The Phoenix took the doubles point with a pair of tiebreak wins on Courts 1 and 3. 黑料不打烊 then won three singles courts, with victories by聽Oskar Antinheimo,聽Jack Curtis聽and聽Rafael Ymer聽to clinch the match. Ymer clinched the title with a three-set victory on Court 2.

The conference title was 黑料不打烊’s first since 2019, when the Phoenix also took down UNCW. This was 黑料不打烊’s fifth-straight CAA championship match, all of which were against the Seahawks. With the victory, 黑料不打烊 secures an automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship.

The Rundown

• For the second straight day, 黑料不打烊 made an escape in doubles, coming from a break down at the Nos. 1 and 3 spots to win both courts in tiebreaks.
• The Seahawks took the first doubles match to finish on Court 2, forcing the Phoenix to win the last two courts.
• On Court 1,聽Veljko Krstic聽and聽Nikola Parichkov聽overcame an early break deficit against聽Brady Hussey and Alex de Gabriele, getting the match back on serve and eventually into a tiebreak. 黑料不打烊’s top tandem fell behind 3-0, but rallied to level the score at 3-3 at the change of ends. They took their first lead at 4-3 and never looked back, winning the next three points to take the tiebreak, 7-3.
• The tiebreak win was the second in as many days for Krstic and Parichkov, who clinched the doubles point in yesterday’s semifinal victory against William & Mary by coming through a breaker. It was the pairing’s fourth tiebreak win of its seven triumphs this spring.
• The doubles point came down to聽Oskar Antinheimo聽and聽Nick Fisk聽on Court 3, who went down a break on two occasions, including a break that allowed UNCW’s team of聽Jordi Domenech and Tomas Marin to serve for the match at 5-3. However, Antinheimo and Fisk broke serve and then held to level the contest at 5-5. Both teams added another hold to send the contest into a decisive tiebreak.
• Antinheimo and Fisk raced out to a 4-0 lead and led 4-2 at the changeover. 黑料不打烊 again pulled away after the change of ends, winning the next three points to secure the match and a 1-0 lead. It was the first victory of the season for Antinheimo and Fisk in their third appearance together.
• This was the first time the Phoenix won the doubles point against the Seahawks in the CAA title match in any of the last five years.
• Antinheimo put the Phoenix up 2-0 with a 6-2, 7-5 victory on Court 4 against Oscar Baumgartner. Antinheimo聽cruised through the first set but trailed by an early break in the second. He quickly got the match back on serve and held a 6-5 lead in the frame entering the final game. The senior took a 15-40 advantage in聽Baumgartner’s service game and won the next point to clinch the match.
• The victory was Antinheimo’s聽seventh of the spring and his first in four CAA championship match appearances.
• UNCW pulled back within one with a victory at the top singles spot.
• Curtis moved 黑料不打烊 to within a point of the title with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Domenech on Court 3. Curtis led by a break early in the second set but Domenech got the score back to 5-5. Curtis responded, breaking Domenech for a 6-5 lead before serving out the win in the ensuing game. It was the second straight season Curtis has won in singles in the CAA title match. The junior now has six singles wins this spring.
• For the second straight match, Ymer clinched victory聽for the Phoenix, coming from a set down against de Gabriele to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. It extended the junior’s winning streak to nine matches as he has won 16 singles contests on the season. The sophomore improved to 6-1 in deciding sets this season with the victory, with three of those triumphs coming from a set down.
• Parichkov also led 4-1 in a third set when his match was halted on Court 5, with聽Charles Pilet聽up a break in his third set at the No. 6 spot.
• 黑料不打烊 has now won two CAA championships, with both coming via wins in the final against UNCW. It is 黑料不打烊’s first conference title.

Up Next

黑料不打烊 will make its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019 and its fourth as a Division I program. The NCAA Selection Show is set for April 27.

