Vice President of Research Victor McCrary shares his excitement for Research Week 2025, UDC’s annual celebration of the university’s growing research enterprise. Now in its fifth year, the event demonstrates the breadth of faculty and student discovery as well as UDC’s strategic vision of being a research and innovation hub addressing the District’s critical needs.
“UDC Research Week 2025 is an opportunity to celebrate our success as the research laboratory for the D.C. government,” says McCrary. “And to showcase for the broader community that research isn’t just what we do—it’s who we are.”
Showcasing UDC’s Research Excellence
In keeping with this year’s theme Delivering on the Promise of UDC Research, the week will center on the university’s expanding role as a center for both curiosity-driven and applied research. Faculty and students from each of the schools and colleges will present on a wide array of topics, offering a window into the many ways UDC research provides impactful contributions for critical challenges facing the District, the region, the country and the world.
A special kickoff event will feature UDC President Maurice D. Edington and deans from each of the colleges and schools. At events throughout the week, District and federal agencies, as well as academic and corporate partners, will attend as speakers and guests, providing a forum where policy, practice and scholarship intersect.
The Power of a Land-Grant University
As the nation’s only fully urban land-grant institution, UDC integrates practical education with research that addresses real-world needs. The land-grant model—established in 1862 to ensure higher education remains both accessible and solutions-oriented—underpins UDC’s commitment to community-centered scholarship.
“Land-grant universities were founded to tackle everyday problems through education and translational hands-on research,” McCrary explains. “At UDC, we apply that philosophy to urban farming, food insecurity, water safety, national security—you name it.”
In addition to its land-grant status, UDC’s identity also reflects its earliest roots as a school for teachers, which instilled a spirit of inquiry, mentorship and service that continues to this day. This blend of teacher-focused tradition with the land-grant mission fosters a uniquely engaged research culture—one that seeks to solve everyday problems while ensuring knowledge is shared broadly and practically.
“Guided by our heritage as both a land-grant institution and a teachers college, each of us at UDC is a teacher, a learner, a researcher and a community member,” McCrary says. “That mindset is woven into our culture, and you see it reflected in the projects our students and faculty undertake.”
UDC’s Growing Research Profile
UDC’s recent designation as a Research College or University (RCU) is a milestone in its expansion, and UDC Research Week 2025 offers an inside look at the tangible impact of that status.
“This recognition highlights our capacity for forward-thinking research,” McCrary says. “But UDC Research Week 2025 is where you’ll see the real outcomes and partnerships that bring these efforts to life.”
Ongoing work spans national security and defense initiatives, urban sustainability, workforce development and more—areas that address the pressing needs of the District and the region. UDC graduates emerge with hands-on research experience, positioning them to excel in today’s competitive job market.
“Our students graduate with more than a diploma,” McCrary emphasizes. “They graduate with skills and experiences that they need to excel in their chosen fields.”
Looking Ahead
With Research Week 2025 fast approaching, McCrary hopes it will inspire new collaborations both within the university and with external partners, and spark a deeper curiosity about the future of UDC’s research enterprise.
“We’re extending a special invitation to every D.C. high school this year,” McCrary shares. “Building on the momentum of our Saturday STEM Expo, we want students to see how our research can inform real-world solutions—to envision themselves as the next generation of innovators right here in the District of Columbia and become a student in UDC’s growing research and innovation ecosystem.”
As UDC continues to grow its research capabilities, events like UDC Research Week 2025 remain central to the university’s commitment to discovery, innovation and public service—hallmarks of its mission to educate and lift up the community it serves.