Spotlight on Student Research Symposium

2026 Spotlight

Research with purpose. Share with passion. Present with pride.

Event Details:

📆 April 10

⏰ 9 AM - 5 PM

📍 The Commons (west side of campus), 2nd floor

 

Schedule

Registration opens
8:30 AM

 Time & Location  Topic    Students  Departments  Titles

 9–9:50
 Nueces A

  Language
     Adai Hayajneh  Linguistics & TESOL  Wh-the-epithet in Jordanian Arabic
     Duaa Makhoul  Linguistics & TESOL  Between Cultures, Between Words: Politeness and Request Strategies Among Heritage Speakers of Arabic in the US
     Elle Spare  Modern Languages  Translating Psychological Materials into French: Evaluating CAT Tools, AI Systems, and Human Expertise
 9–9:50
 Nueces B		  Identity
     Anagha Rao  Sociology & Anthropology  Pride and Prejudice: A Critical Case Analysis of Queer Hindu Weddings in the U.S.
     Quinn Pearson  History & Geography  “Nature’s Step-Child”: Jennie June and Pre-“Trans” Conceptions of American Gender
     Miriam Yang  Communication; Art & Art History  Scoop and Snoop : Ep. 1 Under the Mask
 10–10:50
 Nueces A		  Still Lifes
     Nitzhaguie Claudio  English  Life Preserved, Death in Bloom
     Ashleigh Scott  English  A Life in Stone
 10–10:50
 Nueces B		  History Pedagogy Roundtable
     Maximillian McClure  History & Geography  Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Action: Student-Centered Undergraduate History Survey Courses
     Noah Sutton    
     Leah Bouas    
     Ryan Nash    
 11–11:50
 Nueces A		  Belongings
     Danielle Mares  Modern Languages  Deaf Futures on Hold: Lack of College Enrollment in the Deaf Community
     Katherine Johnson  Linguistics & TESOL; Modern Languages  How Self-Perceptions Relate to Recorded Proficiency: An Action Research Project Aimed at Implementing a Supplemental Reading Program for Balinese Students
     Madeline Cabanski  English  Bread Envy
 11–11:50 
 Nueces B		  DFW Crime Roundtable
     Miguel Villasana  Criminology & Criminal Justice  A Statistical Analysis of Crime in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area
     Saidee Castillo    
     Vanessa De La Cruz    
     Milo Burgudzhiev    
     Angelo Morgan    
     Ken Dunson    
     Derek Larsen    
     Taylor Sansom    
     Leslie Orozco    
 11:50–1:30
 Nueces A/B

 Lunch

 Stories of Awe

 Poster Session

 
     Anthony Heims  Sociology & Anthropology  Obsidian Source Provenance and Understanding the Stability of Minerals in Archaeological Contexts
     Citlali Concha  Sociology & Anthropology  Risk, Friendship, and Superstitions inside a Bingo Hall
     Isabella Daniels  Linguistics & TESOL  Native-English Listener’s Perception of News Accents in Tonal Languages
     Myka Diaz   Sociology & Anthropology  Environmental Dangers: Partisan Attitudes Over Time
     Prabhashi Jayawardhana  Sociology & Anthropology  Tick Island Incised Pottery: Investigating Chronology, Function, and Cultural Innovation in Late Archaic Florida
     Sophia Herrera  Sociology & Anthropology ;Health Sciences/Nursing  The Importance of a Holistic Understanding of Care Through Nursing Anthropology
 1:30–2:20
 Nueces A		  Criminal Justice
     Majd Daoud  Criminology & Criminal Justice; Pre-Law  Exploring Texas Capital Crimes and Jury Outcomes
     Gabby Bonner  Criminology & Criminal Justice
  Adolescent Developmental Science and Reform in Juvenile Justice
 1:30–2:20
 Nueces B		  Societal Trends
     Tim Randall  Political Science  Status Anxiety and the Rise of the Contemporary Fascist Movement
     Belle Albert  Sociology & Anthropology  Performing Survival: Gendered Pathways from Adverse Childhood Experiences to Youth Homelessness
     Amar Sherma    Mapping Ideological Tensions in Composition Classrooms: Digital Rhetoric and First-Year Writing
 2:30–3:20
 Nueces A		  Environment
     Red Jones  Sociology & Anthropology  Using Instagram for Environmental Awareness: How College Clubs Promote Environmental Change
     Ayla Hutmacher  Sociology & Anthropology  Climate Change, Finding the Source: An Exploration of Environmental Attitudes and Distance to Blame
 2:30–3:20
 Nueces B		  Literature
     Olivia Mazade  English  Emotional Realism in the Female Gothic: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein as Personal Narrative
     Sairam Marupudi  English  Arthurian Literature Through the Ages | From Chronicles to Modern Magic
  

Call for Proposals

Do you have a research project, creative work, or class paper you are proud of? The Spotlight on Student Research Symposium is your chance to share it!

Guidelines Submission Form

Faculty Spotlight Liaisons

Art and Art History
 Dr. Lucy Bartholomee
 lucy.bartholomee@uta.edu
Communication Dr. Mark Tremayne tremayne@uta.edu
Criminology and Criminal Justice
 Dr. James Kelsay james.kelsay@uta.edu
English Dr. Daniel Kasper
 daniel.kasper@uta.edu
History and Geography Dr. Paul Conrad
 paul.conrad@uta.edu
Linguistics and TESOL Dr. Marie Bissell
 marie.bissell@uta.edu
Modern Languages Dr. Ignacio Ruiz-Perez iruiz@uta.edu
Music Dr. Emily Eubanks emily.eubanks@uta.edu
Philosophy and Humanities Dr. Eli Shupe eli.shupe@uta.edu
Political Science
 Dr. Kayla Canelo kayla.canelo@uta.edu
Sociology and Anthropology
 Dr. Ritu Khanduri
 khanduri@uta.edu
Theatre Arts and Dance Dr. Sebastian Trainor sebastian.trainor@uta.edu

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