Welcome!

Dear Members of the William & Mary Community, Visiting Presenters, and Guests: 

On behalf of the Arts & Sciences Graduate organizing committee, I would like to welcome you to the Graduate & Honors Research Symposium at William & Mary. The Symposium features numerous panels that embrace interdisciplinary perspectives, gathering presenters whose research revolves around a common theme while representing diverse disciplines. This year, our conference theme is “Connections” which underscores the value in connecting the various disciplines that make up Arts & Sciences, as well as uniting Graduate and Honors students. Symbolized by the ampersand in The University’s name, this theme signifies interdisciplinary collaboration and unity. We hope that you will find this approach intellectually stimulating and productive.

We would like to underscore two key events taking place during the Symposium: the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition, scheduled for Wednesday, March 20, at 7:00 p.m. in the Commonwealth Auditorium and the Symposium’s highlight event, the Poster Session & Networking Reception on Friday, March 22, beginning at 3:00 p.m. The 3MT Competition challenges students to succinctly explain their research and its significance to a general audience in under three minutes. The Poster Session & Networking Reception will feature 11 graduate students and 19 honors students presenting posters, offering an opportunity to enjoy ample refreshments as we celebrate our scholarly community.

The success of the Symposium hinges on the dedication and hard work of our presenters, as well as the support of university staff and volunteers who have reinstated this important event following its hiatus during the pandemic. This year's Symposium showcases the participation of 56 graduate students and 88 undergraduate honors students from Arts & Sciences at William & Mary, alongside representatives from VIMS, Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, and George Washington University. We extend our gratitude to the William & Mary graduate faculty, staff, administration, and the A&S Graduate Studies Advisory Board for their unwavering support of graduate students and research. Special thanks to both Sarah Glosson, Director of the A&S Graduate Center, and the GHRS Organizing Committee for their dedication, expertise, and diligence in making this Symposium possible.

With gratitude, 

Jay Jolles
GHRS Student Organizing Committee Chair 

GHRS Student Organizing Committee Members
Justin Cammarota, Volunteer Coordinator, Physics
Caroline Donovan, Member-at-Large, Anthropology
Justin Estriecher, Volunteer Coordinator, History
Diogo Oliveira, Member-at-Large, Anthropology
Sydney Sweat-Montoya, Communications Coordinator, History
Ezekiel Wertz, Tech Wizard, Physics
Julia Zhou, Communications Coordinator, Psychological Sciences