The RAD Conference is held twice each year, in May and December.
Collaborative Research
Student Scholarship, Research and Creativity
Collaborative research is widely and increasingly recognized as a high-impact educational
practice, and the RAD conference is one of the more visible examples of Webster's
commitment to this important aspect of student scholarship. Faculty, students and
administrators are encouraged to attend RAD conference sessions in order to support
students and recognize the hard work that has gone into their projects.
RAD Committee
“The Impact Center is thrilled to be the new home of the RAD conference. We strongly
believe in the importance of giving students a space to showcase their work and accomplishments.”
Lindsay McDaniels Swearingen
Assistant Director, Impact Center
RAD Committee, from left to right: Erin Goedereis, Mary Lai Preuss, Salim Ayoub, Sarah
McMullin and Lindsay McDaniels Swearingen
11 a.m. The Contemporary Construction of Girlhood: A Discursive Analysis of Gendered
Identity Performance in Online and Offline Spaces Eva Caponi UC Sunnen Lounge
11 a.m. Synthesis and Characterization of Metal Organic Nanotubular Materials with
Temperature Variations Nicole Plein UC Presentation Room
11:20 a.m. Cultural Appropriation in a Globalized World: K-pop, Hip Hop and Cultural
Identity Alexis Maly UC Sunnen Lounge
11:30 a.m. Isolation and Characterization of Bacteriophage at Webster University Dashauna Mairidith UC Presentation Room
11:40 a.m. The Turmoil of a Downtrend Population Amar Krajinic UC Sunnen Lounge
12 p.m. Beyond Fight or Flight: An Exploration of the Physiological and Psychological
Influence of Stress and Trauma Alyssa Lyell UC Sunnen Lounge
12 p.m. Supramolecular Catalysis Utilizing a Halogen-bonding Template to Achieve a
[2 + 2] Cycloaddition Reaction via Dry Vortex Grinding Jaelin Holdaway UC Presentation Room
12:15 p.m. The Last Days of Judas Iscariot: Costume Design Research Presentation Ivan Nguyen UC Sunnen Lounge
12:30 p.m. LEGOs, Lincoln Logs, and Little Ones: A Practicum Reflection Jerrid Rolfe UC Sunnen Lounge
12:30 p.m. Empowering Career Readiness: A Student's Journey in the Career Planning
Office Joyce Jackson UC Presentation Room
12:45 p.m. The Social Construction of Safety and Consequence: Applying Student Disengagement
Indicators to Transform Disproportionality in Education Eve Cohen UC Sunnen Lounge
1:05 p.m. Who is They? Proper Pronoun Use Among Adults Jerrid Rolfe UC Sunnen Lounge
1:30 p.m. Keynote Speaker: Gabe Cervantes UC Sunnen Lounge
2 p.m. Reception and Poster Presentation Session UC Commons
3 p.m. Reception UC Commons
2 p.m. Poster Presentation Session in University Center Commons
Poster Presenter Names and Poster Titles
Grant Williamson – Apoptosis Induction in LS174T Colon Cancer Cells: Evaluating Celecoxib and Mitoxantrone
Combination Therapy
Olivia Jarrell – Detection and Breeding Factors of Eastern Whip-poor-will Occupancy
Emilie Vogelsang – Effect of Circadian Rhythm on IMD Pathway Activity Following Sevoflurane Exposure
in Drosophila melanogaster
Savannah Richey – A History of Irish Costume and Textiles (400-1600 CE)
Logan Staggs – Leadership and Initiative: Assembling The Green Fuse
Hailey Ruiz-Nuve – Factors that Influence Individuals to Take Plea Bargains and Guilty Pleas
Marianthe Meyer – Guarding Privacy: Navigating Wiretapping Laws and Personal Rights
Meghan Alderton – Effect of Board Preparation Timing on NCE Pass Rates
Courtney Kedroski – Exposure to Sevoflurane Affects Levels of MDA in Drosophila melanogaster Restricted to a High Fructose Diet
April 26-28
7:30 p.m. Production: Natasha, Pierre, and The Great Comet of 1812 Conservatory of Theatre Arts, Contact: Gad Guterman Browning Mainstage Theatre
May 2
10 a.m. Webster LEADS Presentations Webster LEADS Program, Contact: Billy Ratz University Center Sunnen Lounge
May 3
5 p.m. The 2024 Senior Exhibition Department of Art, Design and Art History, Contact: Noriko Yuasa Arcade Contemporary Art Project Gallery
5:30 p.m. Opening Reception: 2024 Senior Exhibit School of Communications, Contact: Brian Gertler Kooyumjian Gallery
7:30 p.m. Webster University Choral Ensembles Department of Music, Contact: Stuart Chapman Hill Community Music School Concert Hall
May 5
7 p.m. Considering Matthew Shepard: Webster University Chamber Singers Department of Music, Contact: Stuart Chapman Hill First Congregational Church of Webster Groves
May 7-8
10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Natural Sciences and Mathematics Senior Thesis Presentations Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Contact: Mary Lai Preuss Interdisciplinary Science Building Auditorium
Previous RAD Conferences
December 2023 Conference
The Impact Center hosted the fall Student Showcase: Research Across the Disciplines
conference. A total of 37 presenters gathered in the University Center, covering diverse
topics from Biology to Finance. The event featured oral presentations, a poster session
and a reception following the Keynote Speaker address.
December 2023 Keynote Speaker
“My involvement and captivation with research propelled me to conduct my thesis while
studying abroad, which ultimately led to completing my master's and (ongoing) PhD
in Germany.”
