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.
The RAD Conference is held twice each year, in May and December.
Research Across Disciplines (RAD) Conference
Transcript
[Subtle Electronic music plays]
[Footage of students and instructors gathered in the University Center with several poster presentations]
Text on screen: Webster University: Research Across Disciplines (RAD)
Student Nick K.: RAD or the Research Across Disciplines conference is a conference that we bring in students, and occasionally we bring in professors, to talk about their research. Getting in front of a crowd can be really scary, but after the first couple of times that I've personally done it, it's a lot easier. It gives public speaking experience for sure.
[Footage of a student presenting a research study in front of a crowd]
Student Dashauna M.: Webster is really good at having you present in front of people, so it wasn't bad at all because it's like they prepare you, whether it's in front of the staff or in front of your peers.
[Footage of Dashauna presenting a research project about bacteriophages in front of a crowd]
Student Muaz M.: I stepped out of my comfort zone. You can experiment. You can try things out. It would greatly improve on your personal life, as well as your professional life.
[Footage of Muaz showing a graphic design case study in front of a crowd]
[Footage of a student and professor talking about a poster presentation]
Student Michael H.: I think RAD is a wonderful way to get people to talk about what they do. I feel like if you do not have the ability to communicate, either being your sciences or your art, you aren't going to be able to really go far in your career. And RAD is a great way to get people to learn how to do that.
[Footage of Michael presenting in front of an audience]
[Footage of a student giving an individual poster presentation to a professor]
[Footage of three students speaking on a panel in front of an audience]
Text on screen: Webster University, webster.edu/impact-center
[screen fade to black]
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.”
Assistant Director, Impact Center
RAD Committee: Mary Lai Preuss, from left, Lindsay McDaniels Swearingen, Sarah McMullin, Robert Ross and Erin Goedereis
RAD Conferences
December 2025 Conference
December 2025 Keynote Speaker
Chelsea Foster
BS in Biological Sciences, '17
Chelsea Foster graduated from Webster University in 2017. She has been with bioMérieux for seven years, holding roles in multiple departments and gaining broad experience across the organization. Foster is a manager at bioMérieux in St. Louis, where she oversees a team of 20 technicians. She is committed to developing and mentoring her team, supporting both personal and professional growth. She brings a strong sports background to her mentoring. She captained the Webster women’s tennis team for two years and was an ITA Scholar-Athlete.
May 2025 Conference
May 2025 Keynote Speaker
Michael Langston
BA in Political Science, Minor in Sports Journalism, ’20
The Impact Center hosted the spring Student Showcase: Research Across the Disciplines conference on May 2, 2025. Over 65 presenters and panelists gathered in the University Center, covering diverse topics from Data Analytics to Anthropology and Sociology to Costume Design. The event featured oral presentations, panel discussions, a poster session and a Keynote Speaker address.
Previous Conferences
December 2024 Keynote Speaker
Alejandra Berra, Lead Strategy Analyst for Digital Assets, Commerce Bank
Master of Business Administration (MBA), ’12
As part of Commerce Bank's Strategic Planning team, Keynote speaker Alejandra Berra consults with executive and senior leaders across the bank to engrain innovation to their business strategy and ultimately ensure the bank is helping customers focus on what matters most. She leads the bank’s effort to understand the role of digital assets, embedded banking and other disruptive innovation and the impact to traditional finance. She plays an active role in developing strategic relationships with fintechs in order to drive growth and innovation across multiple areas of the bank.
She has been with Commerce for 15 years and has held several roles across its retail, commercial and wealth segments. Berra has been a champion for inclusion and diversity within Commerce Bank and is a co-founder of Commerce Bank’s Women’s Employee Resource Group called RISE. She is a member of the board of directors for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Regional Business Council’s Mentor Network, YPN Leadership 100 inductee and was recognized among the St. Louis Business Journal 40 Under 40.
2024 Keynote Speaker
Gabriel Cervantes, PhD
BEd in Elementary Education and Teaching, ’05
Keynote speaker Gabriel Cervantes, PhD, has been an educator for nearly 20 years. During his career, he has served at the elementary, middle and high school levels teaching general education, mathematics and theater arts courses as well as serving as an administrator. As a Gorlok alum, he was an active member of the Webster University community as a resident assistant, student ambassador, Student Government Association representative and a forensics team competitor. He works as a middle school theater director for Rockwood School District, where he has built programs in multiple schools by fostering a strong community of teachers, students and parents, while raising over $25,000 in fundraising efforts to upgrade the program’s technical infrastructure.
December 2023 Keynote Speaker
Afton Nelson
BSc in Psychology, ’18
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.
Highlights from Webster University
Professor Kwon Earns a Grant from Americans for the Arts
January 7, 2026
Webster University Awarded a Nearly $800K NSF Grant to Launch a Biotechnology Career Preparation Program
September 11, 2025
Faculty and Staff Highlights: Belo, Carter, Hughes, Lee-Johnson, Turaeva, Visconti
January 3, 2025