News

On Sept. 29, Lee University will host the 5th annual McNair-Ledford Undergraduate Research Symposium in the School of Nursing from 2:30-6:30 p.m. for students from all disciplines to present their research.  

“We are pleased to host the McNair-Ledford Undergraduate Research Symposium to showcase the academic research and creative endeavors from the Lee community,” said Dr. Kevin Ung, director of McNair Scholars Program and Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship. “Historically, this event has been the culmination of students’ summer research experiences guided by dedicated Lee faculty mentors. This occasion captures the ongoing commitment and investment toward students’ intellectual growth to fully investigate God’s calling for their lives.”  

At least 13 different majors will present their research through oral and poster presentations, including titles such as “Designing Worlds: Exploring the Art and Social Sciences of Set Design,” “Using FRET to Investigate Conformation-Dependent Changes in Blood Proteins,” and “Elegy for the Humanities: Liberal Arts Education as Modern Democracy’s Lifeblood.”   

There will be 37 presenters at the event, 21 of those presenting posters and 16 sharing oral presentations. Of those presenters, 26 of them are from Lee, and the other 11 are from regional Appalachian College Association (ACA) schools including Bryan College, Lincoln Memorial University, Maryville College, Union College KY, and University of Pikeville.  

“This year, we are partnering with the ACA, which is a consortium of 34 colleges and universities across six states, to have their student researchers disseminate their projects at Lee,” said Ung. “With faculty judges, undergraduate scholars, and administrative staff working collaboratively to advance scholarly and artistic work, we are thrilled for this gathering.”  

At the symposium, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place rewards are provided for both categories of oral and poster presentations, with an overall award given to the highest scoring participant. The awards are determined based on literature review, research methodology/approach, project findings, organization, and professionalism.  

The keynote speaker for the event is Dr. Meryl Herr, director of research and resources at the Max De Pree Center for Leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary.  

Herr is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and earned her Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. She also completed a graduate certificate in educational research methods through the University of Illinois at Chicago.  

In addition to working at the Max De Pree Center, Herr is the owner of The GoodWorks Group, a consulting firm specializing in educational program planning and evaluation, and she is also the author of a forthcoming book from InterVarsity Press.  

Herr’s presentation for the symposium will be a workshop-style approach to help student researchers begin to frame their calling within a theologically informed vision for service. The session will include reflective practices along with developing a training plan on how students’ research skills will make progress towards a shalom-shaped future.  

The McNair Scholars Program is a federally funded TRIO initiative that serves first-generation, income-eligible, and underrepresented students with faculty-mentored research experience in preparation for graduate studies. Program services include coaching meetings, professional membership, funding for conference presentations, funding for research activities, and a multi-disciplinary academic community.  

The McNair-Ledford Symposium is a free, non-ticketed event and is open to the public.  

For more info about the McNair Program or the symposium, visit leeuniversity.edu/mcnair/ or email [email protected].