The Department of English is excited to announce that Kelsey Stratman, PhD student in writing, rhetoric, and literacy, has been awarded a 2025-2026 Graduate Student Engaged Scholar Seed Grant to support their research project, “Investigating Health Communication in East Palestine, OH.” 

The objective of their study, as Stratman explains, “is to learn more about the ways East Palestine area residents talk about their choice to participate in health studies after the [2023] train derailment, as well as the strategies they use to find answers to health questions.” Stratman’s goal is to understand how different forms of expertise (lived experience and scientific) impact the way health information is created, interpreted, and legitimated, especially after man-made environmental disasters.

The Graduate Student Engaged Scholar Seed Grants are awarded by the Ohio State Office of Outreach and Engagement and aim to “support graduate students undertaking community-engaged research or community-engaged projects, in collaboration with a community partner, that address a specific need or problem within the community.”  Stratman is one of ten students for the upcoming 2025-2026 academic year awarded the Graduate Student Engaged Scholar Seed Grant, which works to support students across majors and disciplines throughout the university. 

Stratman was quick to apply for this grant, knowing it would give them the funding to compensate study participants for their time, as well as to visit East Palestine in order build trust within the community. “My analyses from this study will hopefully lay the groundwork for future study in East Palestine, work that is situated interdisciplinarily in rhetorical studies, environmental studies, translational science, and health communications,” explains Stratman. 

“Opportunities like this are an important part of why I chose to attend OSU,” Stratman reflects. “I am so thrilled to have my research supported institutionally, and I’m excited to get underway with my study.” 

Stratman's advisor, Professor Christa Teston, also expresses her excitement over Stratman’s grant: “I’m so thrilled to see Kelsey doing what they came here to do: Build trusting partnerships with real folks in the world as they navigate complex and uncertain futures. This is what I love about our department and our program. The opportunities for securing support for this kind of research are plentiful. Huge thanks to the Office of Outreach and Engagement for seeing promise in Kelsey's work!"

Congratulations, Kelsey: the Department of English can’t wait to see impactful work you plan to do!