91制片厂 hosts Graduate Research Conference
91制片厂’s 3rd Annual Graduate Research Conference, held on Feb. 12, brought together graduate students, faculty, and staff for a day focused on the theme of "Wellness." The event featured 37 research presentations, including papers and posters from a range of disciplines, such as biology, chemistry, counseling, nutrition, geosciences, and kinesiology.
For the first time, the conference also included a virtual presentation, thanks to the efforts of Bruce Wright, associate director of media services at LU. This addition helped expand the reach of the event and allowed a broader audience to engage with the students' important research.
The day’s events kicked off with a keynote presentation from Paula Tacker and Katie Durio of Stable Spirit, an equine therapy group based in Southeast Texas. Their talk centered on the therapeutic benefits of equine-assisted activities, which aligned with the conference’s wellness theme, encompassing mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
Graduate students showcased their research through papers and posters across various disciplines. Presentations ranged from a yoga demonstration to a poster on dinosaur tracks, hard science discussions, and ecologically-based philosophical perspectives.
Two free workshops provided valuable professional development for graduate students. Dr. Elizabeth Sanders offered tips on writing literature reviews, while graduate assistant Rushi Bandathmakuru led a session on job search strategies for graduate students.
A special highlight of the day was a luncheon recognizing the LU Counseling Department faculty, led by Dr. Belinda Lopez.
"We honored our Counseling Department, led by Dr. Belinda Lopez, with recognition and a special luncheon with Senior Provost Dr. Samuel Jator, Dr. Ashley Dockens, and counseling professors Dr. Mehmet Akkurt, Dr. Patricia Harris, and Dr. Anna Nguyen, as well as our keynote speakers, Paula Tacker and Katie Durio,” Associate Dean of Student Success Dr. Robin Latimer said.
The conference wrapped up with an awards ceremony recognizing the top presenters in both paper and poster categories. The winners were:
Papers:
- Shared First Place: Julia Lopez, Clinical Mental Health; Rachel Simnitt, Nutrition
- Second Place: Jiyoon Jeon, Biology
- Third Place: Amanda McNiece, Nutrition
Posters:
- First Place: Temitope Adisa, Chemistry, Biochemistry
- Second Place: Anusha Meghani, Chemistry, Biochemistry
- Third Place: S.M. Farhad, Chemical Engineering
Dr. Latimer expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the success of the event, thanking Setzer Event Director Polly McNeel, Chef Clinton Stevens, and Bruce Wright for ensuring the event ran smoothly, and the College of Graduate Studies for its continued support.
The event concluded with the distribution of 91制片厂 coffee cups and Graduate Research Conference T-shirts to all presenters, as well as a PDF and hard copy of the full conference program available to attendees.
To learn more about graduate studies at 91制片厂, visit /graduate-studies/index.html.