Research near and far: B.S.W. students presenting at national conferences in Richmond, New Orleans
Seven VCU School of Social Work undergraduate students are honing their research skills this spring.
Two students, Nic Stumpo and Regina Marquez, will present as the National Conference on Undergraduate Research comes to Richmond on April 13-15. Stumpo and five other B.S.W. students presented in February at the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors’ annual conference in New Orleans.
Typically, B.S.W. student researchers participate each spring in the VCU Poster Symposium for Undergraduate Research & Creativity. But this year, they will be among an expected 4,000 undergraduate student presenters as VCU hosts NCUR at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Established in 2011, NCUR is the flagship conference for the Council on Undergraduate Research.
“VCU continues to expand access to transformative, research-supportive learning experiences that prepare our graduates to address complex questions and challenges in a global society,” says Herbert Hill, Ed.D., assistant vice provost of undergraduate research and creative inquiry.
NCUR
April 13-15
Regina Marquez
Presentation: Associations between Black & Latine Caregivers’ Academic Socialization and Children’s Academic Self-Efficacy
Description: “My research focuses on how caregivers’ academic socialization practices influence children’s academic self-efficacy, particularly among Black and Latine families. My RA colleague and I have been working hard in creating a poster to have an understanding of how messages about education, perseverance and navigating barriers shape children’s confidence in their academic abilities. I was drawn to this topic because of the important role family support plays in children’s educational outcomes, especially within communities that may face structural challenges in school settings.”
Presenting: 2:15-3:05 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, Exhibit Hall A
Nic Stumpo
(Stumpo made the same presentation at the conference in New Orleans.)
Presentation: From Clinical Interaction to Socio-ecological Environment: Belongingness in Healthcare for Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Diverse Individuals
Description: “In short, the focus of my research is to holistically understand the health care experiences of transgender, nonbinar, and gender-diverse individuals of varying temperaments, statuses and intersectional identities. As a trans person, I recognize the challenging relationship that my community has with seeking and accessing medical care, whether or not the purpose is for gender-affirming interventions. Additionally, the members of my community are as diverse as our experiences. My aim is to conceptualize a guiding framework for the development, evaluation and implementation of health care provision that meets the needs of my entire community.”
Presenting: 2:15-3:05 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, Exhibit Hall A
Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors’ annual conference
Feb. 25-28
Matthew Fuller
Presentation: From Stress to Disconnection: Minority Stress, Relational-Cultural Theory, and Suicidality Among Queer Adolescents
Description: “My research focuses on understanding how minority stress and relational disconnection shape psychological distress and suicidality among queer adolescents. I am particularly interested in how stigma‑based stressors such as discrimination, internalized stigma and anticipated rejection undermine connection and contribute to elevated suicide risk. I was drawn to this topic because queer youth continue to face disproportionately high rates of distress and suicidality, and I wanted to explore how both structural oppression and relational experiences influence their well‑being.”
Kristyn Broadwater, Elena Diaz, Laila McGlone & Autumn Matusiak
Presentation: “Richmond to RVA”: How Historical Discriminatory Housing Policies Have Perpetuated Unethical Change to Marginalized Communities
Description: “The BSW Student Association’s research focused on the historical impacts of gentrification in Richmond and how the effects of past discriminatory policies persist today, negatively impacting marginalized members of the community. Attending the BPD conference was a great opportunity to hear social workers speak on the importance of social work as a profession, and what we can do to make change at the B.S.W. level. Our team’s general interests include food insecurity, the disproportionate effect of punitive discipline on marginalized groups and the educational discrimination that children with disabilities face. It was a wonderful experience to learn what social work students nationwide are passionate about and hear them spread awareness about their social issues.” – Laila McGlone
Categories Research, Students