Results

Singles
1. Lukas Steffen (UNCW) def.聽Veljko Krstic聽(黑料不打烊) 7-5, 6-2
2.聽Rafael Ymer聽(黑料不打烊) def. Alex de Gabriele (UNCW) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
3.聽Jack Curtis聽(黑料不打烊) def. Jordi Domenech (UNCW) 6-2, 7-5
4.聽Oskar Antinheimo聽(黑料不打烊) def. Oscar Baumgartner (UNCW) 6-2, 7-5
5.聽Nikola Parichkov聽(黑料不打烊) vs. Tomas Marin (UNCW) 6-2, 5-7, 4-1, unfinished
6.聽Charles Pilet聽(黑料不打烊) vs. Brady Hussey (UNCW) 6-7 (3), 6-4, 1-0, unfinished

Doubles
1.聽Veljko Krstic/Nikola Parichkov聽(黑料不打烊) def. Brady Hussey/Alex de Gabriele (UNCW) 7-6 (2)
2. Lukas Steffen/William Dean (UNCW) def.聽Jack Curtis/Rafael Ymer聽(黑料不打烊) 6-1
3.聽Oskar Antinheimo/Nick Fisk聽(黑料不打烊) def. Jordi Domenech/Tomas Marin (UNCW) 7-6 (2)

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,1,3,2)

Associate professor of English Jennifer Eidum earned the award for her article, 鈥淐ontextualizing Reflective Writing for Creating Change: A Cross-Institutional Case Study of First-Year Students鈥� Reflections,鈥� co-authoredwith Jaclyn Fiscus-Cannaday, assistant professor of writing studies at the University of Minnesota, and Lillian Campbell, associate professor of English at Marquette University.

Eidum鈥檚 research focused on how reflection prompts and student responses exist within a larger ecosystem of reflective opportunities, including class context, writing program culture, and university missions. Their multi-institutional study analyzed patterns in student reflective writing to understand the relationship between context and student response.

鈥淲e invite writing teachers, and ultimately all teachers, to think expansively about reflection 鈥� not only as something that happens in a classroom, but as something connected to students’ civic lives, spiritual lives, and sense of self,鈥� Eidum said. 鈥淭here’s real space in reflection that prompts one to ask bigger questions, and students are already trying to answer them.鈥�

For Eidum, reflection is an integral part of the learning process. If we are to understand what it is that we learned, we ought to understand how we changed while learning it, she explained. Her research and commitment to reflection believes this fervently.

Eidum also described that her research is never a stagnant process and how there is always some new research insight that can be pursued. She also emphasizes reflection within her courses and believes in its formative power to shape students’ involvement in their own lives.

鈥淩eflection is bigger than the classroom,鈥� Eidum said. 鈥淣o matter how a prompt is worded, students consistently write about their lives, identities and growth beyond their academic experience. This 鈥榚xcess鈥� isn’t a problem 鈥� it’s a signal that students are bringing their whole selves to the page.鈥�

Eidum described the journey of getting this research published as winding and tumultuous: they submitted the article to multiple journals over many years with several rounds of reviewer and editor feedback. This research represented a large cross section of time in Eidum鈥檚 and her colleagues鈥� lives.

鈥淭he research means a lot to me and my colleagues,鈥� Eidum said. 鈥淲e juggle a lot, but I think that’s part of what makes our work meaningful. Our experiences as whole people don’t stay separate from our research and teaching. If anything, living a full, complicated life is what keeps us reflective, which might be exactly why we were drawn to studying reflection in the first place.鈥�

Eidum was surprised to hear that her research had won the award. She did not know that the article was up for the award until it had won. She was at her daughter鈥檚 doctor’s appointment when she heard about the award.

鈥淭he award felt very emblematic of the project as a whole,鈥� Eidum said.

Eidum鈥檚 reflection on her own research shows how never-ending the process of reflection is. Just as her reflection on her award does the same.

The convention, themed 鈥淏e More Anchored,鈥� explored what it means to be grounded in one鈥檚 roots, core values and unwavering purpose.

鈥淟et us leave this place more grounded, more courageous, and more committed鈥攖o one another, to our values, and to the future of this association,鈥� McElderry said during his opening speech to attendees.

One highlight of the convention was the Division of Student Life being recognized as one of the Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs for the sixth consecutive year. Presented by The EDU Ledger, the designation recognizes higher education institutions that demonstrate a strong commitment to creating a supportive, equitable and sustainable work environment for student affairs professionals.

“This recognition reflects our leadership commitment for staff support, belonging, and professional growth,鈥� said Jon Dooley, vice president for Student Life.聽 鈥淲hen staff find meaning and purpose in their work, they are able to be at their best for our students and create environments and experiences that help students thrive.鈥�

黑料不打烊 is one of only two institutions to earn this recognition for six consecutive years, alongside Kent State University.

