黑料爆料

8:00am 鈥� 8:45am | Check-in and Breakfast (MSC 3707) 
*provided for presenters and moderators 
8:45am 鈥� 9:00am | Welcome and Opening Remarks (MSC 3707) 
9:00am 鈥� 10:00am |  Poster Session I (MSC 3705)
10:00am 鈥� 11:00am | Panel Sessions:

• Mediterranean Marvels and Myths (MSC 3704) 
  Lillian Mason (Anthropology) 
  鈥淢onetizing Warfare: How Lydian Coinage Reshaped the Mediterranean Economy鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Morgan Rand (History) 
  鈥淒arius III, the Weaker King: The Influence of Ethnocentrism on Greek Narratives鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
   
• Modern Insights into Ancient Sources (MSC 3708) 
  Moderator: Emelia Brzakala (History) 
  Craig Duran (History) 
  鈥淎lexander鈥檚 Indian Conquest, Validity of Substantiating Evidence & Potential Mythological Influence鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Heather Catherine Halili (History, Philosophy) 
  鈥淩e-evaluating Athenian Democracy Through a Historiographical Study: How Does Modern Politics Influence Our Retellings of History?鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Kya Lockler (Art History, Religious Studies) 
  鈥淎ncient Reflections: A Study of the Tampa Museum of Art鈥檚 Engraved Etruscan Mirror鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
   
• (Re)Imagining Classics Through Creative Writing (MSC 3711) 
  Moderator: Jared Lamanati (Film Studies) 
  Aldan Rossnagel (English) 
  鈥淏ackstroke of the West and a Culture that Folds the Semiotic and Resurrects the Aura鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Damir Sadykov (Humanities and Cultural Studies) 
  鈥淒eal with the Nemesis: Original Novel by Damir Sadykov鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Ezra Steffen (English) 
  鈥淩esistance is Futile: Using Star Trek Fanfiction to Reimagine Milton鈥檚 Paradise Lost鈥�

11:15am 鈥� 12:15pm | Panel Sessions:

• Improving Medical Outcomes Through Art, Music, and Food (MSC 3704) 
  Bhavagna Punyala (Health Sciences) 
  鈥淭he Healing Palette: The Clinical Impact of Visual and Culinary Arts鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Matthew Smith (Biology) 
  鈥淭he Benefits of Music on Alzheimer鈥檚 Patients Behaviorally and Physiologically as a Form of Therapy and Preventative Measures鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Arisha Vishnani (Biology) 
  鈥淭he Art of Healing: Past, Present, and Future of Pediatric Art Therapy鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
   
• Pretty Ugly: Womanhood, Culture, and Beauty (MSC 3708) 
  Moderator: Melike Akay 
  Lilian Bojkovic (Psychology) 
  鈥淯nder the Knife: The Psychological Implications of Beauty Standards and Plastic Surgery as a Form of Self-Harm鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Rachel Dang (Cell and Molecular Biology) 
  鈥淭he Psychology of Mother-Daughter Relationships: The Emotional Division, The Cultural Significance, and the Multigenerational Influence鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Julia Alves Figueira (Humanities and Cultural Studies) 
  鈥淭ake Care of Your Self': Aging, Trauma, and Anxieties in The Substance (2024)鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
   
• Florida Histories from the Seminoles to Civil Rights (MSC 3711) 
  Ashley Cintron (History) 
  鈥淏eyond Jackson; How the Fist Seminole War Shaped Florida History鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Laila Farhat (Political Science, International Studies) 
  鈥淭he Social Construction of Nation, Domestic Space, and Innocence: White Supremacist Violence and Black Refusal in the St. Augustine Civil Rights Movement鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Finn Pollard (History) 
  鈥淔loridian Coastal Fortifications鈥�

12:15pm 鈥� 1:15pm | Lunch *provided for presenters and moderators (MSC 3707) 
1:15pm 鈥� 2:15pm | Panel Sessions:

