Undergraduate Ariel Longoria Presents at UASAL Conference

English major Ariel Longoria and Assistant Professor Adena Rivera-Dundas received a research grant last summer through the Utah Academy of Arts and Letters (UASAL), allowing Ariel to work as a research assistant for Adena. One requirement of the grant is that Ariel present her work at the annual UASAL conference, which occurred March 23, 2024. Adena served as a mentor and chaperone.

“Undergraduate researchers presenting at Utah-wide conferences such as UASAL gives students the opportunity to talk to like-minded academics, from fellow undergraduates to tenured professors, about their work,” says Adena. “Exposing their ideas to an eager audience can bolster confidence, invite new ideas, and embolden an identity as a scholar in a field. It's so much fun to test out your ideas in a large venue, and the support of a community impressed by undergraduate research can't be overstated.”