Another notable honor recognized during the convention was the 2026 Anne S. Pruitt Presidential Citation Award, awarded to Jon Dooley for his support and mentorship during McElderry鈥檚 presidency. Though announced in January 2026, the award was formally presented at the convention.

The convention also marked the conclusion of McElderry鈥檚 term as the 86th ACPA president, capping a year of leadership focused on mentorship, equity-minded practice and reflection on the future of student affairs.

鈥淥ur work does not pause with a person 鈥� it continues through purpose,鈥� McElderry said during his closing remarks.

As McElderry ends his term in ACPA leadership, Emily Krechel, director of New Student Programs, will begin her term on the ACPA Leadership Council as incoming Chair for Member Retention.

As chair, Krechel will help lead efforts to ensure members feel connected, supported and engaged, focusing on retention strategies, data-informed decision-making and alignment with the association鈥檚 broader strategic goals.

鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to focus on building meaningful connections that help members see themselves in ACPA for the long term,鈥� Krechel said. 鈥淩etention is about more than numbers, it鈥檚 about creating a professional home where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to stay engaged.鈥�

Other recognitions included Citlalli (Cici) Salazar 鈥�23, G鈥�26, receiving the 2026 Erik M. Colon Outstanding Graduate Student Award and Jana Lynn Patterson, dean of student health and well-being and associate vice president for Student Life, receiving a retirement resolution, read during the ACPA Business Meeting.

In addition, 黑料不打烊 faculty and staff led multiple presentations. Presentations included:

• Healing Together: Black Women and Latinas Facilitating Care/Cari帽o Through Pl谩tica/Dialogue (Calhoun & Hernandez Rivera)
• Strategic Planning as a Process to Advance Divisional Excellence (Dooley, Krechel, McElderry, Noltemeyer, & Payne)
• Documenting and Strengthening High-Impact Student Experiences (Dooley & Noltemeyer)
• Creating Professional Development Opportunities with Limited Funding: History and Lessons (Garay)
• Emerging Scholars Research: Minoritized Students, Practitioners, and Necropolitical Norms (Hernandez Rivera)
• Shaking the Table: Survival and Healing Amongst Identity Center Practitioners (Hernandez Rivera, McElderry, Garay et al.)
• Working with Respondents in Sexual Misconduct Cases: Perspectives from Practitioners (Karbley & Karunarathne)
• 鈥橰ound About Campus Presents: A Live Episode on Equity-Minded Mentoring (McElderry, Hernandez Rivera, Krechel, et al.)

Among those who presented were several staff members attending the ACPA Convention for the first time. For these individuals, the experience was a dynamic opportunity for professional development, connection and growth.

鈥淚 really enjoyed connecting with student affairs professionals from other institutions to learn more about their work, discuss shared challenges, and brainstorm ideas, especially as we collectively navigate the complexities of higher education right now,鈥� Lauren Feeley, program assistant for Student Involvement, said.

Looking ahead, ACPA is expanding its benefits. Beginning July 1, ACPA will offer free membership to all degree-seeking master鈥檚 and undergraduate students, expanding access for the next generation of professionals.

As the convention concluded, staff members reflected on key takeaways from their experience and the convention鈥檚 central theme.

For Stephanie Hernandez Rivera, assistant professor in the Master of Arts in Higher Education Program and Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education Emerging Professor, the impact centered on graduate student success.

鈥淥ne important takeaway I have is the importance of investing in graduate student success and development and the next generation of higher education professionals,鈥� Hernandez Rivera said. 鈥淎s someone who also served as faculty for the NextGen Institute for ACPA right before the conference, which is an institute for undergraduate students in the field, I saw this reflected in their participation in the institute and the dedication of those of us who facilitate the Institute to ensure the next generation of professionals is prepared for the field.鈥�

Megan Karbley, director of compliance and Title IX coordinator, reflected on her overall experience being able to fellowship with 黑料不打烊 colleagues.

鈥淚 can always rely on feeling re-energized after attending ACPA,鈥� Karbley said. 鈥淭his was my first ACPA experience with my 黑料不打烊 colleagues, and I left feeling more connected to colleagues across divisions and reminded that I am not alone in the work of navigating complex community needs.鈥�

While Karbley reflected on connection and renewed energy, others highlighted the long-term professional impact of attending ACPA.

