{"id":2,"date":"2023-10-09T18:15:29","date_gmt":"2023-10-09T18:15:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/hispanic-emerging-communities-faculty-fellowship\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2026-09-06T14:09:48","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T14:09:48","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/richard-d-young-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"The RDY Lab"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Richard &amp; Harriet Young Research Lab is dedicated to producing future leaders by training civic-minded students through public engagement and hands-on research. We equip motivated students with the skills and experience to make a\u00a0 positive contribution to our State.<\/p>\n<p>Inspired by the legacy of Dr. Harriet Young&#8217;s late husband,\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/richard-d-young-lab\/rdy_bio\/\">Dr. Richard D. Young<\/a>, the lab is committed to embedding in our students&#8217; the spirit of public service and passionate inquiry, while encouraging them to be active contributors to the production and dissemination of knowledge. Through partnerships with scholars, advocates, and civic organizations, we strive to advance a deeper understanding of Arizona\u2019s emerging communities.<\/p>\n<h2>Our Mission and Goals<\/h2>\n<p>We respond to two growing challenges in academia, a growing emphasis on the scholar&#8211;teacher model of education, and the growing financial pressures students face to assess the value of their education as a return on investment (ROI). Our lab is inspired by the University&#8217;s commitment to providing students with transformational experiences while giving them opportunities to be 100% career-ready when they graduate.\u00a0 We aim to meet the challenges of today\u2019s realities without losing sight of the traditional purpose of public education in the United States: fostering in our students the values of civic responsibility, intellectual growth, and the democratization of leadership.<\/p>\n<h2>Preparing Students for the Future<\/h2>\n<p>We seek <a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/richard-d-young-lab\/partner\/\">community partners<\/a> who contribute to research that serves the public good and helps shape future leaders of Arizona. As an engine of opportunity, vehicle of economic mobility, and driver of public impact, Northern Arizona University strives to transform Arizona\u2019s economic, social, and political landscape through skill development, career preparation, and community building.<\/p>\n<!-- shortcode-accordion -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-accordion shortcode-accordion--closed\" style=\"position: relative;\" >\n        <h4 class=\"shortcode-accordion__header\">\n        <button type=\"button\" class=\"shortcode-accordion__trigger\" data-header=\"Skills development_0\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-1-trigger\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"shortcode-accordion-1-panel\">\n            Skills development\n            <span class=\"shortcode-accordion__header__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/h4>\n    <div class=\"shortcode-accordion__body\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-1-panel\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"shortcode-accordion-1-trigger\" inert>\n        <html><body>\n<p>The Lab equips students with opportunities to <a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/258\/2024\/10\/Career-Development.png\">develop skills<\/a> to keep them competitive in today\u2019s marketplace, including critical thinking, data analysis, project management, research design, and more.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode-column-container\"><!-- shortcode-column -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-column shortcode-column--count-2\">\n    \n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Advocacy<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Critical thinking<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Data analysis<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Project management<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Focus groups<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n<!-- shortcode-column -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-column shortcode-column--count-2\">\n    \n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Policy Analysis<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Quantitative Analysis<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Research design<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Surveys<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- shortcode-accordion -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-accordion shortcode-accordion--closed\" style=\"position: relative;\" >\n        <h4 class=\"shortcode-accordion__header\">\n        <button type=\"button\" class=\"shortcode-accordion__trigger\" data-header=\"Career preparation_0\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-2-trigger\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"shortcode-accordion-2-panel\">\n            Career preparation\n            <span class=\"shortcode-accordion__header__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/h4>\n    <div class=\"shortcode-accordion__body\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-2-panel\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"shortcode-accordion-2-trigger\" inert>\n        <html><body>\n<p>Students can build a portfolio of deliverables that demonstrate their skills to future employers and graduate programs. These skills pave the way for careers as legislative staff, policy analysts, nonprofit organizers, social advocates, survey researchers, and others.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode-column-container\"><!-- shortcode-column -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-column shortcode-column--count-2\">\n    \n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Legislative Staff<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Non-profits<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Organizer<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Political Consultant<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n<!