Honors College Hosts Second Annual Research Conference

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (April 22, 2026) – The Honors College at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University hosted its second annual Honors College Research Conference on Friday, April 17, to highlight undergraduate research excellence, national scholarship competitiveness and faculty mentorship across disciplines.

The conference marked a milestone year, with a significant increase in participation that expanded student engagement in research and highlighted the Honors College’s continued success in cultivating high-impact, faculty-mentored scholarship. Building on the momentum of its inaugural year, the conference demonstrated strong growth and rising interest in undergraduate research. The event welcomed more than 65 participants, reflecting expanding student engagement and the Honors College’s intentional efforts to cultivate high-impact research experiences across all disciplines.

Students presented original research spanning science, technology, engineering, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, health sciences and interdisciplinary fields. The event supports N.C. A&T’s Preeminence 2030 research vision by promoting early research involvement and scholarly communication at the undergraduate level.

The conference opened with a plenary address by Lisa Clough, Ph.D., vice chancellor for Research and professor of biology, who emphasized the role of undergraduate research, mentorship and interdisciplinary inquiry in preparing future leaders in science and public service.

A nationally recognized scientific leader, Clough brings more than three decades of experience as a coastal oceanographer, educator and research administrator. Prior to joining A&T, she served more than 10 years in senior leadership roles at the National Science Foundation, where she managed large federal research portfolios and oversaw the merit review of thousands of proposals shaping national scientific priorities.

A central highlight of the conference was the recognition of Honors students nominated for – and in some cases, selected – to receive some of the nation’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarships.

Barry Goldwater Scholarship campus nominees were Muzan Ebrahem (chemistry), Victoria Little (biology), Adedeji Olabode (agricultural and environmental systems), Alexis Spence (physics) and Leah Worrill (biology). Ebrahem was named a 2026 Goldwater Scholar, one of the nation’s top awards for undergraduates pursuing research careers in science, mathematics and engineering.

For the Astronaut Scholarship, campus nominees were Little, Avery Love (chemistry), Spence and Worrill.

In public service leadership, Terrence Olu Rouse (political science) was recognized as Harry S. Truman Scholarship campus nominee and national finalist.

Udall Scholarship nominees included Misbahou Jalloh (physics) and Zuri Askew (landscape architecture), while Kaitlyn Parker (journalism and mass communications) was named the university’s Beinecke Scholarship campus nominee.

Outstanding research communication was also recognized through Best Poster and Best Oral Presentation awards. In the poster competition, Sanaii Nash Fuell (kinesiology) earned first place, followed by Sinai Cuffee (kinesiology) in second and Ryan Smith (psychology) in third, with Charity Hardy (kinesiology) and Bukola Akindipe (nanoengineering) tying for fourth place.

In oral presentations, Spence (earned first place, Sharon Gorden (management) placed second, Noire Meyers (computer science) placed third, Shawn Melvin Sharpe (biology) placed fourth, and Zion Mayo (political science) placed fifth.

The conference concluded with the presentation of the 2026 Honors College Research Faculty Mentor of the Year Award to Thomas Forshaw, Ph.D., an assistant professor of chemistry, who was recognized for his sustained commitment to undergraduate research mentorship and student development.

The Honors College Research Conference continues to strengthen the university’s research culture and position honors students as emerging scholars, innovators and leaders.

From left, are Honors College Dean Margaret Kanipes, Ph.D., Faculty Mentor of the Year Thomas Forshaw, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry, Honors College Associate Dean of Academics Buffie Longmire-Avital, Ph.D., and Honors College Associate Dean of Research and Innovation Gerard Dumancas, Ph.D.