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Graduate School
The University of Mississippi

The 2022 Graduate Student Council Research and Creative Achievement Symposium

By: Margaret Savoie

 

This year the Graduate Student Council (GSC) changed the name of its annual Research Symposium to “Research and Creative Achievement Symposium” to welcome more graduate students to participate and present their work.

“What we absorbed from the past data is that because of its name as a research symposium, students from liberal arts, business, or law school, they do not even try to present their work and we wanted to give this opportunity for all the graduate school disciplines,” said Kritika Gupta, Director of Academic and Professional Development for GSC.

2022, the 12th year for the symposium, was the first year in which there was representation from the School of Business and School of Law. In total, 82 students signed up to present their work, research, and achievements this year.

University of Mississippi alumnus Sly Spencer Lee was a featured keynote speaker

University of Mississippi alumnus Sly Spencer Lee, 2022 Symposium keynote speaker

University of Mississippi alumnus Sly Spencer Lee was a featured keynote speaker. Spencer Lee, a Forbes “30 under 30” honoree, earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy in 2010 and a master’s degree in pharmaceutical science with an emphasis in environmental toxicology in 2012. More than just being an alumnus of the university, Spencer Lee connected with the symposium as a former winner of the GSC poster contest.

“The two people who have made this whole entire thing possible are Kritika and Elizabeth Tettleton Mason – they are the two people that without this could not have been possible,” said Ethan Booker, GSC 2021-2022 President.

Kritika Gupta, Director of Academic and Professional Development for GSC.

Kritika Gupta, Director of Academic and Professional Development for GSC.

Gupta expressed gratitude for “this year’s entire executive board that poured their heart and soul into this symposium.”

A name change was not the only improvement to the symposium. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion awards were also given out in each category. This helped to recognize more students than just first, second, and third place in the categories. The GSC raised $10,000 to pay for the symposium costs, in addition to the usual amount paid for the symposium from their annual budget.

As his term is coming to an end, Booker reflected on his hope for the GSC.

“My hope is that in the years to come, the GSC will continue the work that we have started this year and keep the momentum going with all the opportunities for growth – they are endless.” Booker continued, “I also hope that the future administrations will build to continue to work on relationships with the university, strengthen those relationships with university officials and continue to be the voice of graduate students.”

This year’s winners are:

 

Podium Presentation

Group A

First: Alaa Qrareya – Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences with an Emphasis in Pharmacology

Second: Matthew Saucier – Ph.D. in Chemistry

Third: Ryo Kataoka – Ph.D. in Health and Kinesiology

DEI award: Maliah Wilkinson – M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders

 

Group B

First: Vickie Wong – Ph.D. in Health and Kinesiology

Second: Liya Abera – Ph.D. in Engineering Science with an Emphasis in Environmental Engineering

Third: Salahuddin Mohammad – Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences with an Emphasis in Pharmacology

DEI award: Alonya Castillo – M.M. in Music with an Emphasis in Musicology

 

Pitch Presentation

First: Savannah Draud – Ph.D. in Biological Science

Second: Nate Juda – M.C.J. in Criminal Justice

Third: Natasha Wood – Ph.D. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Experimental Psychology

DEI best presentation award: Odinaka Eze – M.A. in History

 

Poster Presentation

First: Amelia Craze – Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences with an Emphasis in Environmental Toxicology

Second: Samir Senapati – Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences with an Emphasis in Pharmaceutics

Third: Mohammed Ahmed – Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences with an Emphasis in Pharmacognosy

DEI award: Bethany LaValley – Ph.D. in Education with an Emphasis in Secondary Education

 

Creative Achievement Presentation

First: Noel Quiñones – M.F.A. in Creative Writing

Second: Danielle Buckingham – M.A. in Southern Studies

Third: Dayna Drake – M.A. in Journalism

DEI award: Joshua Nguyen – Ph.D. in English with an Emphasis in Creative Writing

 

Spring/Summer 2022 Articles

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