Academic Symposium

The Academic Symposium is a signature Virginia Wesleyan event that celebrates the academic achievement of students completing a variety of academic experiences, including research, internships, performance, and global engagement.

The Academic Symposium is a conference-style event held on the Virginia Wesleyan campus. Students share their work with a professional oral, poster, or panel presentation. As part of the discussions following these presentations, students are encouraged to reflect upon their experiences and offer advice to other students who are preparing to undertake their own experiences.

Student presenters should refer to The Lighthouse’s Student Resources page for deadline information, presentation suggestions, and poster design tips.

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Academic Symposium Schedule

9:00 - 10:15 a.m.	Premier Speaker Session Student Presentations of Notable Merit Location: Blocker Hall Auditorium This 4 person panel of students will present model engagement with the intellectual environment at Virginia Wesleyan University. Their presentations will address high-impact academic endeavors. These individuals were nominated by their faculty mentors and selected as “Premier Speakers” for their outstanding work. Prizes will be awarded to the Premier Speakers at the Academic Fair and Paster Session (4pm). Featured Speakers: Hannah Carmona Mentor: Dr. Kathy Merlock-Jackson Topic: “Boyhood: A Shared Fascination between Truffaut and Linklater” Alison Coutu Mentor: Prof. John Rudel Topic: “On Becoming a Studio Artist - Reflections on the Academic and Material Process” Criofan Shaw Mentor: Ms. Mandy Reinig Topic: “A Course Abroad - How Analyzing Sexuality in Media Culture Reframed the Way I Absorb Media” Abigail Peterson Mentor: Dr. Soraya Bartol Topic: “Aquatic and Aerial Hearing Capabilities of Lake Taylor Turtles”
10:30 a.m. - 11:45 p.m.	Concurrent Sessions Deliberative Dialog - (10:30am - 12:00pm) Location: Brock Commons Mentors: Dr. Craig Wansink and Kelly Jackson Sponsored by the Robert Nusbaum Center Topic: A House Divided: What Would We Have to Give Up to Get the Political System We Want? Student moderators – trained by the Robert Nusbaum Center - will engage participants in a deliberative discussion that considers what we should do to get the political system we want. Moderators will present several options for action, and facilitate discussion on how each option could help to revive Americans’ ability to work together to solve our most urgent problems. Each option offers advantages as well as trade-offs or risks. And each option reflects different ways of understanding what is at stake, forcing us to think about what matters most to us. Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to join the discussion, but space is limited and registration is requested. REGISTER Student Facilitators: Samantha Silva, Connor Merk, Brooke Morris, Abigail Peterson, Christian Palmisano, Rowan Stuart, Kainaat Trehan Study Away and Internship Spotlight Presentations Location: Greer 155 Mentors: Mandy Reinig and Alice Jones Sponsored by the Lighthouse Center for Exploration and Discovery Presenters: Melina Cabral - "Adulting Abroad" Breana Mahoney - "A Chrysler Museum Internship: Fostering Community and Connections in Support of the Arts” Andrew Glass - "Murcia: Entierro de la Sardina" Abigail Peterson - “Beyond a Semester Abroad” Senior English Presentations Location: Greer 255 Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Slivka Presenters: Ryan Abraham - "What Makes a Hero: The Use of the Uncanny in Batman: The Court of Owls Saga" Kayla Bissette - "Interpellation and Identity in Charlotte Brontë’s Villette" Robin Pearson - "Writing from the Margins: Queering Poetry in Danez Smith's Don't Call Us Dead" Mary-Catherine Rigg - "Finding Common Ground Through Trauma: Owen McCafferty's
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.	Lunch Break Applied Music Recitals Location: Hofheimer Theatre Faculty Mentors: Dr. Jason Squinobol and Dr. Bryson Mortensen Vocalists: Brooke Underwood, Robert Nolin, Daequian Everett, Jacob Underwood, Erin Andrews, Jacob M Barnett, Aidan Foley, Aviana Medina, Landon Rockwell, Taylor Jones, Charles Pellenberg, Elizabeth O'Shea, Judah King, Briyana Picart, Emily Pritchard Instrumentalists: Anna Ossi, Violin June Richarson, Violin Charlie Pellenberg, Guitar Bailey Miller, Trumpet Isaac Samual, Trumpet Mat Burnell, Tenor Sax
1:00 - 2:15 p.m.	Concurrent Sessions Communications Internship Presentations - Location: Greer 155 Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kathy Merlock-Jackson (Comm 481) Presenters: Ethan Labelle--Internship at Old Dominion University Athletic Communication Annie Phelps--Internship at Studio Center Saige Smith--Internship at Studio Center Mikayla Szudera--Internship at Meridian Group Nicholas Donahoe--Internship at Virginia Wesleyan University AthleticCommunication Innovative Solutions to Sustainable Global Development Location: Greer 155 Faculty Mentor: Dr. Travis Malone (Hon 481) Presenters: Erin Foreman Brooke Morris Celine Maharaj Abby Mahoney Devin Calpo Criofan Shaw
2:30 - 3:45 p.m.	Concurrent Sessions Theatre: Collaborative Research in Action - Hofheimer Theatre Location: Greer 155 Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sally Shedd Presenters: Tucker Barco - Directing: Collaborative Research in Action Hannah Carmona - Directing: Collaborative Research in Action Sophia Kaminaris - Directing: Collaborative Research in Action Joseph Mueller - Internship at Zeiders American Dream Theatre Communication Department Senior Seminars Location: Greer 155 Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kathy Merlock-Jackson (Comm 411) Presenters: Erness Anne Deseo - "John Hughes' Blueprint for Adolescents: The Portrayal of Youth in His Popular 1980s Teen Films" Bobbi Michael - "Jordan Peele's Use of Humor for Social Commentary" Grace Rietscha - "Monster High and the Monstrous Consequences of Negative Gossip" Houda Touchen - "The Role of Public Relations in Showing Nike's Diversity and Cross-Culturalism: 'One Day We Won't Need This' and 'You Can't Stop Us'" Brock School Presentations Location: Greer 255 Presenters: Felix Bevc - Internship Experience Devin Calpo - "A Semester Abroad: The Netherlands and the Environment" Divinity Richardson - "Estonia is Underrated" Anatomage Cadaver Table Demonstration Location: Blocker 104 Dr. Victor Townsend Jr. will host a demonstration of VWU’s new 3D anatomy and dissection table. This is a drop-in event between 2:30pm - 3:45pm.
4:00 - 5:30 p.m.	Academic Fair & Poster Session Location: C-Mac in the Jane P. Batten Student Center 45 students from various disciplines across campus present posters on research, internships, and global engagement experiences. Refreshments will be served and there will be an awards ceremony. Students Presenting Posters: Josh Heller Molly Wheeler Annie Phelps Jaron Berry Mikayla Szudera Evie Trinh Ethan Labelle Jordan White Clair Carter and Shannon Gaffney Brooke Morris William Eckard Kyle Forker Ash Dobrenen Dheeraj Koritala Braxton Downum Dorothy Yanku-Palmer Spencer Hall Grace McGhee Chris Harrell Gracie Wenzel Breana Gilson and Abby Moyers Amruta Karkare Devin Calpo Myannah Stickle Marco Malino, Gabriella Snowman, and Harrison Smith Casey Bennet and John Wampler Katie Baker and Jessica Wilson Rowan Stuart and Josiah Palma Damien Kelly Marcus Smaltz Evelyn Weaver Alecia Fischman Erin Foreman Sierra Jones Celine Maharaj Breanna Wimbush Jahnya Barner Joshua Heller

Academic Symposium 2021