Skip to Content
Seton Hall University
Petersheim Posters in the McNulty Atrium.

Schedule of Events

The schedule and event locations for the 30th Annual Petersheim Academic Exposition, which will take place from Monday, April 20 – Saturday, April 25, 2026, can be viewed below.

Monday, April 20, 2026

Office of Grants and Research: Budget, Time and Effort, Release Time Policy, Cost Sharing, Direct Cost vs Indirect Cost, Subaward and Risk Assessment 
Organizers: Maria Alonso; Norma Rubio 
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.; 2 – 4 p.m. | Walsh Library, Silent Study Room
OGRS invites you to visit the tables and explore key topics essential to developing and executing research projects. Connect with OGRS staff to receive guidance and take the next steps in advancing your work.

Petersheim Academic Exposition Opening Ceremony and Keynote Lecture
Organizers: Sulie L. Chang, Jose L. Lopez
Noon – 2 p.m. | Bethany Hall, Rooms B and C, and Virtual (Opening Ceremony Livestream »)

Attendees will receive a complimentary lunch following the event; however, pre-registration is required. Register to save your seat »

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Introduction to Geology Case Based Sharing
Organizer: Martha Schoene
9:30 – 11 a.m. | McNulty Hall, Room 111
Students will share the information they have gathered for their Case Based Study research projects. The Intro to Geology Students presentations will be grouped into three general topics: Beach Erosion and Winter Storms; Beach Erosion and Rip Currents; and Water Issues.

Assessing Popular and Scholarly Theories 
Organizer: Jon Radwan 
9:30 – 10:45 a.m. | Arts and Sciences Hall, Room 102 and Virtual (Click to join the event on Microsoft Teams »)
Students from Professor Jon Radwan's COMM1670 Introduction to Communication Theory class will present theory assessment research. They have been assigned to random pairs and charged with critiquing two theories of their choice. The first critique explains what is wrong with a theory from popular culture, and the second critique explains what makes one Communication theory studied in class valid and "good." Research teams for 2026 are:

  • Rabeya Bhuiyan and Victory Odundoyin
  • John Artuso and Kevin Scarborough
  • Kiya Coulton and Eddie Barber
  • Brynn Christianson and Elijah Weintraub
  • Anna Nocco and Kate Kleinsmith
  • Erica Carson and Mel Polio 

Office of Grants and Research: Proposals and Awards, URC, Corporation and Foundations, Federal and State, and Seton Hall University Policy 
Organizers: Maria Alonso; Norma Rubio
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.; 2  – 4 p.m. | Walsh Library, Silent Study Room
OGRS invite you to visit the tables and explore key topics essential to developing and executing research projects. Connect with OGRS staff to receive guidance and take the next steps in advancing your work. 

History of Rhetoric - Timeline Presentations 
Organizer: Jon Radwan 
11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Arts and Sciences Hall, Room 102 and Virtual (Click to join the event on Microsoft Teams »)
Rhetoric is the art of civic discourse and effective symbolic expression. It has been consistently studied and practiced across all 2500 years of Western Culture and continues today as a key liberal arts discipline and a vital public practice. Students in Dr. Radwan's COMM 2616 History of Rhetoric class have been randomly assigned to research a historical period and challenged with designing a timeline that visually depicts major rhetorical events, figures, and movements within their period, and then delivering an informative speech on it. Speakers for 2026 are Leah Cabrera, Nick Tomasetto, Connor Byrne, Chris Papa, and Antonino Longo. 

Environmental Studies Senior Capstone
Organizer: Jacob Weger
2 – 3:30 p.m. | Arts and Sciences, Room 101
Environmental Studies majors in the Senior Capstone course will present the "strategic communication" component of their group research projects, based on engaged research conducted over the course of the semester in collaboration with a local partner. 

Japanese Digital Storytelling Showcase 
Organizer: Shigeru Osuka 
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. | Fahy Hall, Room 203C (Global Learning Center)
The Japanese Program has integrated technology into its language curriculum and encourages students to apply digital tools whenever possible. Since 2009, the program has emphasized the use of Digital Storytelling, a creative method that combines Japanese essay writing with visual images and voice narration to produce a short film.

