Student Engagement Forum 2022

Sociology students participated in the 31st annual Radford University Student Engagement Forum over the past week.  Students in Dr. Hunter's African American Studies Seminar had three projects at this year's forum, which returned to an in-person format after going virtual the past two years.

Aly Carneal, Shaquan Jules, Dravon Mangum, and Katie Bellomo (above, left to right) presented their "Records Recovery for the Christiansburg Institute" poster Wednesday April 20 in the CSAT Lobby.  The students have been assisting the Christiansburg Institute this semester with its mission of historic preservation of African American cultural heritage.  The institute is the namesake of the Christiansburg Industrial Institute, which educated generations of African American families from across the state of Virginia and beyond for a century beginning in 1866.

Other Seminar students gave the oral presentation, "Preserving Black Graves in Southwest Virginia Through Grant Writing" Thursday, April 21 in Heth Hall.  Pictured above, left to right, are Eva Waddell, Tyanna Davis, Anderson Bonilla Ramirez, Jamar Banks, and Nykira Taylor.

Gabrielle Spennacchio-Parker presented the virtual poster "Whose Land is it Anyways?" Wednesday, April 27 in McConnell Library.  The virtual poster was one of a handful of kiosk slide presentations given at the session.  Spennacchio-Parker discussed in detail the ownership history of the Christiansburg Institute's land.

Additionally, Maia Grove presented her work, "Examining Healthcare Experiences of African Americans in Rural Virginia" Wednesday, April 20 in the CSAT Lobby.