Ben Leong SURF SMART
Constitutional Universities
This summer, I will be working one-on-one with my mentor, Michael Banerjee, a fourth-year graduate student here at UC Berkeley. Michael and I will spend the summer researching documents from the history of the UC system, mostly through UC Regents reports from as far back as 1868, in order to investigate and better understand the origin and power of the Constitutional University system. The goal of this research is to obtain a full understanding of this incredibly unique state-constitution based charter system that is only found in the Western United States. In doing so, I will be doing crucial research to assist Michael in writing his dissertation, but will also gain valuable experience in historical and bibliographic research. I will also have the opportunity to learn more about jurisprudence, a branch of history that I have not yet explored.
Message To Sponsor
I'd like to sincerely thank the donors of the SURF program, and of my project specifically, for giving me such an exciting and interesting opportunity for research. I have always been very interested in immersive historical research, discovering things by piecing together information from the past, but before finding this program, I was worried I would not find a place for me to explore this passion. Thanks to your generous donations, I now have the chance to pursue an academic subject that Ive been waiting to learn in. I intend to take full advantage of the position your kindness has made available to me, and will do my utmost to delve for new and enlightening knowledge through the SURF program.