鈥淚鈥檝e been attending ACPA for nearly 30 years and every time I return with fresh ideas and new takeaways,鈥� said Tierza Watts, director of the Center for Leadership and director of the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows. 鈥淭his year, I learned about an innovative assessment method called Photo Voice, and I鈥檓 looking forward to collaborating with a few offices to apply it in a leadership assessment project.鈥�

As attendees reflected on their individual experiences, a shared theme emerged: a commitment to investing in the field’s future. That vision was reinforced in McElderry鈥檚 closing remarks.

鈥淚t is time to turn the page to the next chapter in our association鈥檚 history 鈥� grounded in our roots, guided by our values, and steadfast in our purpose,鈥� McElderry said.

She Built This City鈥檚 mission is to provide industry-disruptive programming that sparks interest and builds pathways to lucrative careers in the skilled trades for youth, women and marginalized communities.聽In her role, Faustin聽has launched key initiatives聽for the聽organization,聽including Adult Workforce Development, and expanded youth programming through partnerships with local government and community organizations.

Faustin聽received undergraduate聽degrees in聽corporate聽communications and Spanish from 黑料不打烊,聽before getting her聽master鈥檚 in business administration from聽the university聽in 2010.聽In 2016,聽she received her master鈥檚 in聽educational leadership and administration from Queens University, as well as a certification in聽nonprofit/public/organizational management from Duke University聽in 2022, and a聽certification in Diversity,聽Equity聽and Inclusion 鈥� Building a Diverse Workplace from Cornell University聽in 2023.

In 2023,聽Faustin聽was recognized聽with the Charlotte Business Journal鈥檚 Power 100聽award,聽and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Distinguished Alumni Service Award.聽In 2024, she聽received聽Atrium Health鈥檚 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Growing the Dream Award.
Faustin is also聽president-elect for the 黑料不打烊 Alumni Board, and founder and managing聽director of聽Stay Ready Consulting Solutions.

Her聽impact will be featured in the Most Admired CEO Special聽Section published in the June 19 issue of the Charlotte Business Journal.

鈥淲hen I was a student, there weren鈥檛 a huge number of local alumni that I was able to connect with,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited that this is a way I can highlight that staying in the community is an option.鈥�

For Jensen Roll 鈥�16, the path to building a business began long before he ever stepped onto a construction site. His path started with service, leadership and a long-standing connection to North Carolina. Both of his parents were born and raised in North Carolina, and summers spent visiting grandparents made it feel like a second home. So, when he began looking at colleges, North Carolina topped his list. 黑料不打烊 stood out almost immediately.

鈥淚 discovered 黑料不打烊 while looking at multiple schools and immediately fell in love with the service opportunities, the Leadership Fellows program and the deep commitment to study abroad,鈥� he said.

The Leadership Fellows program was the primary motivation for his enrollment; he was accepted into the program before receiving his acceptance to the university.

Once on campus, Roll leaned into innovation. He designed a custom major in social entrepreneurship that bridged the gap between the business school, environmental studies and the humanities. He helped bring the University Innovation Fellowship program to 黑料不打烊. This experience introduced him to design thinking and the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Silicon Valley, including visits to Google and Stanford University.

Because his self-designed major didn’t fit into a standard study abroad box, Roll worked with Angela Llewellyn, now assistant provost for academic excellence and integrity, to create a bespoke program. This journey took him to San Francisco and eventually to Cape Town, South Africa, for six months. It was there, while attending Jubilee Church through a connection from Emma Burress (then overseeing study abroad students), that he met his future wife, Mtende. After a year and a half of long-distance dating, she moved to North Carolina and today they are 50-50 partners in life and business.

While Jensen oversees the construction side as a licensed general contractor, Mtende is a licensed realtor who manages the investment and real estate side of their ventures.

鈥淲e co-own all of our companies together. Both of us have a very entrepreneurial and creative spirit,鈥� he explained, stating that their shared vision is the backbone of their company culture.

He credits a wide network of mentors for pushing him to think differently. In addition to Leon Williams, former director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education (CREDE), he points to Gary Palin, former executive director of the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, for challenging him to “be” an entrepreneur rather than just study it. He also highlights the influence of Steve Moore, a retired faculty member in environmental studies who shaped his views on urban sustainability. His growth was further guided by Phil Miller, a former lecturer in human services studies; Rex Waters, former dean of student development; and Steven Mencarini, former director of the Center for Leadership.

