The 2024 Research and Scholarship Conference
March 20 – 21, 2024
Featuring the 26th Annual Undergraduate Exposition, the 32nd Annual Graduate Research Symposium, and the Annual Faculty Scholarship Celebration
The 2024 Keynote Address
Conference Features
Undergraduate Research Exposition
The Undergraduate Research Exposition provides students with the opportunity to work with faculty to present their research to an engaged audience on campus. This annual expo features student poster, oral, performance, and exhibit presentations.
Graduate Research Symposium
The Graduate Research Symposium highlights graduates’ research poster presentations, oral presentations, and the 3-minute Thesis competition.
Faculty Scholarship Celebration
The Faculty Scholarship Celebration is an event that highlights faculty accomplishments as they relate to research. The event hosts a Faculty 3MR Competition and showcases faculty scholarship posters in addition to celebrating the recipients of the Million Dollar Circle Awards, the Hunter Scholar Award, and the Provost’s Scholarship Development Grant Awards.
3rd Annual Faculty 3MR
The 32nd Graduate Research Symposium presents the third annual Faculty 3-minute Research Competition.
19 Western Carolina Faculty Members will participate in the preliminary 3MR on Wednesday, March 20, 3-5pm. From there, our selected finalists will move on to compete for cash awards on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 11:00 am in the UC Grand Room.
Schedule At-A-Glance
Wednesday, March 20th
Undergraduate Expo and Graduate Research Symposium at the A.K. Hinds University Center, Coulter Recital Hall, and the Ramsey Regional Activity Center
- 9:00 am – 3:00 pm – Undergraduate and Graduate Oral and Performance Presentations in the A.K. Hinds University Center & Coulter Recital Hall
- 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Preliminary Faculty 3MR, Ramsey Center Arena
- 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm – The Research and Scholarship Conference Keynote Address, Looking Skyward into the Past: Cherokee Archaeoastronomy,
Ramsey Center Arena - 6:00 pm – 6:15 pm – Award Ceremony, Ramsey Center Arena
- 6:15 pm – 7:30 pm – The Undergraduate Exposition and Graduate Research Symposium Poster Presentations and Reception, Ramsey Center Concourse
Thursday, March 21st
The Faculty Scholarship Celebration in the A.K. Hinds University Center
- 11:00 am – 12:00 pm – The 3rd Annual Faculty 3-Minute Research Talk Competition, A.K. Hinds University Center’s Grandroom
- 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm – Faculty Scholarship Celebration Luncheon, A.K. Hinds University Center’s Grandroom (reservation only event)
- 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm – Awards and Highlights
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 2024 Research and Scholarship Conference Leadership Team:
- Carmen Huffman, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs
- Jeff Lawson, Dean, Graduate School and Research
- Joy Bowers-Campbell, Associate Dean, Graduate School and Research
- John Hildreth, 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, Graduate School and Research
- Jill Granger, Dean, Brinson Honors College
- Chuck Thomas, Dean, Hunter Library
The 2024 Research and Scholarship Conference Undergraduate Exposition, Graduate Symposium, and Faculty Scholarship Celebration Organizing Team:
- Dana Boyer, Business Officer, Hunter Library
- Heidi Buchanan, Associate Dean, Hunter Library
- Holly Vaughan, Graduate Recruiting and Communications Director, Graduate School and Research
- Joshua Everhart, Administrative Support Associate, Hunter Library
- Kate Roche, Student Services Specialist, Graduate School and Research
- Mariah Nehus, Executive Assistant, Hunter Library
- Roxane Stiles, Executive Assistant, Graduate School and Research
- Samantha Ellithorpe, Pre-Award Manager, Office of Research Administration, Graduate School and Research
- Todd Lawing and the Ramsey Center Arena Staff
- The A.K. Hinds University Center Staff
- The WCU Print Shop
- University Marketing
- Aramark Catering
The Research & Scholarship Conference at Western Carolina University is made up of the Undergraduate Expo and the Graduate Research Symposium. This showcase academic event is hosted by The Office of the Provost, The Graduate School and Research, The Hunter Library, and the Brinson Honors College.