USF’s Humanities Institute held its sixth annual Undergraduate Humanities Conference on Jan. 23-24. What started
as a small conference with some two dozen applicants, has grown into an incredible
two-day event featuring almost 100 presentations on a range of topics, from political
science to creative writing.
“We have students present from all across the humanities, showcasing the breadth of
not only these areas of study, but also the College of Arts and Sciences as a whole,”
said Elizabeth Kicak, an associate professor in the Department of English and director of the Humanities Institute.
Students are able to choose between presenting their research in a poster session or a panel discussion, though some do both. (Photo by Corey Lepak)
Many faculty encourage their students to apply for and attend the two-day conference. (Photo by Corey Lepak)
For students, like Anna Alieva, a third-year majoring in international studies and
minoring in Chinese language and culture, who present at the annual conference, the
event provides invaluable academic and professional experience.
“I think the conference is a great way for first-time and experienced presenters to
practice their public speaking, make connections and experience sharing their work
in a more professional setting,” said Alieva, who organized a panel session titled
“Indigenous Environmental Rights in the U.S. and Canadian Arctic: The Role of Domestic
and International Institutions in Their Implementation.”
“Participating in this conference taught me how to answer questions that I wasn't
sure about and to find my confidence while presenting to a room of people,” she said.
Alieva was selected alongside three other USF students to attend the Richard Macksey
National Undergraduate Research Symposium at Johns Hopkins University.
“The Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Research Symposium is an elite, nationwide
conference with undergraduate students from across the country,” explained Kicak.
“Thanks to funding through the Clara Cooper Endowment for the Humanities we are able
to cover the students’ registration fee, airfare and hotel.”
Emelia Brzakala, a student majoring in history and minoring in anthropology, believes
that the experience prepared her for future conferences and helped her hone her research
on the role of women in antique medicine.
“It helps them gain experience, see if there are areas of their project they want
to rework and prepares them for answering questions from the audience,” said Kicak.
The national symposium will take place March 20-22 in Baltimore, Md.
The attendees are encouraged to engage presenters in thoughtful discussions regarding their work, their research methods and the impact their results may have. (Photo by Corey Lepak)
There are 16 breakout panel sessions both days of the conference, giving attendees a chance to listen in on topics that interest them. (Photo by Corey Lepak)