Faculty Scholarship Celebration
The Faculty Scholarship Celebration is an event that highlights faculty accomplishments as they relate to research, scholarship, and creative activity. The event hosts a Faculty 3MR Competition, celebrates the recipients of the Million Dollar Circle Award, the Hunter Scholar Award, and the Provost’s Scholarship Development Grant Awards. Faculty are invited to a catered luncheon to celebrate their scholarly accomplishments. The event is the result of a partnership between the Graduate School and Research, the Office of the Provost, Hunter Library, the Brinson Honors College.
The Dean’s Message
Read a message from Interim Dean Heidi Buchanan on this year’s Faculty Scholarship Celebration.
Faculty Scholarly Activities
Explore the contributions by college and department.
Faculty
3MR
The 3MR competition is a presentation that lasts literally 3 minutes and highlights a faculty member’s scholarly project.
Faculty Poster Presentations
A research poster is a visual representation that showcases scholarly research and/or other creative endeavors. A poster presentation allows researchers to present their work in a form that the audience can easily view and to stimulate an exchange of ideas related to the research and its findings.
Faculty Oral Presentations
An oral research presentation is a spoken explanation of a scholarly project or creative study. It allows researchers to walk an audience through their goals, methods, and key findings in a clear and engaging way.
2026 Schedule At A Glance
On Wednesday, March 25th, experience a full day of scholarly engagement, including oral and poster presentations, and fine arts exhibits. The day concludes with a keynote address and celebratory reception sponsored by the Office of the Provost.
- 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Undergraduate, Graduate, and Faculty Oral Presentations: A.K. Hinds University Center, Performances: Coulter Recital Hall
- 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Keynote Address, Ramsey Center Arena
- 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Undergraduate, Graduate, and Faculty Poster Presentations, Fine Arts Exhibits, and the Celebration Reception, Ramsey Center Concourse
On Thursday, March 26th, the annual Faculty Scholarship Celebration will highlight faculty research and scholarship accomplishments, including the Faculty 3MR Competition and recognition of major award recipients.
- 11:00 am – 1:30 pm, A.K. Hinds University Center Grand Room
- The 5th Annual Faculty 3-Minute Research (3MR) Competition
- Faculty Scholarship Celebration Luncheon (reservation-only event)
- Awards Presentation (Million Dollar Circle, Hunter Scholar, Provost’s Scholarship Development Award)
Acknowledgements
The Research and Scholarship Conference would not be possible without the leadership and support of so many from across Western’s campus. We wish to extend our gratitude to those who have made this event possible.
The 2026 Research and Scholarship Conference Leadership Team:
- Carmen Huffman, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs
- Jeff Lawson, Dean, The Graduate School and Research
- Joy Bowers-Campbell, Associate Dean, Graduate School and Research
- John Hildreth, Interim Associate Dean, Office of Research Administration, Graduate School and Research
- Kloo Hansen, Director, Office of Research Administration, Graduate School and Research
- Suzanne Melton, Research Programs Coordinator, Office of Research Administration, The Graduate School and Research
- Jill Granger, Dean, The Brinson Honors College
- Heidi Buchanan, Interim Dean, Hunter Library
The 2026 Research and Scholarship Conference Undergraduate Exposition, Graduate Symposium, and Faculty Scholarship Celebration Organizing Team & Campus Collaborators:
- Holly Vaughan, Graduate Recruiting and Communications Director, Graduate School and Research
- Kate Roche, Student Services Specialist, Graduate School and Research
- Roxane Stiles, Executive Assistant, Graduate School and Research
- Samantha Ellithorpe, Pre-Award Manager, Office of Research Administration, Graduate School and Research
- Matt Salerno, Research Services Coordinator, Office of Research Administration, Graduate School and Research
- Janice Feichter, Advancement Events Manager, Advancement
- Joy Mischley, Director of Community Engaged Learning, Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning
- Sarah Jackson, Assistant Professor, Criminology and Criminal Justice
- Joshua Everhart, Administrative Support Associate, Hunter Library
- Meagan Jones, Executive Assistant, Hunter Library
- Graduate School and Research Administration Staff
- Todd Lawing and the Ramsey Center Arena Staff
- A.K. Hinds University Center Staff
- WCU Print Shop Staff
- University Communications and Marketing Staff
- Aramark Catering Staff
- Facilities Management Staff