Autumn Parish 鈥�28 found her place in the African Diaspora Living-Learning Community, located on the fourth floor of Jackson Hall in the Global Neighborhood. On that hall during her first year, she discovered best friends and built the foundation of her 黑料不打烊 experience.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important where you live,鈥� Parish said. 鈥淵ou have to feel at home when you鈥檙e not home.鈥�

While the African Diaspora LLC is her safe space on campus, the human service studies major is deeply involved in campus life. Parish serves as a member of the Student Government Association, a SMART mentor, an 黑料不打烊 College Fellow, a fall 2025 initiate of Alpha Kappa Alapa Sorority, Inc., a Renaissance Scholar and secretary for the National Council of Negro Women.

She also works as a student coordinator for the Black Student Success team, helping plan events centered on the Black community at 黑料不打烊.

鈥淚 find planning events fulfilling because it lets students know that their community is here,鈥� Parish said.

Mentorship

Mentorship is woven into the culture at 黑料不打烊. Professors, staff and students alike step into mentorship roles, helping others navigate their college experience.

Parish serves as a SMART mentor, which feels natural. She鈥檇 always tried to be a positive role model for her younger siblings back home, and she now extends that same energy to first-year students finding their footing at 黑料不打烊.

Sandra Reid, a professor of human service studies and Parish鈥檚 research adviser, inspires Parish鈥檚 approach to mentoring. Reid first made an impression at an admissions event when she led a mock class that ultimately swayed Parish鈥檚 decision to choose 黑料不打烊.

鈥淚 know I can be successful in a small classroom environment where professors don鈥檛 see me as a number, but they know who I am,鈥� Parish said. 鈥淭hey know my name, and they care about my well-being.鈥�

Now working alongside Reid for her research, Parish continues to grow academically and personally.

鈥淎utumn is a caring, inquisitive and highly focused research student who consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to learning,鈥� Reid said. 鈥淪he soaks up new information and engages thoughtfully with complex material, applying strong critical thinking skills to her work.鈥�

The culture of mentorship at 黑料不打烊 has been one of the university鈥檚 defining characteristics.

鈥淚 love when people help me help the world,鈥� Parish said. 鈥淚 love that it鈥檚 part of the culture. The professors want you to succeed. The advisers want you to succeed. Even someone who doesn鈥檛 even know who you are, they want to see you succeed.鈥�

History in the Making

For Parish, Black History Month is about understanding where you come from and honoring those who paved the way.

Growing up, her parents emphasized that the opportunities she has today exist because of sacrifices made by generations before her.

鈥淎nd just to think that was only a couple of generations away 鈥� my grandparents protested,鈥� Parish said. 鈥淭hey showed us how important it was and the sacrifices they made for the opportunity for me to get a scholarship at a school I didn鈥檛 even think I could go to.鈥�

That perspective shapes how she approaches her work on campus. Parish believes history is not confined to the past. It is unfolding every day.

鈥淏lack history is happening all the time, and you are living Black history because everything that you do is history in the making,鈥� she said.

Parish views her involvement at 黑料不打烊 as preparation for a life centered on service and impact. The sense of belonging she found in her first year and the mentors who guided her continue to shape how she shows up for others.

鈥淓verything that you do makes an impact on future things to come,鈥� Parish said. 鈥淓very decision you make can make a positive impact if you let it.鈥�

Black History Month

As part of Black History Month, 黑料不打烊 is sharing stories through Today at 黑料不打烊 that highlight Black students, faculty and staff who actively contribute to a campus environment where cultural histories and identities are celebrated year-round. In February, 黑料不打烊 is also recognizing the month through a series of events and programming.

The Department of Performing Art’s production from Feb. 13-15, 2026, featured an immersive sound design developed through collaboration between Associate Professor Michael Smith, Production Manager Rick Earl and music production and recording arts student Brandon Cericola 鈥�26.

