As the academic year concludes, the College of the Holy Cross will host its annual Academic Conference from April 23 through April 26. The four-day conference provides students with an opportunity to present the results of their independent work and for the entire community to celebrate the relationship between Holy Cross’ liberal arts curriculum and the learning taking place in varied environments — from Study Abroad to the Worcester community; from research labs and art studios to libraries and field sites.
The programs, projects, poster sessions, and performances presented by students at the conference were developed with the guidance of faculty members. The conference showcases the independence, creativity, and intellectual discipline of students, as well as the role professors have played as mentors and model teacher-scholars.
Approximately 300 Holy Cross students from all classes are involved in the conference this year. Academic Conference 2014 is free and open to the public.
The conference includes works from the arts, social sciences, humanities and natural sciences. Students will present an array of topics including:
- “Human Trafficking Within the United States,” Emily Ford ’14
- “Liberation of the Papacy,” Matthew King ’14
- “Demand for Dental Care Among Low-Income Children,” Jeanne Kiernan ’14
- “Spain’s Ever-Changing Political Landscape and its Relationship with Popular Music,” Vera Grek ’14
- “Afghan Exit Strategy,” David Conde-Battaglia ’14
- “Roadblocks to Vaccination and Drug Therapy Worldwide,” Eileen McGowan ’14
- “Following the Steps of St. Ignatius of Loyola: The Camino Ignaciano Pilgrimage,” Lauren Hammer ’14
- “Art of Africa & the Americas at Boston’s MFA,” David Wassef ’16
- “Temporal Sequence of Stress-Induced Changes in Mouse Behavior and Physiology,” Ryan O’Keefe ’14 and Alo Basu, assistant professor of psychology
- “Girls Just Being Girls: An Investigation of Girls’ Use of Relational Aggression and Cyberbullying,” Emily Spencer ’14
- “Women in the Roman Catholic Church: Can Women Hold Positions of Authority and Create Change in the Roman Catholic Church?,” Melissa Montoya ’14
- “Characterizing the Antiviral Function of APOBEC3G as a Potential Target for HIV-1 Therapeutics,” Meiling May ’14
The conference will kick off with a performance by Galician bagpiper, pianist, and composer Cristina Pato, who has been named visiting artist-in residence at Holy Cross for the 2014-15 academic year. A member of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road, Pato’s residency is part of the launch of “Arts Transcending Borders,” a new initiative designed to infuse the fine and performing arts in students’ academic lives and create new opportunities throughout the curriculum and the community by transcending cultural, geographic and disciplinary boundaries. Pato, accompanied by her band the Migrations, will perform on April 23 at 4:30 p.m. in the Hogan Campus Center Ballroom.
Other highlights of the conference include:
On April 24 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Cantor Art Gallery, eight studio art majors will participate in a roundtable discussion on “Alter-Ego,” the annual exhibition of artwork by graduating seniors who have participated in the Senior Concentration Seminar. The opening exhibition and reception for the artists will be held April 25 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The exhibition will be open to the public through May 23.
Two music events will take place in Brooks Concert Hall. On April 23 at 8 p.m., there will be a Chamber Orchestra concert, and on April 24 at 8 p.m., there will be a Jazz Ensemble Concert.
The conference is sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Dean of the College.
Academic Conference Program 2014 [PDF].
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