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For the last decade, Mount Saint Mary’s community has come together every year to celebrate and display the breadth and depth of the cutting-edge research and creative work taking place across all academic programs. Each April, the Academic Symposium brings together students, faculty, staff and the greater community to engage with an interdisciplinary showcase of research and academic achievements at one of the University’s signature events.

“There is so much in our public discourse that seeks to challenge the notion that a university degree is valuable in our society today,” says Daniel Prosterman, PhD, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. “The work presented at the Academic Symposium underscores just the opposite. It is an opportunity to provide further enrichment to us all as we demonstrate the value of fostering diverse conversations that pique our interest, address solutions to societal problems and enliven learning spaces here at the Mount.”

Students from all divisions and academic programs have the opportunity to hone their skills presenting a wide range of projects spanning STEM disciplines, social sciences, and performing and visual arts. The diversity and scope of topics presented during this day-long event reflect the excellence, intellectual curiosity and rigor of the Mount community at large.

“Getting to witness the professionalism and excellence of our students and celebrate them as emerging researchers, content creators and artists is truly powerful.” — Andrée Leighton, PhD

This year over 100 students, faculty and staff presented at the Symposium, which featured 49 presentations ranging from panel discussions, individual talks and poster sessions. Research projects included topics such as “Analyzing Type II Diabetic Incidence in Hispanic Women & Alternative Treatments,” “Colorism in Cosmetics: A Case Study on a Multi- Generational Impact on Women of Color” and “Impacts of Stress on Telomere Length (TL) During Pregnancy.”

The annual event is sponsored by the Center for Academic Innovation and Creativity. Andrée Leighton, PhD, the director of CAIC and assistant professor in the history and political science department, leads the planning of this campus-wide initiative that involves months of coordination and organization with students, faculty and staff.

“The Symposium is a really unique hub to learn and grow together as a community in a transformative way as we all come together, get exposed and learn from each other,” shares Leighton.

The Symposium offers students a valuable opportunity to work side-by side with faculty and other mentors to expand their research capabilities and gain important skills that can be transferred to their future careers.

Anna Korody ’23, a music major, reflects on how participating in the Symposium inspired her to pursue a career as a professor of music history and non- Western music. Her research focused on Balinese Gamelan music pedagogy and its influence on Western music. “Being part of this experience made me very excited about what’s to come. It made me realize that I want to keep doing this type of research and giving presentations to spread the importance of music from other cultures around the world,” she explains.

Korody remembers attending the Symposium during her first year at the Mount and being impressed by the quality and depth of her peers’ work. For Graciela Escamilla ’24, a political science major, the Symposium was an opportunity to hone her presentation skills as it was her first time sharing her research with a larger and diverse audience. Escamilla conducted a quantitative analysis on the influence of gender and parenthood on gun control advocacy in the US.

“I had the opportunity to present on a topic that was probably new to a lot of people. This experience taught me that you really have to cater to your audience,” says Escamilla. As she prepares to take the LSAT and apply to law school next year, participating in the Symposium made her consider pursuing a master’s in public and international policy. “I definitely want to continue doing something involving research. I think that in order to create change in our society, the first step is acknowledging and learning about what’s going on in the world around us.”

The Symposium also offers a space for creative proposals and projects beyond academic research. For example, Lea Smith, a film and media major in the Weekend / Evening & Online College, presented a documentary proposal that she is developing: “1968: The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and Its Impact on Five Young Men.”

Smith shares that it was empowering to challenge herself to present in an academic setting. “I was able to step out of my comfort zone, and I felt a tremendous amount of encouragement and support,” she says.

As the University prepares to continue its tradition of excellence with the Academic Symposium in April 2024, planning is underway to expand the event, including increasing the number of sessions and opening participation to the larger community.