EXPO 2026 to Showcase Student Research, Creativity

From innovative research to live performances, the College of Charleston EXPO 2026 will highlight the breadth of student work across disciplines on April 16 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Johnson Center practice gym (30 George St.).

This annual showcase brings together undergraduate and graduate students to present projects developed in partnership with faculty mentors. 

Attendees can explore original research, creative inquiries and community-based work from across campus. The event is open to the public. 

Celebrating Student Work 

“It’s really what the College is all about,” says Morgan Hughey, associate professor of public health and co-chair of the EXPO 2026 Committee. “It’s an opportunity to learn something new, and for students to share some of their best work alongside their faculty mentors. This collaboration and culmination of hard work across all disciplines is what’s so cool to me about this event.” 

At its core, EXPO highlights the collaborative spirit of the College of Charleston, giving students a platform to communicate their ideas while engaging with the campus and broader Charleston community.  

What to Expect at EXPO 2026 

The event features a mix of oral presentations, poster sessions and interactive research displays and live performances by students in the School of the Arts. 

Highlights include: 

• Approximately 350 poster presentations 
• Eight oral presentations from students across academic disciplines 
• Live musical and theatrical performances 
• A keynote address by Heather Fullerton, associate professor of biology and the 2025 recipient of the William V. Moore Teacher-Scholar Award
• Student awards ceremony 

Oral Presentations 

Eight oral presentations, listed below, will take place from 9:30 to 10:50 a.m. Topics range from cultural analysis and student voice to scientific research and public health, reflecting the depth and diversity of student work. 

• “Reclaiming Joy: Visual Communication and Cultural Narrative in Contemporary Black Artistic Practice,” by Danielle Drummond (School of the Arts)  
• “What Students Are Really Saying: Elevating Student Voice and Values at the College of Charleston,” by Alexis Carr (School of Education)  
• “Living Archives: Oral History as a Tool for Cultural Preservation,” by Kyle Singleton (School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs)  
• “Studying Thermodynamics in Irregularly Structured Peptides,” by Jordyn Pieper (School of Natural and Environmental Sciences  
• “Examining Time to Cervical Cancer Treatment and Disparities in Survival,” by Mia Hilton (School of Health Sciences) 
• “Finding Charleston’s Forgotten Spaces: How Hotel Development Reshaped the Historic City,” by Riley Davis (School of Business) 
• “Motivations Behind the Introduction and Development of Study Abroad Programs in the Late 1970s at the College of Charleston,” by Jake Castino (School of Humanities and Social Sciences) 
• “BayesRT: Machine Learning Framework for Real-Time Formula 1 Race Strategy Optimization,” by Jenna Fleming (School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics) 

School of the Arts Performances 

EXPO 2026 will highlight student creativity with live performances from the School of the Arts from 11 a.m. to noon. 

Attendees can enjoy a mix of music and theater that complements the research and poster presentations.

• 3 Songs on the Poetry of E. E. Cummings – Composed and performed by Isaac Hill (voice and cello)  
• Clarinet Quintet in A Major, K.581, 1st movement, by W.A. Mozart – Performed by Annie Rogers (clarinet), Cecily Wright (violin), Piper Walden (2nd violin), Natalie Gizzo (viola) and Bailey Ceurvost (cello)  
• Romeo and Juliet, act 2, scene 5 – Performed by Emma Bennett and Lena Towne  
• Musical performance of “What I Did for Love” from A Chorus Line – Performed by Department of Theatre and Dance  

Poster Sessions 

Posters will be on display for the entirety of the event. Students will stand by their displays offering insights and answering questions during two sessions: 

• 9:30–10:45 a.m. 
• 10:45 a.m.–12 p.m.

Research spans every academic school, offering a comprehensive look at student research across disciplines. 

School of the Arts 

These creative works blend design, performance and environmental awareness.

Projects include: 

• “The Mousetrap,” scenic design by Tovah Levenson 
• “Shucked – What About the Shell?”, a surfboard constructed from oyster shells to promote marshland preservation, by Tomy Romero 

School of Business 

Topics focus on entrepreneurship, finance and economic policy. 

Projects include: 

• “The Impact of U.S. Tax Policy on the Growth of Equity and Mortgage REITs,” by Ariel Spach 
• “Female Entrepreneurship in the Charleston Fitness Industry,” by Anna Tridico 

School of Education 

Research is focused on student experience, identity and learning environments.

Projects include: 

• “Effect Foster Care has on Grade School Children,” by Emily Lipe  
• “Identity, Advocacy, and Experience: A Qualitative Study of Collegiate Student-Athletes,” by Chynell Mitchell 

School of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics 

These project place emphasis on artificial intelligence, data analysis and applied technology.

Projects include: 

• “Wearable Vision: Enhancing Mobility Through AI,” by Addie Bankson 
• “Green Scores: Using Machine Learning Techniques to Predict Renewable Energy Potential for Various Global Cities,” by Jonella Orozco 

School of Health Sciences 

Focus areas include public health, clinical outcomes and community wellness.

Projects include: 

• “Pilates as Therapy: Evaluating Pilates-Based Exercise as an Intervention for Parkinson’s Disease,” by Abbi McCurry 
• “Over-the-Counter Contraceptives: Knowledge, Beliefs and Information-Seeking Patterns,” by Reina Nathanson 

School of Humanities and Social Sciences 

Topics include culture, policy, history and human behavior.

Projects include: 

• “An Applied Field Study of Interwoven Social Worlds on the CARTA Bus System,” by Graham Glaab 
• “A Black Presence in the Italian Renaissance: Giulia de’Medici,” by Trinity Metcalf 

School of Natural and Environmental Sciences 

Research in this area spans environmental systems, chemistry and animal behavior.

Projects include: 

• “Can Shrimp Feel Pain? Behavioral and Neurochemical Evidence for Nociceptive Integration,” by Jesi Gibbs 
• “Development of a UV Camera Payload for Upcoming Launch to the International Space Station and Follow-Up Launch Aboard a CubeSat,” by Gael Gonzalez 

School of Languages, Cultures and World Affairs

Projects explore global cultures, languages and histories through cross-cultural research on identity, power and lived experience.

Projects include:

• “Luxury, Identity and Heritage in the French-Speaking Caribbean: A Study of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy,” by Robert Dixon
• “Cocoa Farming During the Climate Crisis: Perspectives from Ghanaian Farmers and Potential Adaptation Strategies,” by Ella Parker

These projects highlight the creativity, curiosity and interdisciplinary thinking that define the EXPO experience. 

Keynote Speaker and Awards 

Heather Fullerton, associate professor of biology and the 2025 recipient of the William V. Moore Teacher-Scholar Award, will give a keynote address at 12:15 p.m.  

Her presentation, “Exploring Microbial Communities and Connections from Bays to Benthos,” takes audiences from coastal waters to deep-sea hydrothermal vents, revealing how tiny microbes help us understand the hidden links in the world’s oceans. 

EXPO 2026 will conclude with an awards ceremony at 1 p.m., recognizing outstanding student presentations from across disciplines.