ATLANTA — Mercer University’s 16th annual Atlanta Research Conference will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, April 11, in the Administration and Conference Center building on Mercer’s Atlanta campus. The conference will showcase work by students and faculty representing all colleges across Mercer’s Atlanta, Macon, Douglas County and Henry County locations.
The Conference began in 2011 as a desire to encourage and inspire students and faculty to become more involved in research activities as well as provide a venue where they can share their findings.
“The Conference showcases outstanding student and faculty research projects,” said Dr. Wayne Glasgow, senior vice provost for research. “The event highlights the excellent quality and breadth of the research programs on the Atlanta campus and our Regional Academic Centers and demonstrates Mercer’s expanding research focus.”
The opening ceremony will include the presentation of the Monroe F. Swilley Jr. Student Research Awards and an opening keynote panel, followed by poster presentations and concurrent speaker sessions throughout the rest of the conference.
Titled “Community-Based Research in Action: Perspectives From Across the Disciplines,” the keynote panel discussion includes five professionals from varied disciplines involved in community-based research and intends to provide insight on how this research is viewed and studied from different perspectives.
The panel includes Mercer University’s Dr. Cristian Padilla Romero, assistant professor of Atlantic world history in the College of Professional Advancement; Dr. Briana Stenard, associate professor of management and entrepreneurship in the Stetson-Hatcher School of Business; and Dr. Robert Helfenbein, professor of curriculum studies in the Tift College of Education. Additional panelists include Jackson Lilly from the Technical College System of Georgia and Katie O’Connor with the Partnership for Innovation at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Dr. Cameron Miller, associate professor of psychology and chair of the Department of Human Services and Psychology in the College of Professional Advancement, has coordinated the conference since 2016.
“It’s exciting to see the wide array of research and scholarship happening across disciplines at the Regional Academic Centers and Atlanta campus,” Dr. Miller said. “This year, we’re excited to have our largest number of poster and talk presentations, as this conference serves as a great platform to bring together faculty and students alike to share their research activities.”
The conference is free and open to all Mercer faculty, students and staff. For more information, visit the Atlanta Research Conference webpage or contact Dr. Miller at miller_c@mercer.edu.
