Students frequently collaborate with faculty in unique ways, and teamwork on a project can yield real-world success with far-reaching impact beyond the Hill. While taking Topics in Rhetorical Traditions (RHET 360) last fall, Nicholas Neighbors ’25, Sam Detrick ’25, and Stuart Kyle ’25 contributed to a web application and data dashboard project, gaining exposure to a diverse range of new skills and experiences. The course was led by Elliott Associate Professor of Rhetoric Sean Gleason, who highlighted their efforts and later presented on the use of unpiloted aerial vehicles for salmon stock assessment along Yup’ik river systems at the 2025 Alaska Marine Science Symposium in Anchorage, Alaska, in late January.
Gleason’s collaboration with the Yup’ik community and their tech startup, Nalaquq, is a prime example of how faculty extend their work beyond campus to make a real-world impact. He has spent considerable time in and near Quinhagak, Alaska, focusing on conducting fish counts using drone technology and training local communities on using drones for emergency response and community-based mapping. In addition to his work on the ground in Alaska, Gleason has brought this expertise to Hampden-Sydney, where he collaborates with students, like Nicholas, Sam, and Stuart, to support communities thousands of miles away and advance initiatives that have a broader impact.
This collaboration is further enriched in the classroom, where Gleason’s rhetoric course—focused on deep mapping and geospatial communication—provides the ideal foundation for involving students in this work. Under his guidance, Nicholas, Sam, and Stuart each contributed to the project in unique ways, specifically evaluating the feasibility of using drones to improve fish count accuracy in smaller river systems across Alaska.
“I always try to provide opportunities for my students to participate in my research,” Gleason says. “My research informs my teaching, and although they joined this project fairly late, they contributed to the dashboard and website component. If possible, I’d love to have them join me in Quinhagak for the second stage of the grant.”
Each student played a key role in the project. Nicholas managed scheduling and interviews, developed the 2024 Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) Fish Count Survey, assisted with data input, and edited an interview highlighting the project’s benefits for the Yup’ik people. Sam contributed to the dashboard, applying his environmental conservation knowledge and helping design the webpage to clearly present the research and future goals for salmon protection. Meanwhile, Stuart focused on developing the ArcGIS dashboard, refining his technical skills to effectively visualize Alaska’s salmon count data.
“From the beginning of the course, I appreciated Dr. Gleason's approach to teaching,” Sam says. “Rather than focusing on a grade or final exam, Dr. Gleason designed the class to help us develop professional work that could be added to our resumes, ensuring the course had an impact beyond the classroom in our respective fields of interest. This is the best teaching philosophy I have encountered at the College. By the end, I was able to add my role as a research assistant for Dr. Gleason and Nalaquq to my resume, which is certainly unique.”