By Sloane Barlow
Students university-wide have prepared work for this Friday’s 8th annual Diversity Research Showcase (DRS), an event hosted by the Honors College.
With monetary awards and valuable presentation experience on the table, the Honors College caught up with two previous winners to hear their perspectives. Both of them will return to DRS this year.
Destiny Kanning, 2023 awardee
Destiny Kanning, now graduated from the Honors College, is returning to DRS for her third year as a presenter.
In 2023, Kanning placed second for her oral presentation, “Studying Negative Social Effects and Misconceptions of Cystic Fibrosis of Patients Aged 17-24, Preliminary Discussion for Pulmonary Organoid Development”.
She came back to DRS in 2024 with an oral presentation that expanded on her research in cystic fibrosis and tied it to educational pursuits.
With DRS being a university-wide event and not limited to Honors College participants, Kanning has returned for her third year in a row as an Honors College alumna. She is now a part of the College of Osteopathic Medicine and pursuing her Master of Science degree in global health.
“The supportive atmosphere and the chance to connect with faculty, university leadership, and peers equally passionate about research brought me back year after year,” Kanning said.
“Additionally, while MSU has plenty of opportunities to present individual research in poster form, the communication skills I have developed over the seasons through oral presentations have been a huge turning point in my research career,” Kanning continued.
This Friday, Kanning will present her project on the overutilization of emergency medicine for non-emergent pediatric health concerns and its impact on healthcare resource allocation.
Kanning said this research highlights the needs of the local community and develops a model that encourages health literacy, particularly amongst minoritized families in urban Michigan environments.
Lowell Monis, 2024 awardee
Lowell Monis is a second-year student studying data science through the College of Natural Science and world politics through the College of Social Science. This will be his second year competing in DRS, this time with a decorated title.
In 2024, Monis received the DRS Preliminary Research Award for his project, “Intersectionality in the Halls of Power: A Study of Diversity and its Impact on Policy in the United States Congress and State Legislatures”. To qualify for this category, projects had to be in-progress and show strong potential.
“After my presentation last year, I received great feedback on which I could continue my research and further expand on how diversity affects policy decisions,” Monis said. “I am back again to learn more about scholarship in various other disciplines, while also demonstrating my own new findings alongside another really interesting project.”
He is returning to DRS this Friday with two research projects. His oral presentation is titled, “Politics, Gender, and Taylor Swift: Can Popular Culture and Associated Perceptions of Gender Identity Sway Elections?”
It will explore the multifaceted dimensions of diversity within the U.S. Congress and state legislatures, seeking to understand how the intersections of these identities influence political representation, decision-making, and public policy.
Monis will also be part of the poster competition, showcasing the continuation of last year’s research.
Celebrating university-wide diversity research
All students, staff, faculty, and community members are invited to attend the 8th annual Diversity Research Showcase, 1:30-4:40 p.m. this Friday, January 24 in the MSU Union. The Honors College encourages everyone to attend to support over 60 students as they present research and compete for monetary awards.
DRS is a free event and open to the public. Those planning to attend may register here.
“The Diversity Research Showcase is not just an event for presenters, but rather, it’s a celebration of innovation and inclusivity in research,” Kanning said.
“As both a researcher and previous attendee, it’s a chance to learn about impactful student-led projects, connect with talented individuals, and be inspired by the work happening within our community,” Kanning continued.
The diversity research featured at this showcase touches vast corners and disciplines of MSU. Its university-wide participation is representative of the mosaic of Spartan students’ interests, passions, and skills across majors.
“The Honors College never ceases to provide opportunities that not just inculcate and nurture scholarship but emphasize the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in every walk of life,” Monis said. “The Diversity Research Showcase, from my experience and observation, does just that.”