• Race, Ethnicity, and Global Healthcare Inequalities (MSC 3704) 
  Moderator: Rebecca Zarger (Anthropology) 
  Nicole Chen (Biomedical Sciences) 
  鈥淢edical Inequalities of America: How the Current System Creates Barriers to Health鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Rysun Chu (History, Psychology) 
  鈥淭he Role of Citizenship in the Healthcare Disparity Suffered by the Chinese Xinjiang Uyghur Muslims鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Olivia Pinilla (Biology) 
  鈥淐ommunity Health Workers in Rural Communities in the Dominican Republic: Observations and Reflections鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
   
• Contemporary Issues in Latin American Studies (MSC 3708) 
  Moderator: Estel铆 Jim茅nez-Soto (Geography and Environmental Science) 
  Ebi Arhewoh (Psychology) 
  鈥淩econfiguring Public Space: Women Artists and the Aesthetics of Resistance in Oaxaca鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Rider Forrest (Political Science) 
  鈥淢exican Immigration and Deportation in 20th century American History鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Jonathan Reid (Biomedical Sciences) 
  鈥淚mmigration and Healthcare in the U.S. an Exploration"
  
  
• A Multitude of Metaphors: The Power of Figurative Language (MSC 3711)
  Moderator: Morgan Hunter (English Literature) 
  Raquel Acevedo (English) 
  鈥淏irthing a Monster: Parental Anxieties in Mary Shelley鈥檚 Frankenstein鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Kavery Kallichanda (Biomedical Sciences, Biomedical Anthropology) 
  鈥淢edical Metaphors in Ayurveda鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Celine Wong (Biology) 
  鈥淭he Complex Relationship Between the Human Soul and Nature鈥�

2:30pm 鈥� 3:30pm | Panel Sessions:

• Racism鈥檚 Enduring Legacy (MSC 3704) 
  Reagan Craig (History) 
  鈥淎 Southern Education: The United Daughters of the Confederacy鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Zoe Dieudonne (History, Anthropology) 
  鈥淲hat a Stud: A Cultural Analysis of Slave Breeding in the FWP Slave Narratives鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Mel Fugulin (Anthropology) 
  鈥淭he Cultural Mindset of Discrimination and Prejudice鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
   
• A World of Changes: Evolving Global Powers (MSC 3708)  
  Anna Alieva (International Studies) 
  鈥淩ecrudescence: Causes of the Far-Right Successes in the European Union鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Zion Bowen (History, Philosophy) 
  鈥淲hy Do Soldiers Fight? An Exploratory Study on the Historical Motivations of Soldiers and How the U.S. Military Can Leverage These Insights鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Victor Nikolov (History) 
  鈥淕reat Empires in Peril: Taxation Inefficiencies as a Potential Catalyst for the Decline of Modern Hegemony鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
   
• The Lives of Women in Ancient Greece (MSC 3711) 
  Moderator: Kellan Anfinson (SIGS) 
  Kamdyn Midenhall (Political Science) 
  鈥淲omen in a Gilded Cage鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Sophia Solis (Biology) 
  鈥淯nheard Voices: A Modern Argument of Women鈥檚 Health in Ancient Greece鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Sofia Zwegers (Anthropology) 
  鈥淪hieldmaidens or Silent Wives: Women and War in Ancient Greece鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

8:30am 鈥� 9:00am | Check-in and Breakfast (MSC 3707) 
*provided for presenters and moderators 
9:00am 鈥� 10:00am | Poster Session II (MSC 3705) 
10:00am 鈥� 11:00am | Panel Sessions:

• Visual and Performance Art in Religious Studies (MSC 3704)
  Chelsea Hoyt 
  鈥淕od is a Woman?鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Samantha Whiskeyman (Anthropology) 
  鈥淎s the Corn Grew a Thousand Years Before: The Green Corn Ceremony of the Five Civilized Tribes鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Lucia Winkler (Dual Enrollment) 
  鈥淯g 鈥� The Leonardo da Vinci of Shamanic Cave Art鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
   
• Sound of Silence: Repressed Voices (MSC 3708) 
  Moderator: Najah Raniyah (Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications) 
  Milena Autero (International Studies) 
  鈥淎n Evolving Process: Iranian Women鈥檚 Rights Throughout the Years鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Jadyn Doe (Integrated Public Relations, Advertising) 
  鈥淭he Stigma of Atheism in the Black American Community鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Rochelle Moore (Psychology) 
  鈥淩evered, Repressed, Rewritten: How Ancient Myths Continue to Shape Silence Around Women鈥檚 Voices鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
   