Through this process, students develop not only their Japanese language proficiency but also their digital literacy and creative expression. By integrating language learning with multimedia production, Digital Storytelling provides students with an opportunity to communicate personal experiences, cultural insights, and global perspectives in Japanese.

In recognition of students’ hard work, dedication, and continued commitment to engaging with the global community, the Japanese Program is honored to host the 2026 Japanese Digital Storytelling Showcase on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at Fahy Hall, Room 203C (Global Learning Center). 

2026 INIP Symposium: Molecular and Biomedical Studies by Integrating In Vivo, In Vitro, and In Silico Approaches  
Organizer: Sulie Chang
5 – 7 p.m. | Jubilee Hall, Room 132 and Virtual
During the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022), investigators at the Institute of NeuroImmune Pharmacology (INIP), including Early Career Investigators (ECIs), initiated several in silico projects using bioinformatics and data-mining. One notable study, “Network Meta-Analysis on Mechanisms Underlying Alcohol Augmentation of COVID-19 Pathologies” by Huang, Zhou, and colleagues (2021), was highlighted at the May 2021 council meeting of the NIAAA, NIH. It demonstrated how computational analyses reveal interactions among alcohol exposure, viral infection, and neuroimmune responses. Building on this work, INIP developed a framework integrating in vivo, in vitro, and in silico approaches. Studies in animal models and human subjects are complemented by cellular experiments and computational analyses such as machine learning and network biology. By linking computational discovery with experimental validation, this strategy accelerates identification of molecular pathways and therapeutic targets. This approach aligns with National Institutes of Health priorities through New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), which promote integration of human-relevant models, innovative technologies, and animal studies to strengthen translational research. At the 2026 INIP Research Symposium, ECIs will present studies on neuroimmune mechanisms of addictive substances and investigations into Glioblastoma, a WHO Grade IV brain tumor. Initiated in 2024, their work examines signaling molecules including STAT3 and ADAM17 using QIAGEN Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, the QIAGEN Knowledge Base, and transcriptomic data from the Genomic Data Commons to identify molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. These presentations are dedicated to Matthew Petersheim, Ph.D., founder of the Academic Exposition at Seton Hall University. While battling a brain tumor, he reminded colleagues that “The Exposition must continue.” In the spirit of S (Share). H (Honor). U (Unite), INIP honors his legacy through their continued discovery. 

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Symposium
Organizer: TBA
5:45 – 7 p.m. | McNulty Hall, Room 101

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Poster Session
Organizer: Cosimo Antonacci
7 – 9 p.m. | McNulty Hall, Atrium

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

2026 Petersheim Faculty Research Expo 
Organizers: Maria Alonso; Norma Rubio 
9 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Walsh Library, Silent Room
This year, we proudly celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Petersheim Academic Exposition—a milestone that reflects three decades of curiosity, innovation, and scholarly excellence at Seton Hall University. Throughout its history, the Exposition has shown the remarkable diversity of ideas and research that define our academic community. This year’s event invites us to witness how bold questions, disciplined inquiry, and the pursuit of truth can spark new possibilities. It is a testament to the power of research to illuminate challenges, inspire solutions, and help shape a better, more thoughtful world. 

Diplomacy Project Senior Poster Session 
Organizer: Martin Edwards 
1:30 – 3:30 p.m. | McQuaid Hall, Diplomacy Room
Students in DIPL 4101/5101 will be running a poster session in which they will be presenting their research.

Student Presentations on Social Inequalities 
Organizer: C Lynn Carr 
2 - 3:15 p.m. | Arts and Sciences Hall, Room 107
5-10 students will offer 5 minute presentations on their library research on specific manifestations of social inequality today. 