The project blends Smith鈥檚 sabbatical research in immersive audio with Cericola’s interest in sound design for film and television, where immersive sound is increasingly common. The result was a student production that expanded beyond a traditional theatrical sound system.

鈥淭he traditional audio for musicals is augmented by eight surround speakers placed in the audience, some for sound effects, others to bring the performance out into the space more, to surround the audience with vocals,鈥� Earl said.

The production used the department鈥檚 existing equipment, along with additional loudspeakers, to create the sound effect. The show used 80 inputs and 38 outputs, with updated software to help automate immersive sound effects. While some immersive systems require major hardware investments, the team developed manual techniques to adapt the live performance within available resources.

鈥淭he nature of the show is more rock-oriented, and maybe more intimate than some musicals, and takes place in a city, which by nature is an immersive environment,鈥� Earl said. “The stars aligned 鈥� the right student, the recent research, experiences and the desire of all of us to do something like this.鈥�

Cericola had significant creative ownership of the design. Aside from the required elements, much of what the audience heard was his creation. Earl and Smith worked with Cericola over the summer to build a small immersive setup, allowing him to record musicians, experiment with mixing and refining before scaling the systems for McCrary Theatre.

鈥淎 lot of what you hear is Brandon鈥檚 creation,鈥� Earl said. 鈥淟arge-scale system implementation like this takes strong project management skills, leadership and mentoring skills, documentation, flexibility, time management, and the ability to know when something isn鈥檛 going to work and find an alternative.

鈥淔rom an audience perspective, I think it will bring them into the 鈥榳orld鈥� that is 鈥楻ENT鈥� and enhance their experience,鈥� Earl said.

For Cericola, the production represents the combination of the experiences he has had while at 黑料不打烊.

鈥淭his has been the most challenging project I have taken on at 黑料不打烊, and it is a combination of many skills I have learned here,鈥� Cericola said. “To hear the show come to life during rehearsal was exciting and satisfying. It is evidence of my education and time at 黑料不打烊.鈥�

Cericola drew on coursework in the Music Production and Recording Arts program, leadership experiences, work study roles with the Office of Cultural and Special Programs and immersive audio research developed as an 黑料不打烊 College Fellow. He also attended the NAMM Show, an international music industry trade show, where he connected with manufacturers, sound designers and an engineer to discuss immersive audio approaches and set-ups.

For Smith, the production marks a full-circle moment following his sabbatical research.

鈥淭he research I did on my sabbatical was my main leaping point for trying to do immersive audio on the McCrary stage,鈥� Smith said. “After hearing Brandon鈥檚 and Rick鈥檚 setup over the summer, I knew the next step would have to be producing a live musical with a similar setup.鈥�

During his sabbatical, Smith built a scaled-down immersive theatre that was later expanded and installed in Roberts Studio Theatre. The 25-speaker system allows each speaker to be individually assigned and controlled, creating a unique learning space for students.

“It is the only theatre in this area that has an immersive audio system for students to do their sound design work on,鈥� Smith said.

Earl, Smith and Cericola made decisions as a team to ensure the project remained manageable and cost-effective. They said the collaboration shows what is possible when research, creativity and student passions intersect.

鈥淲ithout all three of us working together, something like this wouldn鈥檛 have been possible,鈥� Smith said. “Now we realize what possibilities we have for future performances, not just in the Department of Performing Arts but for Cultural event programs as well.鈥�

Nearly 300 aspiring 黑料不打烊 College Fellows participated in academic sessions, program receptions, group simulations and interviews during Fellows Weekend. Led by the Office of Admissions, the annual Fellows Weekend invites to campus high school seniors in contention for the university鈥檚 signature fellows and scholarship programs.

鈥淭alking with prospective 黑料不打烊 College Fellows was incredibly energizing,鈥� said Associate Professor Renay Aumiller, director of the 黑料不打烊 College Fellows program. 鈥淪tudents brought such thoughtfulness, curiosity and openness to every conversation, and it was clear how deeply they were already thinking about learning, collaboration and purpose. Those moments of dialogue and connection are always my favorite part of Fellows Weekend.鈥�

The 黑料不打烊 College Fellows program is a four-year academic and professional program for students who are passionately committed to exploring the breadth, depth and connections within 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences.

