UHV students explore museum impact through research project
Alyssa Carter is no stranger to community engagement. She was part of a group of students who spent this past spring semester bridging academic research with community engagement through a project with the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Golden Crescent.
“I talked with a member of the museum and discussed how they were able to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, and they told me how the community supported the museum,” Carter said. “I found that very endearing because they were providing for the community, for the children of the community and it was nice to hear the community had their back as well.”
Entering this fall semester as a junior, Carter is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in marketing at the University of Houston-Victoria. As part of her marketing research course through the UHV College of Business, her class conducted in-depth interviews with members of the museum, focusing on understanding the organization’s community outreach and looking into potential growth strategies.
The project, which spanned two weeks in April and May, involved both qualitative and quantitative data analysis. For the first portion of the project, which was the qualitative study, students were tasked with interviewing patrons and board members of the museum to understand their preferences. For the second portion, the quantitative study, the students collected nearly 200 online survey responses and conducted statistical analysis based on the survey data.
“I was nervous at first,” Carter said. “But I realized I could guide the interviews and ask questions I was genuinely curious about.”
The Children’s Discovery Museum of the Golden Crescent was established in 2002 and is dedicated to creating a dynamic learning environment where children can explore, imagine and learn through hands-on play, said Stacy Simnacher, the museum’s executive director and a UHV alumna. Located at 1205 Sam Houston Drive, the museum’s mission is to foster lifelong learning for children and families through engaging educational experiences, she said.
“UHV has been an incredible partner, especially during the spring 2025 semester,” Simnacher said. “The collaboration has truly been beneficial – they’ve helped enhance our social media presence, developed strong marketing materials and improved our communication with families.”
The museum has had a long-standing history and relationship with UHV, Simnacher said. Over the years, the museum has seen students volunteering at its events and programs. Faculty members have partnered on educational initiatives, and university leadership has supported the museum’s mission through board service and community advocacy, she said.
“I just want to express my gratitude to UHV for its continued support and commitment to education,” Simnacher said. “UHV has done such wonderful work for the community, and I’m grateful we can partner to amplify that impact and strengthen community engagement.”
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.