On Wednesday, April 29, from 5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m., Lee University will co-host the “Fifth Annual Doctoral Student Research Poster Symposium” in the newly renovated Mayfield Annex Fine Arts Gallery. The symposium will feature students from Lee’s Doctor of Education (EdD), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) programs.   
 
“This symposium offers an engaging forum for doctoral students to share research that connects theory, practice, and faith,” said Dr. Roy Y. Chan, director of graduate studies in education and assistant professor of education at Lee. “By gathering faculty, peers, and graduate students from across disciplines, this doctoral student-led conference reflects our commitment to Christ-guided scholarship—work that not only deepens understanding but also supports the church, uplifts our community, and makes a meaningful impact across the East Tennessee region.” 
 
The research poster symposium allows faculty members, staff, and students to meet doctoral students at Lee and bring together colleagues, friends, family, and community members interested in graduate education.   
 
“What makes this symposium meaningful isn’t just the research itself, but watching the scholars develop behind it,” said Dr. Brandon Rodgers, director of graduate studies in counseling and associate professor of marriage and family therapy at Lee. “Along with the development of their clinical and supervisory skills, our doctoral students are learning to produce research that genuinely serves people in our own community and beyond, and that’s something we’re really proud of.” 
 
Jeremy Finch, Amanda Jones, Albert LaBoy, Michael Thomas-Stewart, and Stacey Wielfaert from the EdD program will present on topics such as parental involvement in high school, mathematics education among preservice elementary teachers, Chinese students in U.S. Christian high schools, religion and spirituality in the teaching profession, and cell phone bans in secondary education. 
 
From the DNP program, Alia Parker and Heather Pinson will present on medical therapy and hospital injuries. 
 
“The doctoral student poster symposium provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase the real-world impact of our DNP students’ work. Their projects demonstrate how evidence-based practice and clinical scholarship can drive meaningful change in healthcare, and we are grateful to celebrate this work in partnership with scholars from across the university,” said Dr. Julie K. Campbell, director of graduate studies in nursing and associate professor of nursing. 
 
Presenters from the PhD program are Alicia Boggess, Lauren Finch, Trey Gardenhire, Amanda Hicks, Chloe Hillis, Alyson De Jesus, Morgan Petet, Lara Kate Todd, and Megan Tresh, covering topics such as mental health and wellbeing, post-traumatic stress disorder, faith formation among graduate students, childhood trauma and burnout, mental health care, and romantic relationships. 
 
“We are delighted to have this opportunity for our doctoral students to showcase their research and engage with peers, Lee faculty and staff, and the broader community,” said Dr. Jean Eledge, vice president for Academic Affairs. “Their work will inspire us as they represent themselves and their respective programs.” 
 
The event is co-hosted by the EdD program, the DNP program, and the PhD in MFT program.   
 

This year, Dr. Phil Cook, president of Lee University, will serve as the keynote speaker. Cook most recently served as president and CEO of the North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals (NACCAP). Before that, he served for more than two decades at Lee in various leadership roles, including vice president for enrollment. Cook holds a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Tennessee, a Master of Divinity from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary, and a bachelor’s degree in business from Lee. 
 
The EdD program in Professional Practice seeks to develop passionate and empathetic leaders through the practice of ethical action, redemptive service, and responsible citizenship in the church, community, and the world. The program was developed by faculty in the Lee University Helen DeVos College of Education (HDCOE) and Local Education Agency partners.   
 
The DNP program offers a terminal degree that prepares graduates to practice at the highest level of nursing and lead change through translational research. Students benefit from Lee’s distinctive programming related to rural, global, and disaster healthcare, integrating a Christian worldview.  
 
The mission of the Lee University MFT doctoral program is to prepare leaders in the marriage and family field who serve the underserved through Christian organizations and their surrounding communities. The core priorities of the program are to develop each student to become an innovative clinician, a proficient educator, a systemic supervisor, and a pragmatic researcher.   
 
The event is free and open to the public.   
 
For more information about Lee’s EdD program, visit graduate/edd,
 
For more information about Lee’s DNP program, visit nursing/dnp. 
 
For more information about Lee’s MFT doctoral program, visit graduate/mft.
 
For more information about the symposium, contact Graduate Studies in Education at (423) 614-8544.