There are three branches of the 黑料不打烊 College Fellows program for the 60 students selected for the cohort: Arts and Humanities Fellows, Mathematical and Natural Sciences Fellows and Social Sciences Fellows. Among other requirements, Fellows must intend to major in one of the many fields within鈥诹喜淮蜢� College, the College of Arts and Sciences and rank in the top 15% of their high school class.

Aumiller said she was struck by both enthusiasm and depth of engagement displayed by students throughout Fellows Weekend, which took place Feb. 6-7, 2026. The weekend also provided an opportunity for prospective families to connect with faculty, staff and current 黑料不打烊 students in the 黑料不打烊 College Fellows program.

鈥淚 left the weekend feeling inspired,鈥� Aumiller said. “The energy was vibrant, focused and genuinely curious. Students were asking thoughtful questions, listening closely and engaging with one another in meaningful ways. There was a real sense of excitement about learning and being part of something larger than themselves.

“It was a joy to meet so many students and their families and to share the values of the 黑料不打烊 College Fellows program with them,鈥� she added. 鈥淭he level of engagement, warmth and enthusiasm throughout the weekend made it a special experience for all of us involved.鈥�

At this conference, three 黑料不打烊 students and two faculty attended and presented.

Student Accomplishments:

• Kelly Donovan 鈥�26, a double major in applied mathematics and statistics, a Lumen Scholar and College Fellow, presented her Lumen project titled 鈥淣ovel Deep-Sea Coral Imputation Technique: Filling in Missing Data to Further Coral Conservation鈥� in a poster session. Her research is mentored by Assistant Professor of Statistics Nic Bussberg.

• Lisa Kranec ’28,聽a double major in engineering and applied mathematics, presented her recent project in a poster session titled, 鈥� Mathematical Modeling of Cardiac Macrophages in COVID-19.鈥� Her research team聽is mentored by Associate Professor Hwayeon Ryu and their work has been supported by the聽聽(under Ryu).

• Pagnapech Ngoun ’26,聽an engineering major, presented her collaborative research in an oral session titled, 鈥� Mathematical Modeling of COVID-19 Reveals Immune Cell Dysfunction.鈥澛燞er research represents recent findings based on a new mathematical model聽that accounts for the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and the human immune system. Her research team聽is mentored by Associate Professor Hwayeon Ryu and their work has been supported by the聽聽(under Ryu).

Faculty Accomplishments:

• Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Statistics Keta Henderson gave an invited talk on her collaborative work titled “Analysis of trade-off between dispersal and patch intrinsic growth for a landscape ecological model” in a session “Women in Mathematical Biology”.聽Henderson also served as a moderator and co-organizer for the Association of Women in Mathematics Panel: “Shattering the Myths鈥擧iring Women in Mathematics.” In addition, she participated in a professional development session focused on teaching multivariable calculus using CalcPlot3D and 3D printing. She plans to incorporate these strategies into her MTH 2520 Multivariable Calculus and Analytic Geometry in Spring 2026.

• Associate Professor of Mathematics Hwayeon Ryu聽co-organized a special session titled “Women in Mathematical Biology,” in which a total of 16 invited speakers presented a variety of life science questions through the lens of mathematical modeling聽to understand complex system dynamics. The goal was to highlight the new developments or advancements along with the diverse group of researchers who drive innovation.聽In this session, Ryu presented her recently published paper, 鈥�,鈥� partially supported by聽黑料不打烊 Faculty Research & Development Full-Year, Full-Pay Sabbatical Award with Financial Assistance.

“I had a very fulfilling time while at JMM. Althe l presentations I was able to attend, all conversations I had with professors from different programs, and all pieces of feedback I received on my poster were very enriching. I’m very grateful I was able to attend the conference and I’m excited to hopefully attend in the future,” said Donovan ’26.

