2025 Conference Schedule

(17:30 – 19:00)

The Carolina Inn

Old Well Room

Remarks from Dean Beth Mayer-Davis, Chancellor Lee Roberts, and Royster Fellow Alita Miller.

By invitation only. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks provided.

FedEx Global, 4003

Welcome remarks from Royster Professor Kumi Silva and Ruitian Yan.

Breakfast provided.

FedEx Global, 4003

15-minute presentations from each student with Q&A following the presentations.Introduction by Alita Miller.

• Anneliese Brei (Computer Science, UNC-CH)
  “The Plot Thickens: Why Stories Should Shape AI”
• Jo Klevdal (English and Comparative Literature, UNC-CH)
  “Learning by Doing: Critical Printmaking as a Research Methodology”
• Brenda Isabel Murrugarra Retamozo (Anthropology, UNC-CH)
  “Impact of Virtual Reality Technologies on Inclusive and Participatory Education: Systematic Review”
• Zac Parker (Communication, UNC-CH)
  “Archival Approaches to the Enshittified Internet”

FedEx Global, 4003

Explore the intersections of health research, liberal arts, and technology in a Q&A with Royster alumnus Dr. Dan Taber who now leads Research and Responsible Programming at Spotify. Facilitated by Royster Professor Kumi Silva, this conversation will trace Dr. Taber’s journey from academia to tech, highlighting the intellectual threads that connect these fields. Together, we’ll consider how these values inform approaches to AI and the ethical challenges it presents.

Dan Taber, Ph.D. ’10, Epidemiology

Head of Research & Responsible Programming, Trust & Safety at Spotify

Dr. Dan Taber is a leader in trust, safety, and responsible AI with more than 15 years of experience spanning technology, research, education and public policy. Currently Head of Research & Responsible Programming at Spotify, Dr. Taber oversees strategy, research, and governance efforts to reduce online harm, ensure fairness in content distribution and address emerging risks from generative AI. Previously, Dr. Taber founded Indeed’s first Responsible AI program—now an industry-recognized initiative in ethical machine learning. Earlier in his career, Dr. Taber held faculty and research roles focused on public health policy and data science, securing major grants, publishing widely and advising governments and international organizations. Across sectors, Dr. Taber has been recognized as a thought leader in aligning responsible innovation with business goals, regulation and measurable societal impact.

(12:00 – 13:15)

(13:15 – 14:45)

FedEx Global, 4003

A research presentation by Hannah Robison followed by an interactive workshop facilitated by Annie Elledge.

Introduction by Alita Miller.

• Hannah Robison (Human Movement Science, UNC-CH)
  “Integration of the Socioecological Model and Life Course Theory to Explain Injury Outcomes”
• Annie Elledge (Geography and Environment, UNC-CH)
  “Sculpting the Body, Sculpting the Self: Explorations in Clay Body Mapping”

(15:00 – 16:15)

FedEx Global, 4003

How can researchers and communities co-create knowledge that actually changes practice and research? This panel brings together scholars to share concrete participatory action research tactics, including power-sharing and governance, fair compensation and authorship, community-led measures, and data sovereignty. Attendees will leave with practical tools and clear next steps for building equitable, durable partnerships.

Moderated by Emmanuel Amoako.

• Leah Frerichs, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, UNC-Chapel Hill
• Todd M. Jensen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Education, UNC-Chapel Hill
• Angela Stuesse, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, UNC-Chapel Hill
• Joseph Winberry, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Information and Library Science, UNC-Chapel Hill

FedEx Global, 4003

FedEx Global, 4003

15-minute presentations from each student with Q&A following the presentations.

Introduction by Pao-Pei Huang.

