Over 100 faculty, staff, students, and guests gathered in Dewberry Hall on Wednesday, April 22 for the 2026 College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) Student Research Symposium. The symposium began with a warm welcome from CEHD Dean Ingrid Guerra-López. Student research presentations followed for the remainder of the evening.
This year, three students were selected to give oral presentations. Thomas (TJ) Singer, a graduate student in the Sport and Recreation Studies Program, presented research entitled The Psychology of Dancers: A Look at External Influences on Mental Health. Havahn Williams-Rollins, a graduate student in the Secondary Education Program, presented research entitled From Policy to Practice: AI Implementation and Disciplinary Literacy in Secondary Classrooms. Jada Crocker, a doctoral student in the PhD in Education Program with a specialization in higher education, presented research entitled On the Sidelines of Success: Academic Advising Experiences of Division I Black/African American Student-Athletes at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).
The symposium also included 36 poster presentations reflecting scholarship at all levels, from undergraduate through doctoral study, and disciplines across programs within our college.
As guests browsed poster presentations and engaged in research conversations, they were invited to submit feedback to poster presenters. This feedback was collected anonymously and sent directly to presenters to reflect on for further growth and refinement.
Congratulations to Esther Shin, the winner of the ‘People’s Choice Award’ based on guest feedback! Esther’s poster, entitled A Pilot Study: Intersection of Ethnicity, Disability, and Help Seeking Behaviors Among Asian American Students with Disabilities, was based on research supported by Joy Banks.
Faculty in our college played a pivotal role in the success of this event. By mentoring students through the research process and integrating the symposium into their courses, faculty leveraged their experience as research professionals to enrich the CEHD student experience. Select faculty also volunteered to serve as judges to aid in the professional development of our poster presenters and to select award winners across each level of study.
Congratulations to our Outstanding Poster Presentation award winners!
Noelle Saine
PhD in Education Program with a specialization in Interdisciplinary Studies
Judges selected Noelle Saine as one of two recipients of the ‘Outstanding Doctoral Poster Presentation.’ Noelle’s presentation, Classification Analysis to Determine Sport Designation Using Countermovement Jump Performance Metrics, was based on research supported by Margaret Jones.
Keith Sanfacon
PhD in Education Program with a concentration in Kinesiology
Judges selected Keith Sanfacon as one of two recipients of the ‘Outstanding Doctoral Poster Presentation.’ Keith’s presentation, Vestibular Effects on Somatosensory Reweighting in Congenitally Deaf Older Adults and Hearing Older Adults, was based on research supported by Amanda Caswell and Tiphanie Raffegeau.
Lila Abu-Saleh
Judges selected Lila Abu-Saleh as the recipient of the ‘Outstanding Master’s Poster Presentation.’ Lila’s presentation, Recurrent ACL Tear Following Achilles Tendon Allograft Reconstruction in a Collegiate Volleyball Athlete: A Level 4 Clinical Case Study, was based on research supported by Amanda Caswell, Marcie Fyock, Candace Lacayo, Shane Caswell, Jatin Ambegaonkar, and Kyle St. Peter.
Gabriel Fulton
Judges selected Gabriel Fulton as the recipient of the ‘Outstanding Bachelor’s Poster Presentation.’ Gabriel’s presentation, George Mason Student Involvement: Pre- and Post-Pandemic Trends in Undergraduate Engagement, Communication Preferences, Participation Barriers, and Sense of Belonging, was based on research supported by Margaret Daniels.
Learn more about the CEHD Student Research Symposium judging and award criteria.
Thank you
Thank you to the following faculty who volunteered their time and expertise to serve as our 2026 CEHD Student Research Symposium Judges:
Event extras
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Looking ahead
Interested in presenting at next year’s CEHD Student Research Symposium? Stay tuned for a call for submissions from the CEHD Office of Student and Academic Affairs in early spring. We look forward to seeing you in 2027!