Media Contact
Noelle Toumey Reetz
Senior Manager, PR and Communications
Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development
[email protected]
ATLANTA — Graduate students from various disciplines across Georgia State recently had the opportunity to share their work at the inaugural Graduate Conference for Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity.
The event, hosted by The Graduate School at Georgia State, featured oral presentations, films, artist talks, musical performances and poster presentations from 150 graduate students. Students from 62 different degree programs participated, representing all of Georgia State’s colleges and schools that have graduate programs. Faculty researchers also participated in a plenary panel focused on "Change Through Scholarship."
Lisa Armistead, dean of The Graduate School, said the school plans to build on the success of this year’s conference and make the event an annual tradition.
“The Graduate School's inaugural event offered graduate students a variety of opportunities to showcase their scholarship,” said Armistead. “Audience members asked probing questions, providing students with the chance to communicate across disciplinary boundaries. We were thrilled with the engagement of our students, faculty and graduate staff.”
The theme of the expert panel was "Change Through Scholarship."
University President M. Brian Blake gave opening remarks for the plenary panel and emphasized the importance of research and creativity and their potential to act as vehicles to drive positive change.
The panel was hosted by Vice President for Research and Economic Development Tim Denning and Associate Dean for The Graduate School Nadine Kabengi.
“The graduate students engaged in a tantalizing panel discussion with several esteemed scholars from across campus. They were inspired by examples of how research, scholarship and creativity can have a transformative impact in our communities and beyond,” said Denning.
Faculty members from a number of fields took part in the discussion. Participants included Dashaunda Patterson, associate dean for Faculty Development and Equity with the College of Education & Human Development, Jean-Paul Addie, associate professor of Urban Studies in the Urban Studies Institute, Jonathan Gayles, professor and chair of the Department of Africana Studies, and Misty Bentz, professor of Physics and Astronomy.
A handful of graduate students at the event received awards for their presentations and posters that they can use for professional development.
Anthony Boxleiter, a doctoral student in chemistry and geosciences, won first place and a $500 award for his presentation "Georgia Kaolin Clay: Rare-Earth Elements and Sustainable Mineral Resources."
Santana Nash, a master’s student in the Welch School of Art & Design, won second place and $350 for her presentation "African Comics in the Presence of Black Spirituality."
Two students tied for third place and a $250 award. Sarah King, a doctoral student in economics, won for her presentation "Does Summer School Work? Evidence from a 2021 Summer Program." Mia Milne, a doctoral student in sociology, also won for her presentation "A County-Level Analysis of Alabama’s Chemical Endangerment Law on Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes."
Ezgi Sen, a master’s student in biology, won first place and $500 for her poster presentation "Increase in Dopamine Levels Lead to Monogamy."
The Graduate School was established in 2019 as part of the university's strategic efforts to strengthen and expand graduate and professional education at Georgia State. To learn more, visit https://graduate.gsu.edu/.