• The Happiness Hypothesis: Studying Wellbeing (MSC 3711) 
  Jade Hutchings (Interdisciplinary Social Sciences) 
  鈥淗appiness Study Abstract鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Hannah Pulido (Psychology) 
  鈥淗appiness and Childhood鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Bryan Voliton (Psychology) 
  鈥淲alk and Talks: Breaking Routines in Search of Connection and Happiness鈥�

11:15am 鈥� 12:00pm | USF Graduate Programs Information Session (MSC 3707) 
12:00pm 鈥� 1:00pm | Lunch (MSC 3707)
*provided for presenters and moderators 
1:00pm 鈥� 2:15pm | Panel Sessions:

• Building Resilient Communities (MSC 3704) 
  Moderator: Kalysta Fowler (English Literature) 
  Amber Irwin (Environmental Science & Policy) 
  鈥淗ow 黑料爆料 Find Happiness in the University Student Center at USF St. Petersburg鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Leila Nua (Public Health, Education) 
  鈥淭he Rooms We Cried: A Photographer's Study on Where Emotion Refused to Leave鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Naomi Ogiba (Communication) and Abigail Bullian (Communication, English) 
  鈥淏ullsGiveBack for No Poverty鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Luna Pedro (Political Science) 
  鈥淗appiness in the Library鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
   
• Television, Film, and Identity Creation (MSC 3708) 
  Moderator: Carlin Steere (English, Creative Writing) 
  Amber Barrett (Anthropology) 
  鈥淭he Air Itself is Filled with Monsters: Social Commentary in Horror Films鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Gabriella Bonilla (English) 
  鈥淏ut I鈥檓 A Cheerleader, Bound, and Bottoms: The Three Bs of Lesbian Utopia鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Kaitlyn Johnson (English) 
  鈥淭he True Meaning of Utopia in The Good Place鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Sarah Smith (Communication) 
  鈥淓xamining the impact of the Harry Potter franchise in the US and UK and its influence on American perceptions of British identity鈥�

2:30pm 鈥� 3:45pm | Panel Sessions:

• Madness, Monsters, and Mothers (MSC 3704) 
  Moderator: Morgan Hunter (English Literature) 
  Sadaqat Ahmed (Biology) 
  鈥淭he Evolution of The Word Creep in Charlotte Perkins Gilman鈥檚 The Yellow Wallpaper鈥� 
  Peter Brodrick (English) 
  鈥淗ow Analysis of The Ballad of Black Tom Supports the Framework of Monster Culture (Seven Theses)鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Abigail Bullian (Communication, English) 
  鈥淟ily Bart, Lorelai Gilmore, and Unlikeable, Loveable Protagonists鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Rylee Diehl (Psychology) 
  鈥淭he Gothic鈥檚 Boy Mom: a Depiction of the Jocasta Complex in Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca鈥�  
   
• Digital Age Dilemmas (MSC 3708) 
  Moderator: Jimmy Rosilio (Film and New Media Studies, Humanities and Cultural Studies) 
  Danny Bartolo (History) 
  鈥淧iracy in the Golden Age and the Modern Age: Commonalities Between Golden Age Pirates and Modern Internet Music Piracy Communities鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Alexander Harms (Chemical Engineering) 
  鈥淎nalyzing the Relationship Between the Development of Audio Technology in Video Game Consoles and their Success and Reception, 1972-2001鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Ren茅e McAleer (Philosophy, English) 
  鈥淒igital Deracination and Attention with Simone Weil鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
  Brandy Rodriguez (Mass Communications) 
  鈥淓xperimental Arthouse Attractions: Theme Parks and the New Immersive Cinema鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

黑料爆料 and faculty with USF parking permits should park in their designated lots. Guest parking information is available on the USF Parking and Transportation website. There are paid time spaces by the Marshall Student Center in Lot 5A as well as daily permits available for purchase online or at the Parking Services Building (PSB). If you purchase a daily parking pass, you can park in the Crescent Hill Parking Facility off Holly Drive or Lot 3B.