Fostering Faith, Building Community: A Parish Women’s Ministry in the Spirit of Monsignor Edward Ciuba 
Organizer: Mary Koonz
3 – 6 p.m. | Virtual (Click to join the event on Microsoft Teams »)
This presentation showcases the development and early impact of a new parish women’s ministry designed to foster spiritual growth, community support, and active engagement in the life of the Church. Responding to a clear pastoral need, the initiative deepens the faith and prayer life of women through Scripture study, Lectio Divina, and shared spiritual practices grounded in the Catholic tradition. It cultivates a supportive, intergenerational environment where women accompany one another in their vocations as disciples, mothers, professionals, and leaders in parish life. Through acts of charity, parish service, and evangelization, the ministry strengthens communal ties and empowers lay leadership. 

This initiative directly embodies the mission of the Edward Ciuba Fellowship, which seeks to place Catholic scholarship at the service of the local Church. Inspired by Msgr. Edward Ciuba’s conviction that “life is about relationships” and that God continually calls us to deeper conversion, the ministry unites theological insight with practical pastoral formation. By bridging academic resources with parish life, it advances a model of renewal that is relational, Scripture-centered, and mission-driven. 

Department of Physics Research Symposium
Organizer: Weining Wang
6 – 8:30 p.m. | McNulty Hall, Room 101 and Virtual (Click to join the event on Microsoft Teams »)
Undergraduate and Graduate students (Masters Thesis) will present their research; Kims Medal recipient will be announced and presented.

Thursday, April 23, 2026

Office of Grants and Research: Compliance 
Organizers: Maria Alonso; Norma Rubio 
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Walsh Library, Silent Study Room
Compliance in research projects is critical to ensure ethical standards, participant safety, data integrity, and adherence to legal regulations (federal, state, and institution). It protects against legal liability, funding loss, and severe damage to the researcher/institutional reputation. Proper compliance ensures that research is valid, safe, and trustworthy. 

DataLab: Advancing Research Through Student-Faculty Collaboration
Organizer: Samah Alshrief, Ph.D. 
11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Walsh Library, 2nd Floor Common Area and Virtual (Click to join the event on Microsoft Teams »)
This DataLab session highlights interdisciplinary student research supported by Research Data Services in collaboration with faculty mentors across multiple departments. Students will present projects demonstrating the application of data analysis, computational methods, and research technologies to address real-world research questions. The following presentations showcase the work of DataLab student researchers and their faculty mentors across participating departments.

  • "Themes in Diverse vs. Non-diverse Jury Deliberations"
    Student Researcher: Nadia Aboukaram, Psychology 
    Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amanda Bergold, Department of Psychology 
    RDS Representative: Dr. Samah Alshrief, Michael Murphy, Emily Cerri
    Abstract: This project analyzes conversations from juries deliberating in a mock criminal trial to identify themes in decisionmaking across diverse and nondiverse juries using qualitative coding methods in Atlas.ti.
  • "Testing a New Sphere Packing Algorithm"
    Student Researcher: Chris Henderson, Physics 
    Faculty Mentor: Dr. Peter Morse, Department of Physics 
    RDS Representative: Dr. Samah Alshrief, Natalie Lau, Victor Carrillo 
    Abstract: This project evaluates a recently developed sphere packing algorithm by testing its performance in lower physical dimensions through computational modeling using Python, C++, and MATLAB.
  • "Testing a New Sphere Packing Algorithm"
    Student Researcher: Daniel Gilliland, Physics 
    Faculty Mentor: Dr. Peter Morse, Department of Physics 
    RDS Representative: Dr. Samah Alshrief, Natalie Lau, Victor Carrillo 
    Abstract: This research investigates the efficiency of a new sphere packing algorithm in lower dimensions using computational simulations to understand scaling behavior and potential applications in data storage and cryptography. 
  • "CyberSmart"
    Student Researcher: Marco Ponce, Computer Science 
    Faculty Mentor: Dr. Shajina Anand, Department of Computer Science 
    RDS Representative: Dr. Samah Alshrief

Hip-Hop Studies Symposium 
Organizer: Edmund Adjapong 
12 – 2 p.m. | University Center, Event Lounge 
The Hip-Hop Studies Symposium will showcase student and alumni scholarship, creativity, and practice at the intersections of hip-hop and society. This event highlights how hip-hop serves as a powerful lens for critical inquiry and transformative practice across disciplines. Through presentations and discussion, participants will explore how hip-hop can be used to interrogate legal systems, make meaning of health and trauma, and reimagine teaching and learning.

