Tenth Annual Spring Research Day

Presented by the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) & the College of Nursing and Health Professions (NHP)
Wednesday, April 16th & Thursday, April 17th

Payden Academic Center

About the Program

Every year we showcase the research and discovery of our Trinity scholars at our annual Spring  Research Day. Students in STEM, social science, the humanities, and new this year- nursing and health professions, will present their research at interactive and engaging poster and oral presentation sessions.

This year Spring Research Day will be held over two days, complete with activities, presentations, and resources for all to enjoy.

Agenda

Wednesday, April 16:

10 am: Poster Display in Payden Lobby

3 pm: Opening Session

Panel Discussion: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: An interdisciplinary approach to solving real world problems!

4 pm: CAS poster session (students present posters)

 

Thursday, April 17:

10 am: Poster Display in Payden Lobby, cont’d

10 am- 12:00 pm: Oral Presentations from CAS and NHP scholars

12:00 pm- 1:00 pm: NHP poster session (students present posters)

1:15 pm- 3:00 pm: Oral presentations from CAS and NHP scholars

 

Meet Our Panelists

Aja E. Black is a native of Sumter, South Carolina. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of South Carolina Upstate and an associate degree in Occupational Therapy Assistance from Keiser University in Jacksonville, Florida. In Fall 2025, Aja will begin pursuing her Professional Master’s in Occupational Safety and Health at the Georgia Institute of Technology.As a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, she has gained experience working with populations such as pediatrics, geriatrics, individuals with mild to profound intellectual disabilities. Aja Black currently serves as the Ergonomics Program Manager for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). She designs and delivers ergonomic solutions with a focus on universal design to reduce musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. Aja trains federal employees on best ergonomics practices and has been invited as a guest speaker and lecturer to educate university-level audiences on the emerging field of ergonomics. She applies her skills and experience as an occupational therapy practitioner daily to research resources and provide recommendations for the federal workforce.

 

Vabren Watts, Ph.D.

Health and Science Journalist | Health Equity Strategist

Dr. Watts is a national science and health communicator and health equity expert with proven experience in enhancing visibility of high-profile organizations. He has published in multiple peer-reviewed science and medical journals and authored more than 300 articles in news media outlets such as WebMD, Psychiatric News, and Philadelphia Inquirer. Dr. Watts has a deep background in advocating for health equity for marginalized and minority populations, having served as a spokesperson on such topics for the American Heart Association, American Stroke Association, American Psychiatric Association, and most recently the health policy journal Health Affairs, where he serves as Director of Health Equity Dr. Watts received a Doctor of Philosophy in pharmacology from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN and completed his postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology.

 

Kiah Jones, MS, is a dedicated professional in the Employee Well-being Office for the DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). In her current role as a Health & Wellness Coordinator, she combines her expertise in criminal justice and wellness to create impactful programs and initiatives. Prior to her work with MPD, Kiah gained extensive experience working with victims of violence and returning citizens by implementing programs that foster resilience and promote recovery. Over the last two years, she has collaborated with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and other agencies to further expand her reach in advancing wellness initiatives within law enforcement communities. Kiah’s passion lies in building holistic support systems that strengthen individuals and families, making her a subject matter expert for well-being in high-stress environments.

Currently, Kiah is facilitating the development of a mentoring program and a family wellness program to support MPD members and their loved ones. A strong advocate for community engagement, Kiah partners with local organizations to promote wellness initiatives that address the unique challenges faced by law enforcement personnel and their families. She is passionate about creating opportunities for families to learn how to incorporate resilience, wellness, and the critical role they play in supporting the retention and overall well-being of officers.

Troy A. Kearse Jr. is a Social Psychology PhD candidate at Howard University and incoming Assistant Professor of Psychology at Towson University. His research takes an intersectionality-informed approach to explore how social contexts shape the stereotypes, behaviors, and experiences of people who belong to multiple minority groups. Troy examines these questions by using qualitative inquiry, experimental, meta-science, and survey methods. His work has been funded by the American Psychological Foundation (APF) and the National Institute of Health (NIH). When not researching, Troy enjoys watching and reading scary stories, traveling out of the country, and taking daily walks.

 

 

How to Participate

All academic disciplines are welcome! If you participated in a summer research internship, worked on an undergraduate research project in class, or have worked with a faculty member to conduct research, you are welcome to present your work. In order to present, you must do the following:

  • Speak with the faculty member with whom you conducted undergraduate research to see if it is okay for you to present your work. Your abstract must be approved by the faculty mentor BEFORE you can submit the Abstract Submission Form.
  • Work with your mentor to complete and submit the attached Abstract Submission Form by Friday, March 7, 2025.
  • Prepare a research poster  and submit for presentation by Friday, April 4, 2025.

Submissions

The abstract submission deadline closes on Friday, March 7, 2025.

The deadline for submitting research abstracts expired March 7, 2025. Thank you for your participation in this year's Spring Research Day. We look forward to hearing more about your research.

Posters

The poster submission form must be submitted by Friday, April 4, 2025

The deadline for submitting research posters expired, April 4, 2025. Thank you for your participation in this year's Spring Research Day. We look forward to hearing more about your research.

We want all of our students’ posters to be fabulous as well as professional. Take advantage of the training workshops, organized by the Library, to help you design and make your academic research poster.