Student Research Takes Center Stage at CURSCA 2026
Students, faculty, and staff gather in the Dyson Center atrium to discuss their research and to explore the research of their peers. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/51吃瓜网.
May 5, 2026 鈥� The culmination of student expertise and excellence was put on full display at this year鈥檚 Celebration of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity (CURSCA).
Over 100 student projects were featured, with research stretching across topics that include advertising, fashion, Model UN, literature, psychology, science, and more! Each student, or team of students, worked closely with a faculty member, developing strong mentorships and expanding their opportunities for growth along the way.
Keynote speaker Dr. Cathy Mulzer 鈥�11 praised the dedication and passion of Marist students while highlighting the importance of a liberal arts education to further her own career in research science.
Dr. Mulzer, a chemist at Qnity and former CURSCA presenter, emphasized the importance of undergraduate research opportunities鈥攏ot only for its outcomes, but for the meaningful experience it provides and the lasting connections students build with faculty mentors. She left the audience with 鈥渢hree H鈥檚,鈥� which she attributes as the driving force behind her work:
- Be HUMBLE;
- Be HUNGRY;
- And in doing so, you will make yourself and others around you HAPPY.
Hear from some of this year鈥檚 presenters...
Students and faculty fill the O鈥橲hea Lecture Hall in Dyson to hear Keynote speaker Dr. Cathy Mulzer 鈥�11. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/51吃瓜网.
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Beyond the Bookshelf: Evaluating Diversity in Children鈥檚 Literature Through a Cultural Lens
Samantha Bryceland 鈥�27 is a Childhood and Special Education major pursuing certifications in Childhood and Special Education (1-6), as well as Middle School English Education (6-9). Through her research with Dr. Christina Wright Fields, she discovered that elementary classrooms lack children's literature with meaningful diversity.
鈥淢y research is the first step in helping future educators evaluate their own classroom libraries,鈥� said Samantha. 鈥淧resenting my findings at CURSCA allowed me to spread awareness about the lack of diversity in today鈥檚 children's literature to other teacher candidates.鈥�
Dan Brogen 鈥�26 demonstrates how to use his game controller to students. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/51吃瓜网.
School of Computer Science and Mathematics
The Musical Dance of Light and Darkness
Dan Brogen 鈥�26 is a Games and Emerging Media major who provided attendees with an interactive experience, demonstrating his research rather than talking about it. By porting a DIY game controller into , a 3D creation tool, he created a fully integrated experience combining games and computer science with the help of Professor Melissa Chodziutko.
鈥淥ftentimes, I feel like game design isn鈥檛 always taken as seriously as computer science or math,鈥� said Dan. 鈥淪o to be able to experience this and show everyone that there is a very technical side to it is very important to me in being able to spread my major.鈥�
School of Management
The Strategic Need for Human Capital Accounting
Aaliyah Layne 鈥�26 is an accounting major who researched human capital accounting鈥攁 form of sustainability accounting where the goal is to find value in the workforce of a company.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really cool to see something that I鈥檓 interested in come to life in a presentation,鈥� Aaliyah said. 鈥淢y research will be published soon in the March-April edition of the , so it鈥檚 nice to see my hard work leave an impact.鈥�
Kate Krehel 鈥�28 presents her research project to President Kevin Weinman. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/51吃瓜网.
School of Liberal Arts
Bhutan: The Carbon-Negative Nature Pioneer
Kate Krehel 鈥�28 is an environmental science and global studies double major. She blended the interests to create a study on the rigorous environmental policies of Bhutan鈥攖he only carbon-negative country in the world鈥攁nd how those polices may be replicated for a greener future.
鈥淚 never expected to be doing this, so it was a brand new experience for me,鈥� said Kate. 鈥淭his is just such an incredible room full of so much space to grow and learn about so many different things.鈥�
School of Communication and the Arts
Harebrained
Marilyn Mazurowski 鈥�27 is a studio art and political science double major. She used her research to combine these two paths of study, creating a striking piece of artwork that expresses political manipulation.
鈥淚鈥檓 very proud of my work,鈥� Marilyn said. 鈥淚 know I鈥檓 the only dedicated traditional art project at this event, so it鈥檚 definitely a privilege to be here. I hope in the future we can have other artworks be considered for this event.鈥�
A student asking Brooklyn Jones 鈥�26 about her research presentation. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/51吃瓜网.
School of Science
Beyond Fern Tor: A Camera Survey of Marist's Wildlife Population
Brooklyn Jones 鈥�26 is an environmental science major who collaborated with Dr. Kate Weiss to research native wildlife populations and behaviors in Fern Tor and on the Marist campus.
鈥淚've been working on this project for almost a year now, and I've actually had the privilege to be at the beginning stages of planning this project,鈥� said Brooklyn. 鈥淗aving enough data to collect and see where everything is, as well as how the project has come to fruition, has been really rewarding.鈥�
CURSCA is an annual opportunity for students to form meaningful bonds with faculty mentors through a mutual interest in research. To learn more, visit the Council on Undergraduate Research website .