Featured presentations include work on Hip-Hop Studies and Law, where students examine the use of rap lyrics in court cases and consider the potential violation of First Amendment rights; Hip-Hop Studies and Health, which explores how hip-hop reflects the biological realities of chronic stress and trauma while also functioning as a coping mechanism for artists and listeners; and Hip-Hop Studies and Education, where a former student shares how hip-hop informs their teaching practice in a high school AP African American Studies course, including both the benefits and challenges of using hip-hop as a pedagogical approach. Together, these presentations demonstrate the intellectual depth, cultural relevance, and real-world impact of hip-hop studies. 

Time Machines Symposium
Organizer: Sarah Ponichtera 
2 – 4 p.m. | Walsh Library, 2nd Floor Silent Study Room
Final presentations of our Time Machines scholars: Brooke Hurrell, Agostina Pieri, Ariel Espinoza, Amelia Olson, and Justin Lotito. 

Engaging Families to Strengthen Student Success and Philanthropy 
Organizer: Sandro Tejada
3 – 4 p.m. | Location to be announced.
Engaging Families to Strengthen Student Success and Philanthropy explores how intentional, values-driven family engagement can deepen student support, enhance belonging, and build long-term philanthropic partnerships. Drawing on best practices and real-world examples, this presentation highlights how Seton Hall University can move beyond transactional communication toward authentic partnership with families aligning student success priorities with meaningful engagement, stewardship, and giving opportunities that advance institutional mission and impact.

18th Annual Biological Sciences Symposium 
Organizer: Edward Tall
3 – 5:25 p.m. | Bethany Hall, Room A and B
Graduate and undergraduate students will be presenting posters of their work. Poster session will be followed by seminar by visiting scientist. All students and their families and friends are welcome. 

ELMP Research Colloquium 
Organizer: Santiago Castiello
5 – 8 p.m. | Jubilee Hall, Room TBA
The ELMP Research-in-Progress Colloquium is a department-wide scholarly forum featuring graduate students from the Higher Education (HRED), PK-12, and Law Enforcement Executive Leadership (LEEL) programs. 
 
In alignment with the 30th Anniversary theme of the Petersheim Academic Exposition “Share, Honor, Unite” this colloquium provides a space for students to showcase works-in-progress including course-based research projects, pilot studies, dissertation proposals, conceptual papers, and applied leadership initiatives. 
 
Presentations will be strictly timed, we envision 10-minute research talks followed by brief Q&A. The goal is not for students to present completed/polished studies, but rather to provide a space for intellectual exchange, interdisciplinary exposure, and scholarly community-building across all of our programs. 

The colloquium will include:

  •  Faculty welcome remarks
  • 2–3 themed research sessions (depending on submissions) that include cross-program dialogue
  • Closing reflections and networking

This initiative aims to establish an annual ELMP research colloquium/symposium under the Petersheim Exhibition umbrella to celebrate and elevate student scholarship across our programs. 

Friday, April 24, 2026

Public History Practicum 
Organizer: Thomas Rzeznik
9:30 – 11 a.m. | Fahy Hall, Room 101
Students in the history department's Public History Practicum will provide a preview of "Revolutionary Catholics," the exhibit they have prepared for the American Catholic Historical Society in Philadelphia to commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary this summer. 

Psychology Speaker Series: Maureen Coyle, Ph.D.
Organizer: Meghan Caulfield 
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Virtual (Click to join the event on Microsoft Teams »)
Maureen Coyle, Ph.D., a social psychologist from Widener University, will present research on how digital communication shapes modern relationships. Her work explores how people interpret and navigate ambiguity in text-based interactions, including the role of emoji in impression formation and perceived responsiveness. She also investigates the psychological impact of ghosting in online dating and how it influences future perceptions and relationship pursuit. 