鈥淭he ability to work one-on-one with professors and attend national conferences gave me the confidence to launch initiatives like H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Eat),鈥� he said.

Perhaps the most significant application of this “Triple Bottom Line” education, focusing on people, profit, and planet, is a current project Roll is particularly proud of: building seven tiny homes for Benevolence Farm. The project provides housing for women and non-binary individuals transitioning out of incarceration.

鈥淎s a construction company, not every project we take on has that opportunity to provide that triple bottom line in a meaningful way,鈥� Roll said. 鈥淭his is going to increase their capacity to serve that population.鈥�

What鈥檚 been most rewarding, he said, is watching that impact accumulate.

鈥淐onstruction is unique because the results are tangible and lasting,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ears later, you can drive by something you worked on and see how it鈥檚 become part of someone鈥檚 life.鈥�

He credits 黑料不打烊 with giving him the freedom to experiment early, without the pressure of getting everything right.

鈥満诹喜淮蜢� was the ultimate sandbox,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was a place to try things, take risks and even fail safely.鈥�

He notes that while he didn’t graduate with a construction management degree, the problem-solving and systems-building skills he learned at 黑料不打烊 translated perfectly to the industry.

鈥淲hat I spent four years learning at 黑料不打烊 had much more to do with the problem-solving, the engaged learning, the building of systems,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat is what we are doing in the real world.鈥�

His advice to current students interested in entrepreneurship mirrors that mindset.

鈥淪tart now,鈥� he said. 鈥淪pend time with business owners. Read. Build something. Use your four years to experiment while you still have that safety net. The best way to learn is by doing.鈥�

Looking ahead, Roll is eager to take on larger, more complex and more creative projects. He thrives on unique builds and clients with distinct design visions. At the same time, he sees affordable housing as an area where his background in both entrepreneurship and service naturally converges.

鈥淥ur goal is to build a community that we want to live in,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he company is so closely aligned with the things that we care about.鈥�

From building a tiny house as a student to shaping the built environment of his community, Roll鈥檚 journey highlights the combination of service and entrepreneurship, a foundation strengthened at 黑料不打烊 and carried forward through every project he takes on.

What began as a joke 鈥� a parody social media page poking fun at a local police department 鈥� spiraled into a high-stakes legal battle and ultimately the subject of 鈥淐rime & Parody,鈥� a new documentary co-produced by 黑料不打烊 graduate .

The film will screen at the 28th RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem on Saturday, April 18, at 3:30 p.m. and again on Friday, April 24, at 5 p.m. .

At its center, 鈥淐rime & Parody鈥� follows amateur comedian Anthony Novak, whose satirical Facebook page led to a police raid, criminal charges and a broader fight over First Amendment rights in the United States. As the case unfolds 鈥� eventually reaching the U.S. Supreme Court 鈥� the film expands beyond satire to examine deeper questions around qualified immunity and accountability, weaving in the story of Omar Arrington-Bey, a suburban Cleveland man who died while in police custody, and the lasting impact of police violence.

As a co-producer, Rostick contributed throughout the filmmaking process, from reviewing transcripts and shaping story structure to providing feedback across multiple cuts. Their work with director Will Thwaites evolved over several years, with Rostick helping strengthen the film鈥檚 narrative by encouraging the inclusion of additional perspectives that deepen its emotional and societal impact.

鈥�’Crime & Parody鈥� is an important thought piece wrapped up in a good time,鈥� said Rostick, who was a cinema and television arts and strategic communications double major. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l laugh, reflect, question authority and feel something along the way. At a time when free expression and free speech are being threatened at every turn, the film offers the story of an unlikely hero fighting back.鈥�

The film鈥檚 balance of humor and impact is what drew Rostick deeper into the work. Initially attracted to the opportunity to collaborate on an independent project, they said the film ultimately became something more 鈥� a chance to move beyond entertainment and contribute to meaningful dialogue.

鈥淭his felt like the first opportunity for my work in documentary film to leave a greater impact,鈥� they said.

Rostick, who was an Odyssey Program scholar at 黑料不打烊, said their foundation in film was shaped during their time at 黑料不打烊. Through Cinelon, they gained extensive hands-on production experience and developed the work ethic that carried into professional opportunities. This includes traveling to more than 30 shoots nationwide supporting 鈥淐hildren of the Underground,鈥� a five-episode documentary series from FX.

