Expanding Research at PSFA
As the college’s new RSCA lead, Rachael Record is working to increase funding, elevate research and create more opportunities for faculty and students.
Updated Oct. 1, 2026
Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół» School of Communication professor Rachael Record is the new lead of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity (RSCA) for the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts (PSFA), with the goal of securing increased funding and engagement for research driven endeavors for faculty and students.
Since Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół» achieved R1 status in February 2025, the university’s commitment to research and innovation carries greater significance and opportunities for grants and funding. Being designated an R1 institution signifies that Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół» has achieved the highest level of research activity according to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. As PSFA’s RSCA lead, Record aims to make the support and resources needed to pursue R1-level research accessible to everyone across the college.
The states PSFA has received $6.72 million in active external research funding, with 35 externally funded research projects from 14 principal investigators. Record aims to increase these numbers.
“PSFA faculty engage in some of the most diverse RSCA projects across campus.
These are timely, impactful, and creative R1 activities that contribute to the public good,” said Record.
Record has collaborated with Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół» web developer Jay Hunter to publish PSFA’s first Research and Innovation webpage. Encouragement and engagement are central to Record’s efforts to expand participation in RSCA across PSFA. She invites faculty to participate in spaces that foster creative and innovative conversations surrounding research, such as at the Department of Research and Innovation’s (DRI) Discoveries and Dialogues monthly colloquium, where faculty can share their latest projects and meet other researchers.
Additionally, Record will partner with the Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół» Division of Research Innovation to host a workshop exclusively on funding for the arts to assist faculty seeking funding to understand the foundation process.
She also works with recently hired faculty to explore external funding for research, and guide them through the application process to help elevate their work on a university-wide level.
Record explained that traditionally, much of PSFA’s RSCA activity is not identified and tracked in traditional ways, which creates unique roadblocks for the funding and recognition of research.
“My priority right now is building systems that better promote the diverse work being done by PSFA faculty. This includes disseminating information about ongoing projects both across the college and across campus,” said Record.
With higher levels of funding for faculty RSCA, Record also seeks to pave the way to greater access for student involvement.
“Research is a translatable skill across many career paths, and any opportunity to engage in the research process is marketable post-graduation. The more research and creative activities happening in PSFA, the more opportunities there are for students to build those essential workforce skills,” Record said.
As a professor of advanced research training and research method courses, Record believes her work with students has helped her pinpoint new areas for involvement for both faculty and students.
“When opportunities for research involvement are provided to students they not only better understand the application of what they’re learning, but their interest in the subject matter also grows,” explained Record.
A principal investigator herself, Record hopes that as she adapts to the role, faculty and researchers will know to come to her and share their work so she can help track and promote it.
“I’m really enjoying meeting with faculty one-on-one to hear about their RSCA-related projects. These conversations have been essential for me in understanding what support faculty need and how to best assist them with achieving their goals,” Record said.
One day at a time, Record hopes to make RSCA more equitable, accessible, and celebrated not only by the PSFA community, but within Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół» and the entire California State University system.
Update: Interview remarks edited at the subject's request for additional clarity and context. Date of Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»'s R1 status corrected.