Rafting through the Grand Canyon two years ago, Braetan Peters 鈥�26 was taken by the beauty of the cliffs and valleys, but something else was also on her mind: her cell phone.

鈥淭he trip lasted eight days, and five days were actually water rafting throughout the canyon. So, we covered over 130 miles, and it was intense camping. And during that time, I did not have access to my cell phone, so I constantly felt the need to reach down and go 鈥極h, where’s my cell phone?鈥�”

So, when it came time to find a topic for her 黑料不打烊 College Fellows research, Peters decided to explore the addictive factor of cell phones and how peoples’ behavior changes after not having access to the devices for extended periods.

鈥淭hat experience in the Canyon really propelled this research forward,鈥� said Peters, who is from Annville, Pennsylvania.

黑料不打烊 College Fellows is a four-year academic and professional program in 黑料不打烊 College, the College of Arts and Sciences, for students who are passionately committed to exploring the breadth, depth and connections within the arts and sciences.

Right now, Peters is in the process of gathering survey data. Over the summer, she partnered with Hatch River Expeditions, a family-owned rafting company in Northern Arizona. The company sent out Peters鈥� information to its clients, asking if they鈥檇 like to participate. Once confirmed, Peters surveyed people before their rafting trip and then followed up after.

鈥淕rand Canyon is probably one of the last places left where your phone can鈥檛 constantly get internet. We hope we can help her get what she needs,鈥� said Steve Hatch, owner of Hatch River Expeditions. 鈥淣ot very many people in the world get access to the Grand Canyon the way we do. Whenever we can, we like to use that access to help people.鈥�

In addition to survey results from Grand Canyon rafters, Peters will also survey students on Winter Term study abroad trips to Tanzania and New Zealand, where their cell phone use will be minimal.

A biology major with a neuroscience minor, Peters is currently on a pre-med track, so she says, getting experience with this kind of research will be helpful for her future. Undergraduate research is one of the five 黑料不打烊 Experiences, along with study abroad, service, leadership, internships and research. Students are required to complete at least two of the experiences before they graduate. With undergraduate research, students pair up with a faculty member as their mentor. Mat Gendle, professor of psychology, is serving as Peters鈥� mentor.

鈥淚t’s been super helpful to have someone to guide me through this process since it’s my first time,鈥� said Peters, who has also been an 黑料不打烊 Women鈥檚 cross country and track and field student athlete for the past three years.聽 鈥淚 chose Mat Gendle because of his enthusiasm to work with me on this. This isn’t something that he has done previously, but he has knowledge in the neuroscience area.鈥�

Peters is working on a manuscript for the project and hopes to submit it for publication after graduating.

Titled 鈥淎 Qualitative Study of Parent-Reported Biopsychosocial Challenges Among North American Families with Adopted Children Living with Perinatally-Acquired HIV,鈥� the article applies a biopsychosocial framework to better understand the complex realities these families face. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 22 adoptive caregivers, the research highlights that, while HIV is now a manageable medical condition thanks to effective antiretroviral treatment, families often grapple with significant psychological and social challenges.

Among the most pressing issues were early childhood trauma, racial discrimination and HIV-related stigma. Parents reported difficulties navigating disclosure in schools and communities, particularly when trying to advocate for their children without compromising their privacy. Many participants also emphasized the need for trauma-informed care and increased cultural sensitivity among healthcare and educational professionals.

鈥淧arents described a reality in which HIV wasn鈥檛 the biggest challenge鈥攊t was the surrounding stigma, racism, and the long-term effects of trauma,鈥� said Fair. 鈥淭his research calls for holistic support systems that reflect the lived experiences of adoptive families.鈥�

The study was supported by 黑料不打烊 College Fellows and Undergraduate Research Programs. Wolgin, who plans to attend law school in the fall, served as a co-author on the project.

In June, Bogart studied abroad in Rome, Italy as she worked on a feminist translation and re-vision of Virgil鈥檚 鈥淎eneid,鈥� the Latin epic poem that tells the story of Aeneas, a Trojan who fled the fall of Troy and went to Italy.

