Creative Inquiry program recognizes faculty, graduate student mentors

Brooke Bennett, assistant professor of psychology and director of the BEAM (Body Image, Eating, Access and Media) Lab at Clemson University, has been recognized for her work mentoring undergraduate researchers with the Phil and Mary Bradley Faculty Award for Mentoring in Creative Inquiry. 

Bennett mentors students in the Body Image and Technology Creative Inquiry project. Her students learn about the theoretical underpinnings of body image and what the current research says about the influence of technology on worsening and improving body image and eating disorders. Students participate in studies that include the impacts of TikTok on body image and disordered eating among emerging adults, as well as an experimental assessment of the effects of viewing Instagram content generated by artificial intelligence on body image and trust in technology. 

“Research is something I was always scared to get involved with, but she encouraged me to give it a try,” wrote one nominator. “She cultivated a fun environment and helped me and my peers identify our strengths and continue to build on them. She has challenged me to think outside the box, take on tasks I never thought I could do, and grow as a leader, student, and human.”

Bennett earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a dual specialty in health psychology from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. She earned her master’s in clinical psychology from Missouri State University and a bachelor’s in psychology from Kent State University. She has published more than 30 peer-reviewed manuscripts and chapters and has had her work featured in national and international media including BBC News, ABC News and the Associated Press. 

This award is made possible by a donation from Phil and Mary Bradley, who helped launch the CI program in 2005 with a gift of $100,000. Since that time, they have continued to support CI by endowing the faculty award since 2006. The Bradleys’ generous gift allows each recipient to receive a plaque and salary supplement. Phil graduated from Clemson in 1965, and Mary was named an Honorary Alumna in 2015.

Noah Arnold, a doctoral student in chemical and biomolecular engineering, received the Graduate Student Award for Mentoring in Creative Inquiry. Arnold’s research focuses on drug delivery through the blood-brain barrier using polymeric nanoparticle systems. He mentors Creative Inquiry students in the Larsen Lab and enjoys working with aspiring scientists. He earned his bachelor’s in bioengineering from Clemson in 2023. 

“His patience and encouragement have made me a better researcher,” wrote one student nominator. “His energy and excitement in the lab are contagious, making me feel comfortable and secure in my abilities.”

About Creative Inquiry + Undergraduate Research

Creative Inquiry + Undergraduate Research combines experiential learning, multi-disciplinary interactions and team-based research. Since it began in 2005, more than 72,000 students from every major have participated in Creative Inquiry projects.

Today, approximately 4,300 students participate in Creative Inquiry each year, exploring a wide range of topics. Projects typically last for multiple semesters, allowing students and faculty to dive deeper as they tackle tough questions and search for solutions to life’s challenges.