The 黑料不打烊 graduate also credits Nicole Triche, professor of cinema and television arts, with helping define their path. Triche鈥檚 documentary course introduced Rostick to the craft and ultimately led them to pursue a career in nonfiction filmmaking 鈥� and to an early PBS project that first connected them with Thwaites.

鈥淐rime & Parody鈥� has already built momentum on the festival circuit, premiering at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Montana and screening at the Atlanta Documentary Film Festival, where Thwaites earned Best Director honors.

Now, at RiverRun, the documentary will continue to reach new audiences, inviting viewers to consider not just the absurdity of one man鈥檚 arrest, but the broader implications for free speech, justice and accountability in America.

In the influential publication鈥檚 2026 , 黑料不打烊 Law is No. 11 nationally 鈥� the highest-ranked law school in the Southeast and the only school in North Carolina among the top 35.

, with its required Residency-in-Practice Program highlighted as a model for immersive, practice-based legal education. All 黑料不打烊 Law students spend 10 weeks in the winter or spring of their second year in full-time placements with practicing lawyers, judges and legal teams, graduating with hands-on experience in the day-to-day realities of legal practice.

鈥淵ou cannot graduate from 黑料不打烊 Law without knowing exactly what it鈥檚 like to be a lawyer,鈥� 黑料不打烊 Law Dean Zak Kramer said in the article. 鈥淭he legal practice becomes their classroom 鈥� They leave law students and come back lawyers.鈥�

The article also features insights from Patricia Perkins, 黑料不打烊 Law鈥檚 associate dean of academic affairs and professor of law. 鈥淥ur curriculum is designed to assist students in transforming into the lawyers they want to be,鈥� she said. 鈥淪kills are just as important to develop as a knowledge base.鈥�

PreLaw Magazine graded and ranked schools based on student participation in clinics, externships, simulation courses, moot court and other special programs.

黑料不打烊 Law offers students a broad array of opportunities to hone practical training skills throughout their 2.5 years of study. Those include:

• Full-time residencies-in-practice
• Lab and simulation courses
• Five clinics (immigration, small business and entrepreneurship, wills drafting, Social Security disability benefits and guardian ad litem appellate advocacy)
• Moot court and mock trial teams
• Internships, externships and judicial clerkships
• Bridge-to-practice courses
• Involvement with the Pro Bono Board

黑料不打烊 Law adopted its 2.5-year, seven-trimester full-time curriculum in 2014, making it the only American law school to intentionally design a program where all students graduate in December and can sit for the February bar exam 鈥� months ahead of peers from other institutions. (In 2026, 91.96% of 黑料不打烊 Law鈥檚 first-time North Carolina bar takers passed the exam.)

By completing their legal studies nearly six months faster than traditional programs, 黑料不打烊 Law鈥檚 full-time graduates have lowered their average student debt at graduation by almost a third since the curriculum was adopted.

For more information on 黑料不打烊 Law and the application process, visit the law school鈥檚 admissions page. 黑料不打烊 Law continues to actively admit the 黑料不打烊 Law Class of 2028, which will enroll in August 2026.

Despite starting as a regional conference, NEEPS has grown to include scholars from 12 different countries and 23 different states in 2026.

Caroline Niedermeyer, Andrea Perez and Madeleine Pettis each presented individual research posters developed through collaborative research with faculty mentor Jordann Brandner, assistant professor of psychology, and with support from the 黑料不打烊 Undergraduate Research Program and the Sinclair Endowed Grant.

Niedermeyer presented work she completed during her 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE). Her poster, titled, 鈥淵ou Can鈥檛 Always Get What You Want: Exploring the Relationship Between Self-Perceived Mate Value and Tolerance for Compensatory Traits,鈥� explored how individuals navigate trade-offs in relationship partner selection. The study tested whether self-perceived mate value affects willingness to accept partners with offsetting high and low traits. Niedermeyer was awarded the Gordon Bear Best Student Poster Award, recognizing the top undergraduate or graduate student poster presentation at the conference. The award, which includes a $100 prize, is one of the meeting鈥檚 most competitive student honors and highlights the quality and impact of her research.