鈥淭he work I鈥檓 doing this summer is rooted in my being in Rome,鈥� said Bogart, who is also minoring in women, gender and sexuality studies. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking at writing in place and the aspect of writing in the place in which the original author of an ancient text, like the 鈥楢eneid,鈥� was written as I tell it in my own way.鈥�

Last summer, Bogart translated more than 1,000 words of the nearly 10,000-word poem for her work, which focuses on retelling the stories of characters Dido, the queen of Carthage, and her sister Anna. Bogart鈥檚 interest in the 鈥淎eneid,鈥� and the characters, began after taking Latin in high school.

鈥淲e were studying book four, which is the big Dido chapter and it鈥檚 a tragedy in a lot of ways because Dido does die in the end and her sister is left with the great repercussions of everything that had built up in the book,鈥� Bogart said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a younger sister myself and I see a lot of my own relationship with my sibling reflected in Dido and Anna.鈥�

While Bogart, who is also an 黑料不打烊 College Fellow, is doing this work as a Lumen Scholar, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 highest undergraduate research award, she will present during the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) presentation on July 24 in the Snow Atrium of Schar Hall.

SURE provides an opportunity for students to work with faculty and gain meaningful research experience over the summer, without the pressure of other courses during a typical semester. Students apply for the opportunity, which usually takes place during the summer before the junior or senior year.

鈥淏ecause this has been a new aspect of my Lumen research, it has been so fascinating to be able to do this,鈥� Bogart said. 鈥淚 feel very fortunate that I can be here and do this work and receive a stipend from 黑料不打烊. I feel like a very lucky undergraduate student to experience this and I鈥檓 excited to share my work at the poster session.鈥�

Undergraduate research and global engagement are two of the five 黑料不打烊 Experiences. Students are expected to complete at least two of the experiences before graduating. Bogart is also working closely with her faculty mentors from both majors: Kristina Meinking, professor of classical languages, and Margaret Chapman, senior lecturer in English.

鈥淥nce I started talking about my interest in classical, feminist retelling in Virgil鈥檚 鈥淎eneid鈥� and the Dido and Anna characters, there was a pretty instant connection where they both were so truly interested in the interdisciplinary work I was seeking between classics and creative writing,鈥� said Bogart. 鈥淭here鈥檚 just this great match of energy when discussing what I鈥檝e been learning and seeing with them.鈥�

Olivia Kogan ’24 works at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism聽as an , a year-long program designed for recent college graduates who demonstrate a strong commitment to Judaism, social justice and public policy.

The RAC is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to Jewish social justice聽and represents the Reform Jewish movement, the largest and most diverse Jewish denomination in North America, which encompasses 825 congregations, 2000 rabbis and 1.8 million Reform Jews.

鈥淚 support the work of the organization through attending congressional meetings, coalitions, engaging with the White House, the cabinet offices and state and local officials,鈥� Kogan said. 鈥淚 also lead our legislative advocacy on gun violence prevention, racial justice, criminal justice, death penalty, health care and Native American Indigenous People’s rights.鈥�

In her role, Kogan staffs the Commission on Social Action Task Force on transgender rights, where she is currently authoring and developing a comprehensive toolkit to equip congregations and communities with resources for inclusion, advocacy and policy engagement around transgender rights.

鈥淚 think the most challenging part is that policy is continuously changing. Most of the work in a faith-based organization, there’s a limited amount that we can say or do,鈥� said Kogan. 鈥淚 want to make the most amount of change, but right now that’s really difficult.鈥�

Kogan works with the organization to host social justice seminars and weekends for high school students, which is how she discovered the organization for which she now works.

