Students Present Research at Communications Conference

Two OBU communications students recently presented their original research during the "New Voices, New Perspectives" Student Research Conference hosted by the University of North Texas March 9-10.

Lauren R. Smith, a junior from Greenwood, Ark., presented her paper titled "The Face of Community on University Campuses: Residential Life" as part of the Undergraduate Panel in Interpersonal Communication.

Kristina Smith, a senior from Petaluma, Calif., presented her paper, "God's Green Earth: What Role Does Faith Play?" as one of four papers in the Top Undergraduate Paper Panel.

OBU students Kristina Smith (left) and Lauren R. Smith presented their original Communications Arts research work during a conference hosted by the University of North Texas.

"I am very impressed with our students and the work they have been doing this school year," said Dr. Kaylene Barbe, Communication Arts Division chair and professor of communication studies. "They have had their work recognized and included in two communication conferences this year: the Sooner Conference at OU and the Student Research Conference at UNT. We also have a student who will be presenting a paper at the Southern States Communication Association conference in San Antonio in April. Our students are not stopping to rest on their laurels, either. They are continuing to think about and pursue other research interests they have."

In addition to the work presented by OBU students, the conference included reviewed research projects from both graduate and undergraduate students from Baylor University, Drake University, Howard University, Kansas State University, Oklahoma City University, Pennsylvania State University at Berks, Schreiner University, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Syracuse University, Texas A&M University, Texas State University, Texas Woman's University, University of Arkansas, University of Central Arkansas, University of North Texas, University of Texas at Arlington, and University of Texas at Austin.

"These conferences have achieved exactly what any conference should - they have been inspiring, encouraging and motivating," Barbe said. "Our students have gained invaluable academic confidence through these conferences and it will be exciting to see what other research projects they do in the very near future!"