VIDEO: Students shine at CREATE conference

Student research and creative activity took center stage at Eastern Connecticut State University on April 24 during the annual CREATE conference, a campus-wide celebration of undergraduate scholarship.

Standing for “Celebrating Research Excellence and Artistic Talent at Eastern,” the daylong event highlighted the curiosity, creativity, and academic rigor of students across disciplines. More than 150 students shared original research, artistic projects, and creative works through presentations, posters, performances, exhibitions, and panel discussions representing nearly every academic department.

“This conference is a reminder of what makes Eastern special,” said Eastern President Karim Ismaili. “Students who are engaged, curious, and willing to do the work. Faculty who are deeply committed to their success. A community that creates the space for both.”

Dean of the School of Education and Professional Studies Niti Pandey praised the high caliber of student work on display.

“The level of maturity and research work that the students have been showcasing has been inspiring,” said Pandey. “The level of analysis and presentation skills can compare to the graduate level. This is one of those occasions that really showcases the best of what we do here.”

The conference is the result of a broad, collaborative effort across campus. Bryan Connolly, professor of biology and chair of the CREATE committee, emphasized the event’s role in fostering a shared academic culture.

“It’s a huge group effort to organize this event, but it’s a part of the culture at Eastern to do CREATE, so it comes together really well,” said Connolly. “It’s always great to see the diversity of all the projects that I had no idea other departments were doing. It’s always interesting to step out of your little circle and see what’s going on in the university in general.”

Midway through the day, the conference paused for an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding student achievement and faculty mentorship.

Ismaili presented the President’s Award for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity to two students whose work demonstrated originality and excellence.

Tatiana Rodrigues, a double major in business administration and accounting, was recognized for her research on governance practices in corporate decision-making and their impact on executive compensation and firm performance. Reflecting on her experience, Rodrigues highlighted the practical skills she developed.

“The project management skills and independence it took to learn the coding, collect and process the data — those are skills I can apply to my career,” she said. “That’s the biggest takeaway for me.”

Rodrigues plans to become a certified public accountant.

Olivia Bourque, a health sciences major with a minor in psychology, earned the award for her research examining how early health factors influence academic outcomes and family relationships. She credited her faculty mentor, Associate Professor of Psychology T. Caitlin Vasquez-O’Brien, for her guidance.

“She has been really great at guiding us and giving us advanced statistical analysis knowledge while letting us take the project in a direction that suits our interests,” said Bourque.

Bourque noted that while her mentor specializes in developmental psychology, she was able to tailor her research toward her own pre-med interests in health psychology. She plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as a physician.

Vasquez-O’Brien was also honored with this year’s Mentor Award, which recognizes excellence in guiding undergraduate research. Nominated by multiple students, she was praised for her hands-on approach.

“In her lab, students are fully engaged in the research process,” said Ismaili. “They design studies, analyze data, present at conferences, and contribute to work that extends beyond the classroom.”

Vasquez-O’Brien emphasized the importance of early and sustained research experiences.

“I enjoy working with students early in their academic career, because mentorship and laboratory research really help students stand out when they want to go on to graduate or medical school,” she said. “Once students get into my lab, I like them to stay for at least two semesters so that they can grow.”

The ceremony also recognized this year’s Barnard Scholars, seniors Abby Heidorn and Juliana Concepcion. The award is the Connecticut State University (CSU) system’s highest undergraduate honor, recognizing distinguished academic achievement, campus leadership, and community service.

To learn more about this year's award recipients, read the Barnard Scholars story.