ATLANTA — Mercer University’s 14th annual Atlanta and Regional Academic Centers Research Conference will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 6, 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 highlights the excellent quality and breadth of the research programs on the Atlanta campus and our Regional Academic Centers, and it demonstrates Mercer’s expanding research focus,” said Dr. Wayne Glasgow, senior vice provost for research.
The opening ceremony, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., will include the presentation of student research awards and a keynote panel discussion titled “Exploring Psychedelics: Insights from Multidisciplinary Perspectives.” The keynote panel discussion includes professionals from varied disciplines engaged in research associated with psychedelics and intends to shed light on how a relevant topic of research is viewed and studied from different perspectives.
The keynote panel discussion will be moderated by Hollis Phelps, associate professor of interdisciplinary studies, College of Professional Advancement, and the panelists are:
- Brittany Prioleau, assistant professor of counseling, College of Professional Advancement
- Clint Canal, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences, College of Pharmacy
- Peter Hendrix, professor, psychiatry and behavioral neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Gary Laderman, professor, American religious histories and cultures, Emory University
- John Tumeh, psychiatrist, Foundation Psychiatry
Following the panel discussion, there will be poster presentations and concurrent speaker sessions concluding at 3 p.m. Presenters will represent the College of Professional Advancement, College of Pharmacy, College of Health Professions, School of Medicine, Stetson-Hatcher School of Business, Georgia Baptist College of Nursing and Tift College of Education.
The Monroe F. Swilley Jr. Student Research Awards will be presented to the two students whose research submissions best incorporate the use of the University Libraries’ collections and services and demonstrate active critical thinking, with first place receiving a $300 cash prize.
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 inspiring 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.”
All events will be held in the Administration and Conference Center. The conference is free and open to all Mercer faculty, students and staff.
This year’s conference planning committee, chaired by Dr. Miller, included Erin Lepp in the College of Health Professions, Dr. Nadar Moniri in the College of Pharmacy, Dr. Robert Helfenbein in the Tift College of Education, Florence Tang with the Swilley Library, Dr. Arnab Nayak in the Stetson-Hatcher College of Business, Dr. Tessy George in the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, and Dr. Suneetha Manyam, Dr. Stephen Ruegger, Dr. Awatef Ben Ramadan, Dr. Stefanie Sevcik, and Dr. Dina Schwam in the College of Professional Advancement.
For more information, visit the Atlanta Research Conference webpage or contact Dr. Miller at miller_c@mercer.edu.