Department of Mathematics and Computer Science Petersheim Day
Organizer: Tara Wager 
1:15 – 3:45 p.m. | Arts and Sciences Hall, Room 107 and 110
The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science Department presents a daylong event for the 30th Petersheim Academic Exposition. Events of the day will begin in Arts and Sciences Hall, Room 107 (1:15 - 2:30 p.m.), and will include the Charles H. Franke Memorial Lecture, Pi Mu Epsilon Honor Society induction ceremony, and the John J. Saccoman Graduation Award ceremony. The day will conclude with the mathematics, computer science and data science students’ poster presentations (2:45 – 3:45 p.m., Arts and Sciences Hall, Room 110). 
 
Our Charles H. Frank Lecturer will be Peter Winkler, Ph.D. from Dartmouth College. His research spans from discrete mathematics, theory of computation, and probability theory. He hold patents, ranging from cryptography to marine navigation. This lecture will start at 1:15 p.m. All are welcome to attend. 

Social Work Advocacy: Fighting Back and Building Bridges!  
Organizer: Dawn Apgar
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. | McNulty Hall, Atrium
The poster session on policy research highlights the critical role social workers play in shaping, challenging, and advancing public policy. This session underscores how policy research connects micro experiences to macro change, translating client and community realities into actionable advocacy. In doing so, it reinforces social work’s dual mission of direct practice and systemic change, demonstrating how research-informed advocacy strengthens the profession’s ethical commitment to equity, inclusion, and social transformation. Senior social work majors will be presenting their capstone policy research which has been presented at a statewide policy symposium. 

Distinguished Guest Speech – Artificial Intelligence in Policing: International Evidence, Ethical Challenges, and the Future of Law Enforcement 
Organizer: Luye Li 
3 – 6 p.m. | Jubilee Hall, Auditorium
The Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice invited Dr. Ivan Sun, a world-known criminal justice scholar and a global leader in empirical AI research in policing as a distinguished guest speaker. In 2025, he launched two major international research programs—AI in Policing and AI in Higher Education—that are shaping scholarly and policy debates worldwide. These projects examine frontline police officers’ and judges’ assessments of AI technologies, including humanoid police robots, algorithmic decision-making, and AI-assisted enforcement, using innovative simulation videos and experimental vignettes across multiple countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Argentina, Colombia, and Croatia. 

2026 Petersheim Academic Exposition Closing Celebration and Awards Ceremony
Organizer: Edward Tall
3:30 – 5 p.m. | McNulty Hall, Amphitheater and Virtual (Closing Ceremony Livestream »)
The formal close to our week of events, featuring a keynote lecture from Reverend Joseph Laracy, S.T.D. of Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology.

Saturday, April 25, 2026

Event schedule coming soon!

Connected Events

Exhibit: Ukraine's People Revealed! Early Eighteenth-Century Paintings of Ukrainian Society
Organizer: Nathaniel Knight
February 25 - May 1 | Walsh Library, Silent Study Room
An exhibit of ethnographic images from the Swedish National Museum in Stockholm.

2026 Interprofessional Health Sciences Campus Research Symposium
Organizer: Michael LaFontaine; Gloria Williams
Thursday, April 30 | 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. | IHS Campus, Rooms 1314, 1314, 1315, 1316, 1317
Faculty and students at the Interprofessional Health Sciences campus will share their scholarly endeavors through several structured activities.

Presentations of Honors in History Senior Thesis Research
Organizer: Kirsten Schultz 
Friday, May 1 | 10 – 11:30 a.m. | Fahy Hall, Room 307
Students writing Honors in History senior theses will present their research findings to faculty and guests, with time for questions and discussion. Topics this year include Roman writing on conquest, the US Nullification Crisis of the 1830s, the moral panic around video arcades in U.S. suburbia, and the Srebrenica Massacre in 1995.

Psychology Honors Student Presentations
Organizer: Meghan Caulfield
Friday, May 1 | 1:15 – 2 p.m. | Jubilee Hall, Room 383
Students in the psychology honors program complete a research project with a faculty mentor. At this event students will present the results of their projects.