of senior year, but worth every bit of work.

What was your experience like working with SIS faculty on your research project?

I worked with Dr. Michelle Egan, an expert on the European Union, and thoroughly enjoyed our monthly conversations in her office. She frequently provided insight on whatever part of my project was giving me trouble at the time. Working with Dr. Adcock was also wonderful. He has a keen eye for detail and always encouraged me to do my best, especially when it was challenging. Thank you, Drs. Adcock and Egan!

What were some lessons you took from the Honors program that apply to your work today?

I learned a lot about flexibility and working through discomfort and uncertainty through SIS Honors. These are important skills for any postgraduate work. Throughout my academic career, I was used to having a specific prompt and a clear vision for a short-term project. SIS Honors challenged me to create my own long-term project through the capstone classes and to step out of my comfort zones for the topics of my colloquia.