• Joel Mensah Asmah (Francophone African and Caribbean Studies, UNC-CH)
  “The Mythic Soundscape: Orality, Music, and Ecological Consciousness in Francophone West African Literature and Film”
• Jaweria Sarfraz Cheema (Media Studies, University of Tübingen)
  “Insider? Outsider? Reflections on Fieldwork with Pakistani Migrant Women in Germany”
• Giorgia O’Donoghue (Theology and Literature, King’s College London)
  “The Relationship Between Theology and Literature: Moving from Utility to Unity”
• Kalamakaleimaheohoe Porter (Environment, Ecology, and Energy, UNC-CH)
  “The Storied Environment of Bennett Place: Lessons in Methods and Collaboration for Ecologists and Historians”

FedEx Global, 4003

Visions, missions, and strategies concerning the role of technology in daily life are largely shaped by governments and the technology industry, both of which advocate continual innovation. However, the growing discourse around digital disconnection and digital detox suggests that individuals increasingly desire a reduced presence of technology in their lives. This raises the question: If ordinary people had the opportunity to define their own utopias for life with technology, what might they say? Following this interest, this workshop introduces creative inquiry as a means to make the imaginative accessible and to contest taken-for-granted perceptions of ideality. In this way, it enables exploration of the role technology can play beyond full indulgence or complete absence and encourages consideration of technological desires in all their nuances and ambivalences.

Introduction by Pao-Pei Huang.

Victoria A.E. Kratel (Communication and Leadership, Kristiania University of Applied Sciences)

(11:30 – 14:00)

Frank Porter Graham Carolina Student Union, Great Hall

The inaugural Graduate Research Symposium is an opportunity for graduate students in every discipline to showcase the extraordinary research they are doing at Carolina. The symposium will feature poster and oral presentations by UNC-Chapel Hill graduate students, prizes for winning presentations, and a reception.

Refreshments provided at symposium reception.

(14:00 – 15:15)

FedEx Global, 4003

Anthropogenic alterations of the climate system are increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather and natural hazards. Disaster research has expanded from engineering solutions to the sociology of recovery and risk perception. Studies on risk reduction cuts across all segments of society–– infrastructure, community resilience, markets, ecosystems, and public health –– making it an inherently interdisciplinary scholarship. As the disaster graduate student network at UNC, we will share a multi / interdisciplinary panel of disaster research from our very community. Panelists will share the conceptual frameworks and methodologies from their disciplinary training while asking a shared umbrella question: how do perceptions and data about natural hazards risk shape place-based decisions and resilience across social levels?

Introduction by Ruitian Yan.

• Abdedaim Battioui (Environment, Ecology and Energy, UNC-CH)
• Joanne Chen (City and Regional Planning, UNC-CH)
• James Collins (City and Regional Planning, UNC-CH)
• Ruitian Yan (Environment, Ecology and Energy, UNC-CH)

(15:15 – 15:30)

(15:30 – 16:45)

FedEx Global, 4003

Since 1996, the Royster Society of Fellows has supported over 700 doctoral students across disciplines, fostering scholarship that bridges fields and advances knowledge through interdisciplinary collaboration. This panel brings together five alums who will reflect on the role of interdisciplinary research in their careers, the impact of their time as Royster Fellows, and how they define success within and beyond academia. Equally, the session emphasizes the importance of connection across generations of Royster Fellows, offering a space where current scholars can learn from alumni experiences, reflect on shared challenges, and envision how interdisciplinary work continues to evolve over time.

Moderated by Hannah Robison.

• Carlee Forbes, Ph.D. ’20, Art History
  Associate Curator of African and Oceanic Art, Baltimore Museum of Art
• Courtney Lewis, Ph.D. ’12, Anthropology
  Crandall Family Associate Professor of Cultural Anthropology, Duke University
• Jason Mihalik, Ph.D. ’09, Human Movement Science
  Professor, Department of Exercise and Sport Science;
  Director, Matthew Gfeller Center;
  Chief Executive Officer, THRIVE Program, UNC-Chapel Hill
• Max Owre, Ph.D. ’08, History
  Teaching Assistant Professor, Department of History;
  Executive Director, Carolina Public Humanities, UNC-Chapel Hill
• Casey Rawson, Ph.D. ’16, Information and Library Science
  Teaching Assistant Professor, MSLS Program Coordinator, UNC School of Information and Library Science, UNC-Chapel Hill

