By Kat Townsend

Every April, Lindenwood offers students the opportunity to present academic projects at the Student Research Conference. This week I joined a committee meeting consisting of faculty from colleges across Lindenwood University to discuss how the opportunity to participate in the conference prepares LU students for success after graduation. Students from any department at Lindenwood are able to participate through nomination by a faculty member or self-nomination, and they may introduce their topics through visual posters or 20-minute presentations. Dr. Roger Nasser is an Assistant Professor here at Lindenwood and an organizer for the conference. He believes the conference offers students a great opportunity to showcase projects they have been working on and states that the environment at the conference is “very similar to any kind of regional or national presentation…” Dr. Nasser says that students can submit their ideas for poster sessions or presentations that are then reviewed by a committee of Lindenwood faculty, giving students the chance to have their work critiqued in a way similar to larger conferences they may attend in the future. What sets Lindenwood’s conference apart from those conducted at other universities is that ours offers a panel of judges to score student performance and presentation and offer feedback. Dr. Nasser explains that, “The way it’s designed gives students a really professional experience they might encounter outside of the institution.”

Dr. Annette Najjar is a Professor of Economics at Lindenwood and committee member who participates in the feedback sessions, and she believes that offering students the prospect of participation “helps them to raise the academic level of the projects.” She states that because many students that are submitting research are often presenting an assigned class project, the knowledge that their work has been nominated helps to encourage them to “step it up a notch.”  Dr. Najjar explains that knowing that their projects are being presented to students from different departments across the university inspires them to do the best job that they can. Dr. Ana Londono pointed out that participating teaches students how to structure their projects and familiarizes them with the process of bringing their projects off the paper and into graphic formats such as PowerPoint and posters. She believes that it shows students how to translate their work into forms that others will be able to understand.

When asked how this opportunity prepares students for success, Dr.  Nancy Messina and Professor Tracy Flicek agreed that the Student Research Conference enables students to branch out and collaborate with their LU community and see work outside of their own colleges. Dr. Shenika Harris continued that all Lindenwood students will need to give presentations in their future work, and that this promotes Lindenwood’s “Real Success”. Committee members agreed with Dr. Chajuana Trawick that standing in front of the judges, their peers, and those who pass through the conference furthers students public speaking and communication-skills that are also scored by the judges. Additionally, Dr. Trawick says that students are subject to a question-and-answer panel after their presentation that teaches them to “think on their feet”.

Typically, the Student Research Conference is held in the Library and Academic Resources Center (LARC) and the work of students is showcased all day. Dr. Nasser says that one of his favorite parts is the poster sessions which are generally displayed in the LARC’s main floor and allows for interaction between presenters and other students. He wants students to know that, “You are not only showcasing your work to the people that are judging you… but also, peers and colleagues… that are interested in what you’re doing.” This year, the conference will be virtual on April 6^th and is open to all students at Lindenwood. Students of all colleges at Lindenwood are encouraged to submit applications for the opportunity to present their hard work and grow academically and professionally.