鈥淚 participated in twice when I was in 9th and 10th grade. I had the ability to come to Washington and learn about social justice areas with a culminating experience lobbying my congressional representatives,鈥� said Kogan,聽who grew up in聽Huntington Valley, Pa. 鈥淚 knew when graduating that I wanted to come back to the organization that inspired my social justice advocacy.鈥�

Kogan said she is still very early into her career but has already had an ‘I made it’ moment when she met former Vice President Kamala Harris. Since Kogan manages the organization’s racial justice work, she was invited to attend the annual breakfast for Martin Luther King Jr., where racial justice leaders came together to celebrate the progress that has been made while also acknowledging all the work that has to follow.

鈥淲e did not know former Vice President Harris was attending the event and then the host made an announcement introducing her,鈥� Kogan said. 鈥淪he had the best mindset and created a positive reminder that we all need moral courage in this moment.鈥�

Kogan majored in human service studies with minors in poverty and social justice policy studies and Jewish studies. She was deeply involved in Jewish life at 黑料不打烊, including 黑料不打烊 Hillel as an engagement intern and her work on planning Shabbat services and social justice initiatives.

Kogan was also an 黑料不打烊 College Fellow and completed a thesis project on the experiences of Jewish summer camp counselors being able to support the socio-emotional needs of non-white campers. Her project explored how formal and informal DEI training and resources influence and shape the counselor experience.
鈥淟ast year I was walking through 黑料不打烊鈥檚 annual SURF Day presentations when I happened upon Olivia Kogan,鈥� said Betsy Polk Joseph, director of Jewish life. 鈥淥livia was surrounded by a crowd of students, administrators and faculty who were hanging on her every word as she shared findings from her research.鈥�

Kogan credits 黑料不打烊 with providing her the opportunity to grow and pursue leadership positions that allowed her to explore her Jewish identity in new ways. She plans to pursue a Master of Social Work and potentially attend law school to establish a comprehensive social service hub where individuals can access social services and legal needs all in one place.

Integrating Research in Science (IRIS), an innovative student-led conference, aims to celebrate interdisciplinary interactions by bringing together the realms of STEM and STEM-related fields. This one-day conference for undergraduates is designed to allow students to promote their research, network among professors and peers,聽and prepare for their academic and professional careers by attending expert panels.

By participating in IRIS, students engage in a collaborative environment that harbors values in creating a strong sense of community. Moreover, by bringing many departments and students with different interests together, students will explore new ideas within a diverse range of fields and be able to delve into the rich progress that cross-disciplinary interactions have to offer.

鈥淥ur students did such a wonderful job that they have collaboratively and effectively worked using each individual鈥檚 expertise and interest,” said Associate Professor of Mathematics Hwayeon Ryu, who is the lead faculty member for the IRIS conference. “Without their dedication and hard work, this conference would not have been successful. As a result, the enthusiasm and participation at the conference was excellent, and all of the presentations were very well attended with great audience engagement.鈥�

The IRIS was initially developed in 2017 and has been run at Wake Forest University annually until spring 2023, when 黑料不打烊 hosted the event for the first time. This year is the second time 黑料不打烊 is hosting the event. The Student Organizing Committee consists of Kelly Donovan 鈥�26 (co-leader; applied mathematics and statistics), Mia Webdell 鈥�26 (co-leader; biochemistry), Clayton McLamb 鈥�25 (computer science and data analytics), Bailey Reutinger ’25 (statistics and biology), Rony Dahdal 鈥�26 (computer science, mathematics and philosophy), and Murilo Ferreira Lopes 鈥�27 (computer science) under the supervision of 黑料不打烊 faculty members Hwayeon Ryu and Nancy Scherich.

鈥淚RIS was able to bring a lot of students from different backgrounds together. I did not realize the amount of time and planning it took to run a conference. I am grateful for my other committee members for helping put together IRIS 2025,” said Kelly Donovan, the co-leader of the student organizing team.

Almost 20 oral or poster presentations were given at this year鈥檚 IRIS event.

“Presenting my research at IRIS was a rewarding experience that deepened my appreciation for interdisciplinary collaboration and the creativity driving scientific discovery. The conference provided an excellent opportunity to make meaningful connections within the scientific community,” said Grady Cooke ’25, a physics major at 黑料不打烊.