(16:45 – 17:00)

Transition to the first floor Nelson Mandela Auditorium

(17:00 – 18:00)

FedEx Global,

Nelson Mandela Auditorium

“Understanding the Complexities of Today’s World”

Dr. Ueki will examine the complexities of contemporary global challenges through the intersection of applied research and policy practice. Drawing on decades of experience in international affairs, including work with the United Nations, he will analyze how historical conflicts such as the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War and the Iraq War will serve as examples of the dynamic relationship between scholarship and real-world decision-making. In his presentation, he will emphasize the enduring relevance of interdisciplinary approaches, the value of historical context, and the capacity of institutions to generate ideas that address pressing global issues. Dr. Ueki will highlight the critical role of integrating academic inquiry with lived experience in shaping effective responses to today’s interconnected challenges.

Introduction by Royster Professor Kumi Silva.

Dr. Ueki’s presentation is open to the public. Please spread the word with your colleagues and encourage them to register to attend.

FedEx Global, 4003

Light breakfast provided. 

FedEx Global, 4003

The arts have long been a mode of social and political interventions. In the current moment, we see artists engage virtually every facet of society—from scientific discoveries and cultural discourses to political relations and global conflicts—as they create works that shape narratives, challenge power, and create spaces for imagination and resilience. This panel explores the arts as a form of research, pedagogy, communication, and organizing. Panelists draw on experiences in academic research, art administration, artmaking, and museum curation to ask what research through the arts can and should look like. We also ask: What is the relevance of the arts to the university, the general public, and international collaborations? How do researchers and practitioners bring diverse art forms and interdisciplinary perspectives into their work?

Moderated by Michael Baird.

• Elizabeth Engelhardt, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Arts and Culture and the Senior Associate Dean for Fine Arts and Humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences, UNC-Chapel Hill
• Carlee Forbes, Ph.D., Associate Curator of African and Oceanic Art, Baltimore Museum of Art
• Alison Friedman, James and Susan Moeser Executive and Artistic Director, Carolina Performing Arts, UNC-Chapel Hill
• Daniel Jay, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Dean Emeritus, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University
• Ella Parry-Davies, Ph.D., Lecturer in Theatre, Performance and Critical Theory, King’s College London

Sculpture Garden at Hanes Arts Center, 121 E. Cameron Avenue, Chapel Hill, NC

Rain location: FedEx Global, second floor conference room

Michael and Stephanie will lead a collaborative art-making intervention centered on themes of free speech, student activism, and political organizing within the context of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They will guide participants in creating art that reflects on their lived experiences at UNC (e.g., the Palestine encampments, the anti-genocide mural that was covered in Hanes, shifts in governance and DEI policies, the omnipresent threat of mass shooters) and that also prompts them to imagine an ideal university. Participants will be encouraged to consider how these localized experiences impact larger discussions about democracy, equity, and safety/survival. This session will be held outdoors, weather permitting.

Introduction by Michael Baird.

• Michael Baird (Art History, UNC-CH)
• Stephanie Kaczynski (Communication, UNC-CH)

(12:00 – 13:30)

All Royster fellows are encouraged to attend this session. Reflect on this year’s conference and look ahead to next year’s conference that coincides with the Royster Society’s 30-year anniversary celebration.

Lunch provided.

(14:00 – 15:30)

All are invited to participate in the Black and Carolina Blue Tour.  The Black and Carolina Blue Tour introduces the histories of slavery, racism and student and community activism in University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This project was initially developed as part of Dr. Tim McMillan’s “Defining Blackness” as a walking tour across campus to key sites of Black history.

(18:00 – 20:00)

Ackland Art Museum

Dinner and drinks provided.