When you're ready to apply, here's what we'll ask for in the application:

• Name
• Email
• Major(s)
• Presentation Format (Poster Session, Paper for Panel Discussion, Creative Project)
• Research category 
• Title of project
• Abstract (PDF file upload)
  • (200 words max.) This is where you submit a brief summary of your project or research. Even if your project is not complete yet, you can still submit a general overview for application purposes. Writing the abstract in future tense may help. Please include your name and project title in the abstract. 

Accepted student presenters will be sent a registration link on December 12, 2025 and will have until January 13, 2026 to confirm their spot and committ to attending the conference.

This is when you will provide your Student Scholar Biography (see "What goes into my biography?" for more details. ~100 words max./ 3-4 sentences) and dietary restrictions (Free breakfast and lunch is provided to student conference presenters).

We encourage students to attend a preparation session to ask questions before the conference. Other conference preparation can include rehearsing your presentation, creating visual powerpoint slides, printing your poster, or getting a free professional outfit to wear from .

No. All majors are welcome.

Yes. You can now apply to the conference as a group on one single application.  *Please only list the group members in the application who plan to attend the conference. You can acknowledge your group members in the project, but not all need to participate in the conference. If you are doing a panel presentation, please designate 1-2 people to present. If you are doing a poster, there is space for 2-3 group members to stand by the poster. 

If you are applying for your group, you will need the following information from your group members for the application and registration:

• Full name
• USF email
• Major(s)
• Student Scholar Biography (written in 3rd person, 4-5 sentences max.)

Note: there are 4 spots maximum on the group application (including yourself)

Due to the increase in student participants and limited capacity, we no longer allow students to present multiple individual projects at this time. Please select one project to apply and present at the conference.

*If you are in a group project with another student, you can still submit your own separate individual research project.

You can design a 36" x 48" poster on Powerpoint (Design> Slide Size> Custom Slide Size> H: 36" x W: 48"). 2 poster templates are available for reference.

Print your poster at the (first floor) or the USF Print Center in the Marshall Student Center (for a fee). There is also printing in the MDC Shimberg Health Sciences Library.

Drop off posters at the Humanities Institute office (CPR 474 - Cooper Hall 4th Floor) by Tuesday, Jan. 27 or bring your poster to the conference to hang up. Velcro stickers are provided. 

No. An abstract is sufficient for the application, giving students plenty of time to complete their work before the conference. 黑料爆料 are encouraged to apply with an existing midterm or final project or research that may still be in progress during the Fall semester. By the time January comes, students will have a more developed or finished project to present. 

Yes!

The biography is a few sentences that describes your academics interests, course of study, and future plans. Please write your biography in 3rd person and limit it to 3-5 sentences (~100 words).

Example: "Jane is a National Merit Scholar student studying English and Sociology. She is a group fitness instructor at Campus Rec and is president of the Scuba Diving Club. Jane is a Junior and plans to attend graduate school in North Dakota."

You鈥檙e ready! Nearly everyone will be presenting their research for the first time, so you鈥檙e in good company. The Humanities Institute staff is here to help you plan and prepare if you need help. The conference is designed to be professional, but supportive and fun for new scholars.

Yes! Undergraduate students from all campuses are invited to apply. If transportation is an obstacle to participating in the conference in-person on the Tampa campus, please contact Liz Kicak.

If your presentation time conflicts with a class, you should inform your instructor right away to see if they can support you in this opportunity to present at the conference. For further assistance or if you cannot present at your original scheduled time, please contact Liz Kicak. 

If you are unable to attend the conference, please contact Liz Kicak as soon as possible so we can adjust the conference schedule and remove you from the program. 

We understand illness and family emergencies arise, but make every effort to attend your scheduled presentation time in addition to the free lunches, poster sessions, and a few panels. Catering, poster boards, swag bags, programs, etc. all cost money and time to produce. Panels are built with the expectation that you show up. Standard conference practice is to attend other panels, attend the free lunch, and network.

Yes, conference presenters are provided FREE breakfast and lunch both days.

To inquire about the menu in advance for dietary concerns, please email Jade V.

Yes. There is free breakfast for participants who come during the morning check-in time. We encourage arriving at the conference in the morning, but we understand if students have class or work and need to check-in later in the day. Please attend as much of the conference as your schedule allows. It is common practice to attend other panels throughout the conference.