-- shortcode-column -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-column shortcode-column--count-2\">\n    \n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Policy Analyst<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Social Advocate<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Survey Researcher<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Fundraising<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- shortcode-accordion -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-accordion shortcode-accordion--closed\" style=\"position: relative;\" >\n        <h4 class=\"shortcode-accordion__header\">\n        <button type=\"button\" class=\"shortcode-accordion__trigger\" data-header=\"Community building_0\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-3-trigger\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"shortcode-accordion-3-panel\">\n            Community building\n            <span class=\"shortcode-accordion__header__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/h4>\n    <div class=\"shortcode-accordion__body\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-3-panel\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"shortcode-accordion-3-trigger\" inert>\n        <html><body>\n<p>Our community-building and development efforts span critical domains that matter to our students and to Arizona. The lab wants to attract students who have a passion to advocate for their community with the competent and responsible use of data analysis.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode-column-container\"><!-- shortcode-column -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-column shortcode-column--count-2\">\n    \n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Environment<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Economic Opportunity<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Education<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Energy<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Health Care<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n<!-- shortcode-column -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-column shortcode-column--count-2\">\n    \n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Housing<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Immigration<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Public Safety<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Rural communities<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Transportation<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Voting<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- shortcode-right-column -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-right-column\" >\n    <div class=\"shortcode-right-column__container\">\n<h4>News<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/richard-d-young-lab\/mckenzie-fellowship-for-democracy-speaker\/\"><div class=\"eplus-bg-color-row bg-color-dark-blue\"><div class=\"eplus-bg-color-row-content\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/richard-d-young-lab\/mckenzie-fellowship-for-democracy-speaker\/\">The Lab sponsors Democracy Speaker<\/a><\/p>\n<hr role=\"separator\" class=\"hr--transparent hr--transparent-15px not-in-view\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/richard-d-young-lab\/good-news\/\">Congrats to Tamar and Ozzi!<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/richard-d-young-lab\/mckenzie-fellowship-for-democracy-speaker\/\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/p>\n<hr role=\"separator\" class=\"hr--transparent hr--transparent-15px not-in-view\">\n<!-- shortcode-contact -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-contact\">\n    <div class=\"contact-header\">\n        <h3>Contact<\/h3>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"contact-body\">\n                <a href=\"mailto:RDY_Research@nau.edu\" aria-label=\"Contact: Email Address\" title=\"Email Address\">\n            <div class=\"contact-icon-container\">\n                <i class=\"fas fa-envelope\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <span class=\"sr-only\">Email:<\/span>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"contact-email\">RDY_Research&#8203;@nau.edu<\/div>\n        <\/a>\n                        <a href=\"tel:928-523-6374\" aria-label=\"Contact: Telephone Number\" title=\"Telephone Number\">\n            <div class=\"contact-icon-container\">\n                <i class=\"fas fa-phone\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <span class=\"sr-only\">Call:<\/span>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"contact-phone\">928-523-6374<\/div>\n        <\/a>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h4>Give<\/h4>\n<div class=\"eplus-bg-color-row bg-color-nau-yellow\"><div class=\"eplus-bg-color-row-content\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/richard-d-young-lab\/give\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-591 size-uncropped-small\" src=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/258\/2025\/04\/NAU_Foundation_ctr_282_3514-300x121.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"121\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/258\/2025\/04\/NAU_Foundation_ctr_282_3514-300x121.png 300w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/258\/2025\/04\/NAU_Foundation_ctr_282_3514-1024x413.png 1024w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/258\/2025\/04\/NAU_Foundation_ctr_282_3514-768x310.png 768w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/258\/2025\/04\/NAU_Foundation_ctr_282_3514-960x384.png 960w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/258\/2025\/04\/NAU_Foundation_ctr_282_3514-465x186.png 465w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/258\/2025\/04\/NAU_Foundation_ctr_282_3514-600x242.png 600w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/258\/2025\/04\/NAU_Foundation_ctr_282_3514.png 1201w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Richard &amp; Harriet Young Research Lab is dedicated to producing future leaders by training civic-minded students through public engagement and hands-on research. We equip motivated students with the skills and experience to make a\u00a0 positive contribution to our State. Inspired by the legacy of Dr. Harriet Young&#8217;s late husband,\u00a0 Dr. Richard D. Young, the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1978,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"my-templates\/home-page.php","meta":{"ring_central_script_selection":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/richard-d-young-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/richard-d-young-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/richard-d-young-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/richard-d-young-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/richard-d-young-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2"}],"version-history":[{"count":101,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/richard-d-young-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1984,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/richard-d-young-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions\/1984"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/richard-d-young-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1978"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/richard-d-young-lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}