Five Reinhardt University students presented their original research at the 2025 Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference (GURC) on November 7–8, 2025, at Oxford College of Emory University. The annual event drew hundreds of undergraduate scholars from across Georgia to share and celebrate their work across a variety of disciplines.
Matthew Bowman (RU-2026), Hailey Gregorich (RU-2028), Isabella LoBue (RU-2026), Daniela Rangel (RU-2026), and Vincent Varsalona (RU-Dec. 2025) earned selection through a competitive abstract review process. They presented projects on combating chestnut tree blight, vertebrate activity, indigenous rights, and whether red food dye binds with DNA.
Isabella LoBue (RU-2026) presented her paper titled “Attaining Black Political Agency in Reconstruction-Era Louisiana.” “The GURC allowed me to present research that I am passionate about in front of peers who match my enthusiasm for learning,” stated LoBue. “The GURC was the perfect environment to broaden my knowledge on diverse topics and interact with students who understand the importance of quality research. I gained a renewed vigor for research and an amplified understanding of the importance of research, not only on the person doing it, but on the world around us.”
Diverse Talents and Scholars Program Director Amy Cottrill, Ph.D., celebrated the students’ academic and professional development. “The conversations they had and the questions they received helped them identify future paths for research and ways to improve their projects,” Cottrill reflected. “Undergraduate research is a high-impact practice. It fosters relationships between the students and their research mentors, empowers students to ask their own research questions and design projects that contribute to their academic discipline, and gain experience that they will use in any field.”
By participating in GURC, Reinhardt students showcased their scholarship, strengthened their confidence as researchers, and advanced their commitment to meaningful academic inquiry.
– By Suzy Alstrin