鈥淚 found IRIS as a way of opening 黑料不打烊’s campus to student researchers from different universities, and was a unique way to engage, learn about, and bridge the gap between 黑料不打烊 and other academic communities,鈥� said Rony Dahdal ’26.

IRIS is attended by students and faculty from regional colleges and universities. This year’s keynote talk, 鈥淪ifting Through Junk: Can AI/Machine Learning Help us Determine What Matters?鈥� was given by Keriayn Smith, associate professor at the School of Data Science and Society, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Genetics in the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. The keynote talk is followed by oral and poster presentations, and concludes with a panel session for both academia and industry.

鈥淚 was really impressed by the quality of the presentations and the confidence students demonstrated when presenting their lectures and posters,鈥� said Associate Professor of Exercise Science Matt Wittstein. 鈥淭he diversity of topics also made the conference more fun, because there were plenty of opportunities to learn something new that the presenters were passionate to teach us about.鈥�

鈥淭he IRIS conference allowed students to increase their networking聽skills while teaching them how to present their work to a wider聽audience. Developing the skills associated with presenting highly technical research to audiences from diverse聽backgrounds and interests is a challenge for even the most experienced researchers, and experiences like participating in IRIS provides undergraduates with this opportunity,鈥澛爏aid Assistant Professor of Biology Efra铆n Rivera-Serrano.

She believes her autism provides her a different perspective on dance and makes her more attentive to the sensory issues dancers contend with.

鈥淚 think it’s important that we allow stories to be told from different perspectives,鈥� Milner said. 鈥淚f you allow choreographers that aren’t normative, like the status quo, then you’re allowing stories to be told that wouldn’t necessarily get to be told.鈥�

Milner long knew she was autistic, but she didn鈥檛 receive a formal diagnosis until she was 16 years old. Far from being a setback, the diagnosis was an affirmation that allowed her to tap into resources of support and a verification of her unique experience.

鈥淚 think the main thing is that it鈥檚 not a deficit, it’s just a difference. There is no less than, just different,鈥� said Milner. 鈥淵ou take things on a case-by-case basis and work with the individual rather than the diagnosis.鈥�

Milner had faced challenges as a young autistic dancer, but she continued to grow and she expanded into choreography, saying that 鈥渋t gave me a chance to dance how I wanted to dance.鈥� She first heard about 黑料不打烊 from one of the dancers her mother trains and following a successful audition, she enrolled at 黑料不打烊 in fall 2023.

At 黑料不打烊, Milner said she has found a community of support that embraces her neurodivergence and works to support her. The Office of Disability Resources has worked with her in the classroom and the dance studio to ensure that she is able to participate fully and is positioned to succeed. It was a welcome change from the experiences she had during high school.

鈥淒isability Resources was great when I submitted my accommodations. The willingness to work with me and my accommodations to do as much as I can,鈥� Milner said.

Milner鈥檚 autism has impacted her sense of inclusive excellence and what it can mean to value the unique perspectives and experiences of others. She sees how it impacts the support members of the university receive from one another.

鈥淚 believe that inclusive excellence means that you are actively trying to support the individual student and what they need,鈥� Milner said.

An 黑料不打烊 College Fellow, Milner is majoring in dance and psychology while minoring in neuroscience. She is combining these disciplines through her undergraduate research, which focuses on how the neurocognition of autistic dancers impacts them in dance settings. She will be presenting a research poster comparing the teaching styles for neurodivergent dancers at the in Italy in October 2024.

鈥淚’m hoping to research the neurocognition behind the autistic dancer and how it impacts them in a dance setting, both in how they learn differently and more,鈥� Milner said.

Milner emphasizes the importance of focusing on the autistic person rather than the diagnosis, reinforcing that valuing people with various identities is foundational to achieving inclusive excellence.

鈥淚f you鈥檝e met one autistic person, you鈥檝e met one autistic person,鈥� Milner said.