Graduate Students Showcase Passion and Purpose at Annual Symposium
First-year Counseling graduate student Ashley Valentino, stands with her research at the spring Graduate Research Symposium in the Campus Center Event Room on April 29. More than 130 graduate students from 10 different graduate school programs presented their research at the event.
Galloway, N.J. — A total of 139 graduate students presented 71 projects during Stockton University’s annual Graduate Research Symposium on April 25, filling the Campus Center Event Room with innovative research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and meaningful conversations.
Thirteen of the presentations were featured as part of the Master of Arts in Instructional Technology (MAIT) Capstone Expo.
The event showcased work from a range of programs — including Occupational Therapy, American Studies, and Data Science & Strategic Analytics — celebrating the academic achievements of students preparing to enter the workforce or continue in research.
“The research symposium is so important because students get to communicate and present the science, they’ve worked so hard on,” said Melissa Laurino, adjunct professor in the Data Science & Strategic Analytics program. “They’re passionate about these projects, and this is a chance to share that passion with the wider community.”
Kieshla Sanchez, a second-year Occupational Therapy student, presented on the long-term impacts of the “Get FIT” program, which supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through fitness and nutrition. Her team tracked measurable improvements in participants’ postural and trunk control.
“This kind of research helps sharpen our public speaking and communication skills,” said Sanchez, from Pennsauken. “We’ve presented at national conferences, but presenting to students and professors here pushes us to explain our work in a way everyone can understand — and that’s crucial when working with clients in the real world.”
Kieree Cunningham, a first-year graduate student in the American Studies program, focused his research on the power of traditional gospel music during the Civil Rights Movement.
“I wanted to look at music as resistance and resilience,” Cunningham said. “Songs like ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ were created in the same year as the March on Washington. That music helped people survive — it gave them hope, and that’s why this project means so much to me.”
For Cunningham, the experience of presenting was both nerve-wracking and fulfilling.
“I was nervous because I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this is what I’ve wanted to focus on since starting grad school. It’s a gift to be able to share it,” the Rochester, New York, native said.
First-year graduate student Trinity Meads conducted an independent study on the barriers Black individuals face when accessing mental health care. Her research examined personal, cultural, institutional, and community-level obstacles.
“This has been my project from start to finish, and I’ve been thrilled about it since day one,” Meads said. “Presenting it here is just exciting — not nerve-wracking. It’s something I believe in deeply.”
In the Data Science program, students explored projects ranging from machine learning models to tracking whale populations off the coast of Cape May to restaurant review analytics and tracking invasive insect species.
“We had five students present this year,” Laurino said. “They really helped each other practice and prep, and it paid off. These are real-world projects that prepare them to work in data-driven fields.”
- Story and photos by Lizzie Nealis