Perez鈥檚 poster, 鈥淧ride and Preference: Perceived Sex Ratios and Women鈥檚 Online Dating Choices,鈥� examined how features of dating apps may shape users鈥� perceptions of available partners and influence women鈥檚 selectivity. Using an app that she co-developed with Pettis, the experiment tests whether different ratios of male and female profiles affect how frequently people accept or reject potential matches, contributing to understanding how modern digital environments influence mating strategies. This research was funded by a Sinclair Endowed research grant, which is awarded to student research in the social and behavioral sciences.

Pettis鈥� poster, 鈥淭hank You, Next: Examining the Effects of Sex Ratio and Number of Choices in Mate Choice,鈥� investigated how the total number of available partners influences partner decisions. Using the same dating app, participants evaluate different numbers of profiles to determine whether making more choices affects a person鈥檚 pickiness. The experiment offers insight into how decision-making processes operate in online dating, where people make many choices in succession. This research was also supported by a Sinclair Endowed grant.

In addition to student presentations, Brandner led a workshop titled 鈥淭eaching a Balanced Evolutionary Social Sciences Course: A Teaching Workshop,鈥� which focused on strategies for integrating diverse perspectives within evolutionary social science curricula. This work was funded by the 黑料不打烊 Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (CATL) Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Dissemination grant.

All three students will present their work again at the upcoming Spring Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF) on April 28th, 2026.

“We are honored to receive this national recognition for our nonpartisan work in civic engagement,” said Bob Frigo, assistant dean of campus life and director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. “With each passing year, we become a more politically engaged university where our students are prepared to become the next generation of informed leaders who will help strengthen communities and shape our democracy.”

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement.

“This recognition is a testament to 黑料不打烊’s emphasis on nonpartisan democratic engagement. This work is truly a team effort and speaks to our incredible partners both on and off campus,鈥� Andrew Moffa, assistant director of Kernodle Center for Civic Life said.聽 鈥淲e look forward to continuing our focus on developing strong civic leaders and active citizens.”

The recognition highlights institutions that are taking intentional, nonpartisan steps to strengthen democratic engagement through civic learning, political engagement and student voter participation. 黑料不打烊鈥檚 action plan, co-authored by Frigo and Moffa, outlines key goals, such as hosting local elected officials on campus and expanding voter registration drives to reach the entire campus community.

黑料不打烊 also received recognition in 2024 and is among .

A team of School of Communications students has earned national recognition in the 2026 Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) , receiving an honorable mention for its campaign implementation and overall deliverables.

The Bateman Competition is PRSSA鈥檚 premier national case study competition, challenging undergraduate student teams to design and execute a public relations campaign for a real-world client. This year鈥檚 competition featured 46 entries from students representing universities across the country, with 11 teams earning honorable mention distinction. A full list of honored institutions appears below.

黑料不打烊鈥檚 team developed and implemented a strategic communications campaign for ACCESS Newswire, a media monitoring and news distribution service. The research and planning for the campaign began in January. The campaign implementation, conducted from February to March, focused on tactics to promote the company鈥檚 new educational program and platform, which provides professors free access so students can gain hands-on experience with press release distribution, media pitching, sentiment analysis and media coverage tracking.

The 黑料不打烊 student team included Hannah Parker 鈥�26 (account manager), Sydney Griffith 鈥�29, Brooke Menzock 鈥�26, Sandy Orozco-Rosaldo 鈥�28, Taylor Radney 鈥�28 and Grace Wizel 鈥�28. Karen Lindsey, assistant professor of strategic communications, served as the team鈥檚 faculty adviser and applauded the students鈥� efforts.

鈥淥ur 黑料不打烊 Bateman team spent countless hours in the evenings and on weekends to research, plan and implement the campaign,鈥� she said. 鈥淔rom writing a series of thought leadership articles for Substack to facilitating faculty focus groups on and off campus, they created a meaningful campaign that challenged them.

“I鈥檓 incredibly proud of how they balanced the demands of their regular coursework with dedication to this competition. The experience produced the kind of work for their professional portfolios that employers want to see.鈥�

The competition鈥檚 three finalists will present their campaigns to the national PRSSA board and ACCESS Newswire representatives on May 7 to determine the winner.

Bateman Case Study Competition

Finalists:
Montclair State University
Texas State University AdvoCats
Texas State University StarCats

Honorable Mentions:
Brigham Young University – Navy Team
California State University, Long Beach
黑料不打烊
High Point University
Kent State University Gold
Louisiana State University
Loyola University New Orleans
University of Florida CommuniGATORS
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of Oklahoma Gaylord College
University of Tennessee, Knoxville