Student News
Computer science student to participate in summer research at UM-Flint
April 30, 2025
Research builds foundations of understanding for many students. It is generally the first real-world experience outside of the classroom as well. Colin Nagley, a GVSU computer science student and Dr. Ali Raza's EdTech Partnership Lab manager, is set to conduct research this summer at the College of Innovation and Technology at the University of Michigan-Flint.
The program, the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates in Digital Accessibility, will bring together undergraduate students from across the country. UM-Flint says the goal is to, “... expose students without disabilities to the challenges faced by students and people with disabilities in both learning and using existing technologies,” while also giving students with disabilities the opportunity to collaborate on a project that directly affects them.
Nagley will be working alongside other students to research the topic of digital accessibility. This will be Nagley’s first time conducting research as a student, and he is excited to begin.
“It's the first experience, right? So, there's always going to be nerves to it,” Nagley said. “But I’m also just really looking forward to it because I get to work with a group of people that I've never worked with before. I get to research something that I personally am passionate about as well.”
Being able to create accessible services and products is important to Nagley. With an ever-changing digital landscape, it is important to him that the accessibility of technology changes as well.
“I think that, you know, it's one thing nowadays to be able to develop tech, but it's another thing to be able to develop tech for every single person that's out there,” said Nagley.
Nagley will be joining the program from May to August at University of Michigan-Flint.
Written by Maxwell Ritchie.