COE Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium
This event showcases the innovative research conducted by our graduate students across
various fields, providing an excellent opportunity to engage with the next generation
of scholars in the College of Education.
The 2026 Graduate Student Research Symposium will take place on February 19, 2026.
Schedule of Events
8:45am Registration & Welcome
9:20am Ignite Session
10:10am Idea Incubator A, Poster Session
11:00am Ignite Session 2
11:50am Morning Session Conclusion
12:00pm Break
1:30pm Registration & Welcome
2:00pm Ignite Session 3
2:50pm Idea Incubator B
3:45pm Ignite Session 4
4:30pm Awards Presentation & Afternoon Session Conclusion
Faculty and Staff Mentors
Allison Anders, Ph.D.
Kara Brown, Ph.D.
Ryan Carlson, Ph.D.
Matt Cunningham, Ph.D.
Molly Dawes, Ph.D.
An De Mester, Ph.D.
Suzy Hardie, Ph.D.
Dean Thomas Hodges
Toby Jenkins-Henry, Ph.D.
Ashlee Lewis, Ph.D.
Dodie Limberg, Ph.D.
Julia López-Robertson, Ph.D.
Davíd Martínez, Ph.D.
Dorian McCoy, Ph.D.
Meir Muller, Ph.D.
Jonathan Ohrt, Ph.D.
Waleed Raja, Ph.D.
Nicole Silverio, Ph.D.
Angela Starrett, Ph.D.
Andrea Taliaferro, Ph.D.
Hentao Tang, Ph.D.
Chas Thompson, Ph.D.
2025 Graduate Student Participants
Ozgur Altintas*
Anthonia Awhinawhi
Jessica Barnes*
Sonya Burns*
Regin Dean
Jonathan Dillensnyder
Michael Ertel*
Shea Ferguson*
Shazia Hamid*
Brittany Holden
Katie Hopkins
Jeremy Lewis
Cheolho Lim
Emily Lohrbach*
Sylvester L. Maduna
Giovanna Morara
Alyssa Raygoza
Peter Rifenburg*
Alison Scheide
Sam Schmoker
Keah Tandon*
Cornelius U-Sayee*
Amita Verma*
Xiaobo Wei
Patricia Wilson*
*indicates student volunteer
2025 Awards
Emerging Scholar Award
This award goes to a student whose project is currently in development and showing
promise.
2025 Emerging Scholar Awardee: Alyssa Raygoza
Educational Psychology, Educational and Developmental Science
Innovative Idea Award
This award goes to a researcher who is developing an innovative research pursuit.
2025 Innovative Idea Awardee: Shazia Hamid
Program and Department: Language and Literacy, Teacher Education
Graduate Student Research Award
This award goes to a student who has demonstrated exemplary completed research project.
2025 Graduate Student Research Awardee: Shea Ferguson
Program and Department: Educational Psychology, Educational and Developmental Science
Symposium Support
Dean Thomas Hodges
Office of Research
Office of Communication
Symposium Organizers
Ali Brian, Ph.D., CAPE
Katie Cunningham, Ph.D.
Gwen Lorinovich
Media Gallery
Photos from the event.